The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-06-15

/ ance this plan. 1t was argued that
sending forces to the DaTdanelles would
dangerously weaken Greece's defense
on the Bulgarian frontier.
Queen Sophia was regarded as bit
terly opposed to Greece joining the w0'
on the Entente side and it was report
ed that she had threatened to leav
Greece if that event transpired.
Much criticism was directed against
Constantine because of the complaint
that he failed to fulfil the terms of the
treaty between Greece and Serbia un-
der which Greece was committed to ally
herself with Serbia If that country were
attacked by another Power. When
Austria invaded Serbia, Constantine a..
serted that the treaty applied only to
an attack by another Balkan nation.
Another act which aroused a storm Of
criticism was the yielding by Greek
troops to Bulgarian invaders of several
Greek forts and the surrender of large
number of Greek soldiers to the Teu
tonic forces which were invading Mace
donna.
The occupation by the troops of the
Entente Powers of part of Macedonia
and the seizure of SalOnika as their
base involved King Constantine in a
long series of clashes with the Entente
commanders, during which he was &C
cused of evasion and attempting to gain
time, in the hope that Germany would
assemble on the Macedonian front suffi
Gent troops to overwhelm the Entente
forces. 1t was charged that the King
and his government laid a trap for the
Entente troops which occupied part of
Athens to enforce a demand for sur
render of ten batteries of Greek artil
lery, to compensate for the surrender of
Greek guns to the Teutonic Allies.
Greek reservists fired upon the French
and British forces, but the King was re
ported to have ordered the firing
stopped after about two hundred cas-,
ualties. Six batteries of mountain guns
were given up to the Allies, and the
King reached a temporary understand
ing with the Entente commander.
Meantime the provisional government,
headed by Venizelos, had been growing
in strength and had obtained the recog,
milton of the Entente Powers. The pro
yisiOnal army occupied Katerina, near
Salonika, and Nenizelos continued his
agitation against Constantine, declaring
the King was victim of bad counsel,
had led the Greek people to the brink
of Precipice by an alliance with their
hereditary enemies, and by violation of
the constitution in dissolving the Greek
parliament, had brought the contempt
of the world upon Greece.
In order to enforce their demands the
Entente Powers laid an embargo upon
the supplies for Greece, which famed
the flame of discomfort, Constantine
was denounced by the people of Crete
ana Lemnos, who accused him of treach-
cry and demanded his dethronement.
constantine, however, asserted that
England and France had reused the re.
sentiment of the Greeks and alienated
their sympathy by interfering in Greek
politics. He protested against the En-.
tente occupation of Greek territory, as.
serted that his endeavors were to main
tain Greek neutrality, and predicted
that, If the country went to war against
Germany, it would share the fate of
Rumania.
A crisis in Constantine 5 fate arose in
the latter part of April, 1917, when it
was announced that he had served an
ultlmatum on the Entente Powers de.
handing guarantee against French in.
vasion and that he be permitted to re.
tain his throne.
since last April rumors of Constan-
tine 5 enforced abdication have been
rife. A great demonstration which took
place in Salonika May 8, against the
ruling house, showed how swiftly the
popularity Of the king and his eldest
son has waned. There can be no doubt
that the Crown Prince has been sup,
Ianted because of his pro. German pro
clivities.