New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-30
Allies to Defend
COnstantinOple
Against Greeks
Athens Warned That British,
French and Italian Mill
tary Forces Will Guard
Neutral Zone. if Attacked
Only 2 Backgrounds Left
Eonsfantine's Threat Called
Effort to Take Attention
From Economic Problems
By Wilbur Forrest
Special Cobfe to The Tribuae

Copyright, 1922. New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, July 29.-Constantinopie will
be defended against the threatened
Geek attack by the military forces of
France and Italy and by the British
marines from the warships, according
to decision announced here to-day by
representatives OF the governments of
government at Athens has been SO
notified.
With the reinforcement of two divi-
sions, as was threatened in the Greek
Premier's note to London, Paris and
Rome insisting upon liberty of move
ment in the war against the Turks, the
Greek army in Thrace bearing on Con-
stantinople is estimated to number
10000 men. King Constantine is in
command, and he is facing mixed
Allied force of about eight thousand
assigned 70 protect the neutral area
around Constantrnople. Besides the
British marines and small force of
French sailors, the Allied troops in
Glide two small French regiments with
a detachment of artillery, one Italian
battalion of infantry and some British
land forces.
French to Prepare Defense
General Harrington, in command of
the inter-Allied headquarters at Con-
,stantinopie, has assigned French gen.
eral to prepare line Of defense oc-
cupied solely by French troops, as they
ere more numerous than any of the
others.
The Greek military moves in Thrace
are regarded here as tempo
rary diversion from the financial and
economic problems which have been
centering the Allies attention recent
ly. The enigma of the situation rests
with Constantine, whose capacity s
ample to add one more rash move to
his many preceding ones, and who pos
sibly is not willing to weigh the con-
sequences of ordering his troops to at
tack the Allied forces.
If the Greeks insist upon attempt
ing to wind up their war with the
Turks without waiting for mediation
OF the Allies their military situation
affords only two backgrounds. One
front is in Asia Minor, where they al
ready have tried and failed to con-
quer the Turks, and the other is on
the European side of Constantinople
Military experts here declare every
indication points to an attempt to oc-
cupy the city. The Greek outposts
have been moved in the direction of
Constantinople within the last few
days, and the movement of reinforce
ments across the Aegean into Thrace
would be a costly bluff if attempted to
cover attack planned on the former
terrain.
Naval Blockade Threatened
On the other hand, to give battle in
Thrace against the inter-Allied forces
would expose the Greeks to a blockade
by the Allies naval forces which could
easily prove embarrassing in a short
time. Rumors of Greek movements in
Asia Minor are also current, but here
again Greece runs into the Allied mem.
orandum agreed upon in Paris or
March Is at the instance of Lord Cur
zon. whose attitude previously was
sympathetic to Greece. This memo.
Tandum demanded the complete evac-
uation of Asia Minor by the Greeks
within four months. The Greek often
sive therefore signifies their disre-
gard of the Allied decision