The Washington times., 1923-09-01
By DAVID NJ. CHURCH.
international News Services.

By DAVID NJ. CHURCH,
international News Services.
LONDON, Sept. 1.-All Eurrpe
trembled today over Italian hostil-
tiles against Greece fearing =
new Balkan war.
: 1t was a Balkan dispute which
brought. on the world war. /.
British newspapers expressed
the utmost fear. A great ques-
ton mark spread. all over Europe
with the universal query:
where viii it end?"
Rests With League.
Tt il felt here that peace rests
with the League Of Nations.
A dispatch from Athens quoted
Premier Gonatas as saying that
the dispute with italy over the
killing Of Italians on the Albanian
border had been referred to the
League Of Nations
After the Italians seized Corfu
fen, Greek officers were seized as
hostages and taken aboard an Ital-
ian warship.
England and France are antag.
cnistie to Italian war aims, Pre-
mier Mdssolini Of Italy is accused
OF violating the League of Nations
covenant.
The Athens government issued a
statement claiming that the 1taI.
ian fleet bombarded forts on Corfu
: filled with Armenian orphans. .s
According to dispatch from
Athens. the Greeks did not fire a
shot in reply to the Italian bonn
bardnlent of Corfu.
1t is reported that Italy may ex.
tends occupation of Greek soil. It is
regarded as unlikely, however, that
tie italiahs will attempt tor b1ttIe
up Athens by seizing Piraeus unless
Mar breaks out.
The Greek minister issued a state.
Aasnt calling the bombardment of
Corfu an act of war. He indicated
I ndRever. that Greece would not re-
q tatate. but would await interven-
8 ton by the League Of Nations. The
etatenent said in part:
s"Greece cannot but consider the
cccupation and bombardment Of
heutTaI unarmed territory as a fla.
grant violation Of the League Of
Nations covenant, and also of the
Iclian treaty.
1t was unprovoked and was an
act Of war committed by one mem
her of the League of Nations
against another. Greeks are con-
ffdent that the whole civilized world
win vindicate their case. Each gov
eminent will determine upon its
own responsibility whether a lag
country can intimidate a small one.
Either the League of Nations will
fulfill its duty or we will return
&c the middle ages and thus destroy
every notion of progress" 49,
Announcement was made that no
orders have been issued for special
movements of British warships. but
il is understood that British men
of-war have reached Greek waters
from Corfu to protect English in.
terests. According to the admir-
atty the units of the Mediterranean
fleet are engaged in their ordi-
$Dary duties"
~Enrest Increases.
Unrest in the Balkans has been
Increased by the Italan-Gr dis
pute. 1t was already at high tide
over the Turco-Greek war. the Bull
garian revolution. and the dispute
Between Jugoslavia and Italy ever
former Austrian territory.
1t is feared that if hostilities de-
veloped on big scale, Hungary.
drawn into IL.
Albanian and Bulgarian Irregu
lars are already active. Skirmishing
Is reported from Macedonia.
1t lis the general situation which
II causing alarm. The outcome of
war between Italy and Greece is
comparatively easy to forsee, since
Italian warshfps outnumber the
Greeks three to one.
Greek Army Strong.
On the other hand. Greece is said
TO have the strongest army in the
Balkans. 1t was recognized after
the revolution last year.
Premier Mussolini is said to be
ready to point TO French occupation
Of the Ruhr as a precedent OF ItaI-
ian occupation of Greek territory
He will receive little sympathy
ftom France according 10 adyIces
from Paris,
The French are said to be accus.
ing the Italian prime minister of
violating Article ~ Of the league
: of nations covenant. Both France
and Spain are displeased over the
landing OF Italian troops at Tan
gier and the sending of an italian
warship to that Moroccan port.
r<euvsoiI Thraa fans ProGSx,s.o