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r l - - .... - rat.' -am v. r ' WEATHER. PAGES TODAY Two Sections Fair Sunday and Monday; warmer Monday. -. . VOL. XCIX-KO. 72 WILMIKGTO, ST. C, SUNDAY MOENITO, DECEMBER 3, 1916 WHOLE NUMBEB 39,783 20 : 11 III I i M, ,, , Ml I i . I . I lll.j. I I . ' 'l '" ' ' ' I ' ' ' - ' ' " ' I, ' . ' ', '. 'I GREAT BATTLE BEim DEVELOPED IN T0IVE AGAINST RUMANIANS Berlin Reports Eaaian Line on the Argechu R Has Been Broken Through. PRISONERS CAPTURED 6,000 Resistance to Invaders South, of Bucharest Stiffened; Two Towns Recaptured. GREECE YIELDS TO ALLIES Clash With French in Athens Re suits in 200 Casualties., Athens, where, after a day of panic and fighting in the streets, and on the hillsides, King Con Btantine yielded to the demand of the Entente commander . and agreed to surrender, the artillery demanded by the French vice-admiral, shares with the 'Teutonic concentration upon Bucharest and the Russian drive in the wooded Carpathians, as a center of war in terest.. Break in Rumanian Line. The series of engagements marking the advance of the Teutonic troops upon Eucharest are developing into a great battle. From Berlin comes the an nouncement that the First Rumanian crir.y which had offered battle on the Argechu river, southeast of Pjtechti, - northwest of the Rumanian capital, has teen broken through and defeated' by German and Austro-Hungarian troop after a tenacious struggle. "Whether this indicates the turning of : the right wing of the Rumanian armies is not clear. The capture of more than 6,000 Rumanian troops and 49 cannon is an nounced. . The fierce attacks upon the Ruman ian troops in the valley of Argechu on the roads from Pitechti to Bucharest compelled only a slight retirement of the defenders, according to the Russian war office announcement. ' ' Rumanians Re-Capture Town The Rumanian resistance south of Bucharest has stiffened and the villag es of Tzomana and Gostinari have been re-captured from the invading forces. Simultaneously the Russians- have re gained possession of the western part of Tchnavoda bridge across the Dan ube which had been taken by the Teu tonic troops after the ; defeat of the Kussc-Rumanian ary in Pobrudja la"te in October. ; Violent Battle In Carpathians, i A fierce battle continues in the wood ed Carpathians and along the Bukowlna and jVIolda.vana frontiers, where the Russian counter attack is being deUY- ered. Statements from i various '-war j offices show that the attempt of the 4 Russian and Rumanian forces to break . through into Transylvania is nowhere diminished in violence. 5e Russians have gained a footing in the town of Kirlibaba and desperate street fighting is in progress, according to a Reuter - dispatch from Petrograd. Operations of lesser importance are reported from the Macedonian froa v-nile artillery actions have taken pjace along the British front in France. Fighting in Athens. - The casualties resulting from the clash of Entente allied and ' Greek troops in Athens are not officially an nounced, but have been estimated as lueli as 2on. Two Greek colonels and several civilians were killed. An em Ploy of the British legation is said to have been rr.ortally wounded. .. The. fighting began as soon as the Entente allied troops were landed to prif':'rro he demand for a surrender of rrof k guns. Two thousand French 1"3n'"s who occupied the Bappeion ex-cian-eed shots with the Greek reser- '-ts onl there was an engagement be ieen r-nidiers in the annex of the Brit 1!h legation and a, Greek force, in" the eqi;ir in front of that bulldlng.. Xna f renrb legation was fired upon. The a- ! fleet fired on the hills back of the k':'.a"s palace and two of their shells reported to have fallen near the -ThlOr Of tbft iitr Manrlill' fhniia. city.. or the residents of Athens took refuse on Attica Plain' arid Phaleron. firrek Gnns Surrendered. Att?r tha Dutch and Spanish minis rs intervened and Vice Admiral di. -rr'urrif:t had sent a suggestion of an r' !Trtire n Premier Lambros, the king ""f-'ented'to surrender the guns. The - ntente forces with the exception of a "'2! fl of son, were withdrawn. Admir s d'-iFoui-net assured the Greek com- :" r that the allied troops had no ?-lrp to f.re upon the Greeks and the j' ' i: general replied in a similar vein. - "as ?j greed the clash was due to a mn-un .'rstandintr. Ht xs ARE VIOLENTLY WAGING THEIR NEW DRIVE m. via Tuckertown, N. J., Dec 2. wpathians, along a front of 300 kilo-:-res is being carried on with great 'r'.ence, according to the Overseas ;-exvs -Agency. The Russians are at- mpung to push back the army of ' neni Von Arz by strong pressure, n order to penetrate once more Tran- syivania and menace General Von Falk tContinued 'on Page Two.) BUCHAREST BEING RAPIDLY CIRCLED Military Critics in London Admit That the Situation is Now Extremely Critical. RUSSIAN DRIVE TOO LATE Pressure - in Transylvania Regarded Unlikely to Materially Affect Ger man Drive, Which Hat Gained Such Great Headway. London, Dec. 2. Although the Ru manians apparently are offering des perate resistance west .and south of Bucharest, the enemy forces are rap idly closing in on their capital and even the most optimistic military critics ! here now admit that the situation is extremely' critical. Advices from Berlin today report that the Danube army is already men acing, the girdle of fortresses around Bucharest, having reached -the Argechu river which is only five miles from the forts. The Germans and Bulgarians also have gained ground northwest of the capital by working through the passes Southeast of Campulung. Still anoth er enemy force is reported to have broken through and defeated the First Rumanian army southwest of Pileshti, enabling it to capture general staff of ficers. The Rumanian and Russian communiques, are silent regarding this last claim, -although both admit thatthe Rumanians under 'pressure- were com pelled to retire slightly in this sector. Further -west In Wallachia the Ru manians - assert that - adverse weather conditions are hampering their opera tions. . . , It is generally believed here that Russian pressure on Von Falkenhayn's army through Transylvania has come too late to offset the rapid gains of the Germans or affect materially the Ger man plans of encircling Bucharest. The Russians" latest success in capturing a series of heights south of Kirlibaba gives them an entering wedge into Transylvania and proves a most en couraging counter move on the part of the Allies. That the Russian forces in con junc tion with the Rumanians, are making progress in .uobruaja is indicated by the latest communications which report that the Allies have regained part of the Tchernavoda bridge, compelling the opposing, forces to retire southward. from several heights. A significant fea ture of the move from all points in this theatre of war is the absence of claims that either side is taking large num-. bers of prisoners, which seems to in dicate the desperate character of the encounters. . MESSENGER BOY TIRED A OF MILLIONAIRE' WIFE Wants Marriage to Widow of 45, With 12 Children, Annulled. Durham ' Youth Who Became Famous Tito Year Ago "When he 3Iarried an "Heiress Sues for Separa tion From Real Wife. (Special Sar Telegram). Durham, N. C, Dec. 2. Sylvester Gray, the messenger boy of the Durham Western Union telegraph office, who two years ago pictured himself as the poor, boy of inherited millions from a marriage to a wealthy widow of Lynch- burg, Va., issued summons today through his attorney for annullment of his "wedding to Mrs. Fannie Vickers,. the real woman he married with a dozen children and some 45 years old. . The imaginary wife never loomed up in the real world, and Sylvester admits that he was lacking in will and under standing in taking the other woman. But, the messenger boy lived the life of a king with all the luxuries of, a palatial domain for a while in the metropolitan newspapers, for he told his story to a Durham newspaper man and it was broadcasted in word and-1 illustration over the country- He -was I described as having met this wealthy J widow in West Durham while she was visiting- She became instantly infatu ated with his handsome personality and; sought his hand. He told the reporter later that he had married her and would inherit a mil lion. But, alas, Sylvester today ac knowledged the . limitations of the hu man mind and faced, squarely the stern realities of a work-a-day world. His request for separatidn from his r,eal wife is uncontested. He 4has lately served a term in the State school for the feeble minded. GREECE GIVES IIP GUNS FOLL FIGHT IN ATHENS General Battle Ensued Immediate ly After Troops of the Allies Had Been Landed. THE GREEKS OPENED FIRE Venizelists Also Engaged the Roy alists Dutch and Spanish Min isters Intervened. London, Dec. 2. After a day of terror in Athens in which Venizelists fought royalists and Greek troops fired upon Entente forces which had been landed, according to Vice Admiral du Fournet, t? maintain order , a truce was arrang ed. Ifcing Constantino finally agreed to surrender the mountain guns demand ed by the Allies and the latter are withdrawing their trops with the ex ception of a smalj guard. Disturbances began as soon as the allied troops were landed. Greek troops fired on the Entente force which occu pied the Zappeion, while reservists and Venizelists exchanged shot3 in the streets. A pitched battle between the opposing Greek forces occurred in Sta dium street. The casualties have not been ascertained, but it is known sev eral civilians were killed. . Dutch : and Spanish ministers final ly intervened and induced the king to surrender the guns - on condition that the Entente withdraw the troops, ex cept 300 left in the Zappeion. Accord ing to information from a source close 'r I to the Greek government. Admiral d Fournet telephoned to "Premier Lambros suggesting an armistice which was ef fected after a conference of the pre mier with the king. While the confer ence was in progressand even after the French minister had been summoned to' take part in It, guns continued to boom. Special dispatches fjc-m Athens say the French bombarded the hill be' An Athens dispatch" to the" Star says that the fighting began when a French detachment attempted -to aeie arms ia" the engineers : barracks. , The; Greeks fired on the . French, - who . replied, kill ing 'j,a. Greek officer. Tha'flghting was very severe, the dis patch continues, t On . Mars ; Hill the Greeks, attacked the French, from the southern slde,Qf;Acroppiis and Thesei'on slopes. There was a violent exchange of rifle and machine gun fire. ' . Fighting also . took place between Italians and Greeks.' . The Italians , occupied- cottages while bullets whistled down the street. Thousands of persons sought" refuge in the' Attica plain to which thre was a procession of car riages from Athens. ' Crowds also flock ed to Phaleron and other places on the coast. " ' It was when the fighting was resum ed later in' the afternoon before the word of the armistice had reached al the Greek detachments posted on the hills, the dispatch to the Star contin ues, that the attack on' the French nav al detachments in the Zappeion occur red. Two shells, fired from the Entente (Continued on Page Twelve.) REFORMS HE DESIRES Says , "Right Must Regulate All Elements of Society.1 it Tells Constitutional Congress "vat In dividual Liberty for the People Is' the Reform Desired First of All. Queretaro, Friday, Dec. 1, (via Mexico City, Dec. .2.) In his address before the constitutional congress tonight General Carranza outlined the reform he hoped to see embodied in the con stitution. He said in part: "I come to deliver into you.- hands reforms necessary for this country. Right must regulate all elements of society. "What is desire first of all Is to . es tablish the rights of . the people to in dividual liberty. I hope the new con stitution woll provide severe penalties for wrong doing on .the part of publi6 officials and make them responsible for their acts. "Judges, heretofore only the tools of governors, should have the power to investigate and punish wrong "doing of governors. Guarantees for prisoners accused of crimes heretofore have been worthless.- Prisoners have been at the mercy of judges and third degree meth ods. Good lawyers should be provided for the indigent and no arrests should be ftade without evidence sufficient to justify them. . "I ask you tocorjsider whether it is necessary to have every foreigner who obtains titl,e tp real property resign to treaty rights "if ith ; respect-" tov such property ,andc6nform to Mexican laws. "One object of the new refprms is to assist labor and we should, set minimum wages and maximum hours. "I advocate a divorce law which will - (Continued on Page Twelve.) - OWING GftRRAHZA OUTLINES MUCH DISCUSS WILL BE GIVEN TO Members of Congress Think Little Other Thn Appropriation Bills Will be Massed. SESSION OPENS TOMORROW Abandonment of Holiday Recess TalkedPresident to Deliver Message Tuesday. Washington, Dec. 2. Congressmen began arriving in the capital in force tonight for the . session which opens Monday, and, though returning mem bers talk of new issues, it is the. gen eral opinion that little other, than ap propriation bills can pe passed in the short session. Surface indications give assurances that the high cost of living will at least be a subject of much dis cussion and that many proposals will be made ranging from an embargo on food exports to official investigation of alleged conspiracies to inflate prices. While congressmen appreciate that railroad problems, conservation legis lation, immigration, suffrage, national prohibition, corrupt , practice measures and other unfinished' general business will be . pressed for - consideration and that efforts may be made to investigate alleged election frauds and expendi tures of the National campaign, those s-yjjects at present are overshadowed - V the high prices of food and meas- .VaI Iat . President's Address Tuesday. For an outline' of the administration programme members are awaiting the address of President Wilson before joint session in the hall of the House Tuesday. Because. -of the crush of i busineEj, House leaders, among them - Speaker Clark, are advocating abandonment of the ; usual holiday re'cesi and -urging nisrht sessions at least twice a week, Among' ; returning Democratic Sena tors. the question of selection : of a new president pro tempore is one of ab sorbins interest. -A caucus probably will be held' early xnxt week- Among Senators ; being j mentioned . to succeed the late Senator Clarke; of Arkansas are, Pomerene, of Ohio; Saulsbury, of Delaware; James, of Kentucky; Walsh of Montana, and Bankhead, of Alabama Some Southern Senators ".have urged the selection of a Western Democrat in recognition of. the Democratic triumph at the recent election in that section Speculation regarding the majority leadership already is general in view of the defeat of Senator Kern for re election. Southern' Senators are sound ing out their colleagues on behalf o Senator Martin," of Virginia; Senato Walsh is being championed by West ern Democrats. Urgre Corrupt Practices Bill. That the Senate will be urged early in the session to consider the corrupt practices bill, limiting campaign con tributions, and to investigate "expend! tures of the last campaign was assured today by an announcement Senator Owen, of Oklahoma, .that he would de mand early consideration of his corrupt practices bill and would again press some form of cloture to get a vote on the measure before March. 4. He also proposes to introduce a resolution di recting the committee on privileges and elections to investigate campaign expenditures of the Republican and Democratic parties. Chairman Webb, of the House Judi ciary committee, upon his arrival'today began working for passage of his nation-wide prohibition and export trade bills. He declared he did not believe the suffrage amendment would be pass ed by the present House. Webb to Push Prohibition Bill. "I have great hopes that my prohibi tion bill will pass," Mr. Webb said. "Undoubtedly the liquor question is one of the . greatest questions now facing .this country; the last election showed that and it is high: time some addition al Federal action was taken on it. My bill w.ould prohibit' manufacture, trans portation and importation of 'liquor for beverage purposes. It would not inter fere with using alcohol for scientific, artistic or sacramental purposes. "I doubt if the .suffrage resolution will be reported at the coming1' session, although I have not sounded members n their attitude since arriving' here." ' PRESIDENT JttAY SPEAK OH THE HIGH COST OF LIVING. : Washington. Dec 2j After President Wilson has concluded his address -before Congress" Tuesday, it is 'possible he may deliver an address dealing with the high cost of Jiving, The President's plans on th-e subject are as yet indefinite, 'but it is known that the administration considers the cost of-living a most pressing question and that many of the President's clos est advisers favor considering it in the legislative programme. Thousands of petitions are pouring into the White House calling for some sort "of relief from the present era of higher prices, many of them demanding an embargo on food, exports. ' . .. . The course which the President is lunderstood to "favorMis rather an exten sion of present laws to. meet alleged conspiracies for 'cornering" foods and price, fixing; An extensive Federal in vestigation now is being conducted by United States attorneys in all the large cities. . .- 6 FOOD PRICES 'LIBERTY' ENSHROUDED IN FLOOD OF WHITE LIGHT AS MR. WILSON GIVES SIGNAL Illumination of Famous Statue in New York Harbor is Glorious Occa sion City's "Billion Dollar Skyline" Literally Ablaze for Pa rade, Headed by the President Ruth Law in Aeroplane Adda Spectacular Touch to the Occasion. New York, Dec. 2. At a wireless sig- i nal flashed by President Wijson from tbe yacht Mayflower in the harbor here. the Statue of Liberty was bathed in light at 6 o'clock tonight. Bartholdi's famous symbol of American freedom, which for 30 years has been a token of welcome to the United States to "mil lions of immigrants from every land, will be illuminated every night here after from top to bottom. Funds to install the permanent light ing system for the statue ,the gift to the United States of 400,000 citizens of France, were provided by public sub scription in this country. "I light this statue" said the Presi dent, "with the thought that it may always stand as a symbol of our pur pose to throw upon- liberty, out of our own life as a nation, a light which shall reveal its dignity, its serene pow er, its benignant hope and! spirit of guidance." Notable Persons Witness Event. Grouped around the President upon the Mayflower's deck as he flashed the signal, were Mrs.- Wilson, Jules J. Jus- serand, ambassador of France; Madame Jusserand, high officers of the Army and. Navy and representatives of. several nations. The great guns of a division of the Atlantic fleet anchored in the harbor as a guard of honor boomed a salute as the statue flashed into view, outlined in white light. The whistles of countless harbor craft shrieked in unison and flares of red . light blazed up along the New York and New Jersey shores. There was a flash of flame high above the statue and Ruth Law in her aero- VILLA MOVEMENTS CLOSELY ITCHED Reports to Washington Tend to Confirm Bandit, Leader's Cap ture of Chihuahua. OTHER BANDITS ARE ACTIVE Railway Traffic Between Mexico City - and -Vera Craz - Interrupted Mur gruia May Try to Re-Capture . Chihuahua. Washington, Dec. 2. While they wait for General Carranza to accept or re ject the protocol signed by the joint commission at Atlantic City, adminis tration officials are giving much atten tion to every report relating to the activities of Villa and to rebel move ments in other parts of Mexico. Additional information reaching the State and Wa r Departments today tended to confirm the reports of Villa's capture of Chihuahua City, but none of the dispathes indicated that the bandit loader was moving northward to attack. Juarez. ' , Officials are frank in their admission that a- successful attack by villa on General Murguia, now advancing from the south, might lead to uncontested Villa control of the city of Chihuahua and other towns of the state and pre sent a most embarrassing situation for the United States. May Undertake Re-Capture. All reports here, however, indicate that General Murguia will make every effort to re-capture Chihuahua, and the opinion of army man is that he should have little difficulty in doing so. It is assumed that Villa's supply of am-' munition must have been materially re duced by his fight against General Tre vino, and it is thought he will evacu ate after having removed into the hills such supplies as he can secure. Re ports indicate that a considerable por tion of Trevino's force joined Villa af ter the Chihuahua battle. The operation of General Felix Diaz in the extreme south, of Mexico have been extended somewhat and informa tion has reached here that he has sought the co-operation of Villa and other rebel leaders who, haVe been con ducting independent operations. Palaez's Influence Increased. Between Mexico City and Vera Cruz, official dispatches say, oiily interrupted railway traffic exists. At one time that line recently was broken at more than ten places. Further north, in the oil producing regions, Aianuel Palaez, who has held a considerable territory for more than- a year, has rncreased his in fluence, and according ?o official infor mation is negotiating with Diaz for 3oint action. ; Between Tampico and San Luis Potosi the Cedillo brothers are reported to have adopted more active methods in preventing the operation of railroads over which is moved much of the oil needed by Carranza for opera tion of his trains." T The increased operations of the dif ferent rebel bands has been made the basis of unofficial "efforts by Mexicans to ' have the embargo on ammunition lifted and it is regarded almost as a certainty that the discussion of that (Continued on Page Twelve.) plane added a spectacular touch to the ceremonies of illumination. Spouting sparks of fire from the tail of her ma chine she circled the lower end of Man hattan island. A roar of cheers from the thousands gathered in Battery Park greeted her as the letters "Liber ty" outlined in electric lights were re vealed on the bottom of the aeroplane. The course of the Mayflower was marked ty the rays of the most power ful searchlight in the world as the yacht's anchor was hoisted and the presidential party headed for the bat- battery to disembark for the motor car parade which preceded a dinner in hon or of Mr.-Wilson and Ambassador Jus serand. Skyline Literally Ablaze. Leaving the statue behind, the party on the Mayflower looked out upon a city of light. New York's "billion dol lar skyline", was literally ablaze. Elec trie lamps gleamed through countless windows in scores of "sky scrapers Close behind the Mayflower steamed the Yankton with . Secretary of the Navy Daniels aboard, followed by the United States ship San Francisco car rying members of Mayor Mitchel's com mittee of 200 and other invited guests From the battery electric motor cars carried the guests up town. The parade passed up Fifth Avenue, which had been converted into a "gold en way". Long ribbons of lights glamed on either side of the thorough fare as far north as 33rd street. There the President and his party en tered the hotel where the banquet was held under an electric lighted canopy of red, white and blue. Cheer President Lustily. The illumination of Liberty was view ed from, points '.of vantage by many (Continued on Page Two.J Numbers Voted in Election With out Having Paid 7 Poll Tax, Sotrfe Say. CASES, GO TO GRAND JURY According to Development at Election Frauds . Hearing Before J udge Adams, Votes Were Worth 91.50 to 58 November 7. ' (Special Star Telegram). Asheville, N. C, Dec 2. Numbers of men in Buncombe county voted in the recent election without having paid their poll tax, although they took the prescribed oath that they had paid their tax. Votes were bought, the prices ranging from $1.50 to $8 each. Guar antees of office were offered in return for political support. This, in effect, is a resume of the testimony adduced to day at the election frauds hearing Insti tuted by Solicitor Swain, at which Judge W. J. Adams is sitting as a com mitting magistrate. As a result of the testimony of some of these witnesses, the next grand jury is going to find itself with some .extra work on hand. Judge Adams binding all the witnesses over to appear before that body. Many of the witnesses on Solicitor Swain's list could not be found and the hearing was continued until Monday. It will probably extend over several days, as the officials are mak ing vigorous efforts to locate every man on the solicitor's list. Stokes Pittman, one of the first wit nesses, testified that Chief Greenwood had offered him money for his vote at Beaverdam. Walter Trexler, of West Asheville, swore he heard the Republi cans were paying $8 a vote in West Asheville. Revenue Officer J. H. Reed testified that a man named Harding told him Wilkes Webb offered him (Harding) $10 for his vote and that Harding did receive a sack of flour, ac cording to a statement of Hiram Wil son. J. C. Maney, of Ivey, No. 1, said that Jim Morgan had offered to make bond of $00 that Maney would receive a $10,000 a year offer in exchange for his influence. Nothing was said about vot ing. J. H. Reed gave the most direct tes timony during the day. He declared he heard Wilkes Webb offer Dan Har dy $8 for his vote. He said Hardy ad mitted receiving the money but was not allowed to vote because of lack of poll tax receipt, and returned the money to Webb. Various instances of voting without poll tax receipts were intro duced and a number of minor instances of alleged payment of money. The court room was packed all day long and the greatest interest is cen tered in the hearings. Sheriff's officers expect to locate a number of missing witnesses between now and Monday and some sensational testimony is liable to develop. VOTES BOUGHT IN BiCOiE COUNTY SYMPATHY OF THE UNITED STATES IS BY GREECE Note Denounces Allied Demand as "A Serious Infringement of Sovereign Rights." MAKES SITUATION 'PAINFUV Communication Tells of Difficulty Under Which Nation is Try ing to be Neutra! Washington, Dec. 2 A note denounc ing as "a serious infringement of sov ereign rights" the Allie demand for surrender of Greek arms and ammuni tion to the AnglorPrencn expedition at Saloniki and pleading for the syrapa-. thetic understanding of the United States in the "painful circumstances" surrounding the Greek government and people, was delivered to the State De partment today by A. Vouros, 'charge of the Greek legation. . The communication sets forth at length the efforts of Greece to maintain neutrality and gives notice that the Greek government "has rejected and will continue to reject this last de mand." No official explanation of the -causes which led the government to recede from that decision has reached Washington, but from the strong lan guage of the note officials infer that extreme pressure must have been ex erted before the arms and ammunition were given up. Vouros Talks With Polk. During his visit to the State Depart ment, 'Charge .Vouros talked over the wholf Greek situation with Counsellor Polk, but neither had anything to say regarding the conference. It is under stood that communications similar, to' that addressed to the United States have been sent to all neutral' govern ments, and that the step was intended primarily to . creates a proper" under standing among neutral peoples of the difficulties in which Greece has found I herself. As presented by the 'charge, the com municatlon was in the form of a copy of a note handed to American Minister Droppers, at Athens, on November 2S, and signed by Acting Foreign Minister Zalocostas. The communication, as delivered to. the State Department, was in French. A translation of the mil text follows! FuU Text of Note. "From the beginning of the Euro pean war, the Greek government, con scious of its duties-for the defense of the National Interests and of Its re sponsibility toward the country, had, after an exhaustive examination of the situation, come to the decision that Greece ought not to enter the bloody struggle in which almost all Europe was engaged. The Greek government, in holding to neutrality, had in mind air the time the abandonment of this policy if at any given moment it should come to the conviction that, however great were the sacrifices and the dan gers of a war, it would serve the na tional aspirations. '"Unfortunately it has not been pos sible for us, up to this moment, to ob tain the -necessary guarantees that Greece, in entering into the European conflict, would not be going to inevita ble destruction. "In remaining neutral the Greek gov ernment had in mind solely Greek Ih terests and not, as has been repeatedly insisted on, sympathy with one of the two groups of belligerents. A Greek government could only think of the in terests of Greece. The geographical situation of Greece, which placed it In very direct contact with one of J;he,two groups of belligerent powers, make the application of its policy of neutral-: ity very difficult; it is for that reason that she' has been forced to submit to the occupation by foreign arms of her Macedonian provinces and to permit tho -belligerents to dispose of her ports, public buildings and works of art; that her highways and railroads have beeh forcibly occupied while bridges aiftr tunnels worth many millions have been completely destroyed. Protests Unheeded. "At the moment when the present Greek government assumed power, an imposing fleet was blockading the en trance of the strait of Salamine, the anchorage of the Greek fleet, and In spite of our protests and our formal re fusal we were constrained to order offi cers and sailors to abandon the vessels of the light fleet in order to spare them the grief of surrendering the vessels i upon which not very long ago they had contributed to two victorious wars. , "For about a month the Greek peo ple have seen with a very real . pain the administration by foreign control of nearly all its public services, its land communications, its postal service. telegraph and telephone service. The Greek commercial fleet has seen Its ac tivity hampered by repeated inspections and by restrictions of every sort. For a long time Greece has been able , to import from abroad only what is abso lutely indispensable to feed and sus tain the country and to furnish for Its commerce, both by land and sea, the necessary fuel. Affront to Greek Hospitality. -"And now the traditional hospitality . of the Greek people has suffered an affront which has been profoundly painful. The will of the strong has been constantly placed in opposition "to the legitimate' protests of Greece: nev ertheless, the latter has up to now en dured everything with the patience and dignity which small nations possess In the highest degree. But the last die- mand of the admiral commanding the (Continued onPage Twoi. ASKED 4 :.i J' -H - ft. ! U . t Iter. ml lift ft PL Ji ' 1,1 1 m HiU'8' IIS i' II m ha fit an - p rt i WW 5 'f ( ' tr 5 ill 'km t H ,1 1 ' "5 ti ' r " t ! ,11 t ! ' I 'A ti'f 1 5?r h f
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Dec. 3, 1916, edition 1
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