approximately
100,000. All those fit for further campaigning needed to be equipped
anew and rearmed.

CHAPTER XXX

MILITARY AND POLITICAL EVENTS IN GREECE

On March 27, 1916, a squadron of seven German aeroplanes attempted to
make a raid on Saloniki. Their purpose was to drop bombs on the
British and French warships in the harbor, but the fire of the Allied
guns frustrated their efforts and four of the aeroplanes were brought
down. But during the encounter some of these aircraft dropped bombs
into the city and twenty Greek civilians were killed, one of the bombs
falling before the residence of General Moschopoulos, commander of the
Greek forces in Saloniki.

Deep resentment against the Germans flared up throughout Greece on
account of this raid, which found expression in bitter editorials in
the Liberal press against the continued neutrality of Greece. The
question of the declaration of martial law was raised in an exciting
session of the Chamber of Deputies, which lasted till late at night.
The Government discouraged all hostile comment on the action of the
Germans, and Premier Skouloudis declined to continue a debate
involving discussion of foreign relations "because the highest
interests impose silence." Notwithstanding the attitude of the
government the raid was characterized in the chamber as "simply
assassination" and as "German frightfulness." Plans were started to
hold mass meetings in Athens and Saloniki, but the police forbade
them. At the funerals of the victims, however, large crowds gathered
in spite of the efforts of the police to disperse them and the
ceremonies were marked by cries of "Down with the barbarians!" and
"Down with the Germans!"

Hardly had this agitation died down when Venizelos, who for a long
time had remained silent, so aloof from politics that, to quote his
own statement, "I do not even read the reports of the proceedings in
the Chamber," resumed active participation in the nation's affairs by
giving out a lengthy interview to the press, as well as with an
editorial in his own personal organ. This latter occupied an entire
page and reviewed completely the position of the Greek monarch since
the dissolution of the last Chamber of Deputies. Referring to the
king's alleged characterization of himself as a "dreamer," M.
Venizelos said:

"By keeping the country in a state of chronic peaceful war through
purposeless mobilization, the present government has brought Greece to
t