ome of the strategic positions aimed at without
encountering any resistance. So far the pacific demonstration lived up
to its name. Both sides conformed to their respective orders, which were
to avoid all provocation, and on no account to fire first. But for all
that the situation teemed with the elements of an explosion. Admiral
Dartige, on landing, had noted the faces of the people: sullen and
defiant, they faithfully reflected the anger which seethed in their
hearts. And, about 11 o'clock, at one point the smouldering embers burst
into flame. How, it is not known: as usually happens in such cases, each
side accused the other of beginning. Once begun, the fight spread along
the whole line to the French headquarters in the Zappeion.

At the sound of shots, King Constantine caused a telephone message to be
sent through the French Legation to the French flagship, asking for
Admiral Dartige, to beg him to stop the bloodshed. The officer at the
other end of the wire hesitated to disclose the Admiral's whereabouts,
fearing a trap; but at last he replied that his Chief had gone to the
Zappeion, where indeed he was found shut up. A parley between that
building and the Palace led to an armistice, during which negotiations
for a peace were initiated by the Entente Ministers. In the middle of
these, fighting broke out afresh; according to the Royalists, through the
action of the Venizelists who, desirous to profit by the foreign invasion
in order to promote a domestic revolution, opened rifle fire from the
windows, balconies, and roofs of certain houses upon the royal troops
patrolling the streets: a statement more than probable, seeing that arms
had long been stored in Venizelist houses with a view to such an
enterprise. At the same time, Admiral Dartige, who seems to have
completely lost his head, {160} considering the armistice at an end,
ordered the warships to start a bombardment.

While shells fell upon the outlying quarters of the town, and even into
the courtyard of the Royal Palace itself, forcing the Queen to put her
children in the cellar, the Entente Ministers arrived to conclude the
treaty:

"Are these your arguments, gentlemen?" asked the King, as he received
them. Amid the general consternation, he alone maintained his calmness.

The conference went on to the accompaniment of whistling and bursting
shells, and at 7 o'clock ended in an agreement, whereby Admiral Dartige
consented to stop hostilities