File No. 763.72/3078
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Greek Chargé in the United States (Vouros)
[Left at the Department of State by the Chargé, December 12, 1916.]
The repression of the Venizelist insurrection in the city of Athens during the days of the 1st and 2d of December had cost the troops as follows:
Military killed 13, wounded 24;
Civilians who had assisted the authorities, killed 6, wounded 6;
Civilians killed accidentally by the insurgents 5, of which 3 women;
Wounded accidentally by the insurgents 6, of which 4 women.
The insurgents had only 3 killed and 2 wounded. This inequality between the losses of the troops and the insurgents is explained by the fact that the latter were barricaded in their houses and ready before-hand for an attack against the troops.
In this case the attitude of the troops, who during 48 hours had to sustain the firing from windows, was beyond any praise. Our soldiers, indeed, following strict orders, only fired salvos in the air so as to intimidate the insurgents and circumscribe, as much as possible, blood-shed which positively would have happened if the insurgents had come down in the streets.
It is under the impression of these salvos in the air that the foreign correspondents drew their first cablegrams which complaisantly were sent through the censure [censor] of the Allies still in Athens during the first day.
A great quantity of arms and bombs was discovered in houses of insurgents. The repressive measures taken by the Government were the less [least] stern possible.
The troops had a very hard time in restraining the frenzy of the indignant throng, and only three or four cases of ill treatment by the mob have been reported.
[Page 85]No matter where else, an insurrection of the same kind and under similar circumstances would have provoked a brutal repression. This was not the case in Athens. No act of plundering was reported.
The matter of conspiracy has been handed over to the justice authorities who are trying to sort number of documents compromising several followers of Venizelos.
Order has been reestablished. Since December 3d perfect quietness is prevailing, and the Capital has assumed again its usual appearance.