Russia Encourages Greece.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 17, 1912:
Recognizes the Occupation of Salonika as a Definite Fact.
    ATHENS, Nov. 16.— Russia has recognized the Greek occupation of Salonika as definite, according to a dispatch received here to-day. The Russian Consul at Salonika is said to have received coded instructions from St. Petersburg formally ta recognize Grecian rule and to place himself under the jurisdiction of the Russian Legation at Athens.
    The Russian Consul, accompanied by the Commander of the Russian warships stationed at Salonika, immediately visited Crown Prince Constantine and communicated to him their orders received from the Russian Government.
    The Metropolitan of Athens is arranging the changes necessary to adapt to the requirements of the Orthodox Church, the ancient Church of St. Demetrius at Salonika, which the Turks had transformed into a mosque.
    The last days of Turkish rule in Salonika were days of anarchy, according to dispatches received here. M. Ractivan, the Greek Minister of Justice, who went there to represent the Greek Government, was accompanied by Col. Monferratos with strong detachments of Greek and Cretan military police. He took immediate steps to re-establish order. Since then a fresh contingent of Greek military police has been dispatched.
    Bands of Mussulmans from Albania continue to pillage and commit outrages in Northern Epirus and the District of Argyrocastro, which was inhabited almost entirely by Greeks, according to a semi-official announcement. The districts have been practically depopulated by these systematic depredations.