Evening journal., 1897-05-21
FRIDAY. MAY 2I. 1897.
THE CREEKS DEFEAT.

The brave, unfortunate Greeks, who
SO boldly met their enemy against
great odds, have suffered defeat. The
Mohammedan villain has triumphed
over the Christian hero. Right was
pitted against wrong all through this
military struggle but right was so
badly misdirected that wrong gained
an undeserved victory. We cannot agree
with some celebrated lecturers, who are
supposed to be authorities on the fight
ing strength of nations and the art OF
war. when they tell us that the Turks
proved better fighters than the Greeks
For instance, Professor McAndrew, of
Brooklyn, Greater New York, takes the
side of Turkish superiority.
In lecture recently delivered In that
district he introduced his views on the
cause OF Greek defeat with reference
to the fact that at the very beginning OF
the war, military experts told us that
Turkey could mass upon the frontier
SOC. 900 troops, while Greece could, un-
der no circumstances, hope to mobilize
more than 216,O00; that the Turkish
soldier was fighter by nature, his one
great and distinguishing mark being
that he would rather fight than eat, and
that he had arms in plenty OF the mod
ern type. On the other hand we are in
formed that these authorities knew the
Greek soldier was poorly drilled, with
out fighting experience, and that the
government could not furnish arms
even to those who wanted to enlist. In
spite OF all this, McAndrew says, we ex-
pected Greece to rise and whip the 'un-
speakable Turk" out OF his boots.
This argument reads very well, but
IL is In no way consistent with the
teachings OF history. It is impossible
TO concede Professor McAndrew's the
ory, when we consider the success of
the struggle Of our forefathers, who
we're so per cent. weaker than the
Greeks in their fight against power
that was 80 per cent. stronger than the
Turks. We, therefore, take the liberty
OF correcting Professor McAndrews and
the brainy authorities he quotes. In our
opinion the Greeks lost because they
had no Washington to lead them to
victory. As men, they were as patriotic
and daring as the first Americans, but
their energy was wasted through the
absolute lack OF military leadership.
Not that we are satisfied that the peo-
pie OF Greece do not possess some such
a genius as the great Washington hid
den In their rank and file, but in conse-
ouence of the weak manner in which
the government managed the campaign
In fact, we feel at liberty to express a
belief that the throne purposely led its
subjects to defeat; that King George
feared a revolution would follow the
stimulation OF victory. It is in this
respect that the Greeks are most un-
fortunate. From time to time during
the modern history OF the race, mon
archial rule has held the people in slav-
cry. Their long struggle is sad chap
ter to read.
When, in 1880, the powers relieved
the Greeks from the Turkish yoke, the
patriots who had drawn their swords
for liberty, desired a free and indepen-
dent republic for which race, history
and country had fitted them; they wers
made instead into a Bavarian kingdom
They needed a council of their OWL
countrymen, they received a hungr,
horde OF foreign courtiers ignorant o
the language and careless OF all in
terests but their own advancement. Fo
their king the powers gave them
spoiled child OF 16 years. Otho, prime
Of Bavaria a selfish, stupid incarnation
OF nothingness, or worse. 1t was
sorry day for Greece when she made
festival to welcome this manikin b
the throne. In 1868 the Greek peopl
rose in revolution against OthO and nc
a single power protested, so flagran
had been the mal-administration {
the country under his rule. Then Kin
George, of the house of Denmark, wa
placed upon the throne, where he ha
reigned for thirty-four years. AS
ruler, he is a great improvement on h
predecessor, but he is also a foreigne
not in sympathy with the Greek pi
triotism. 1t is our hope that Gree
will yet shine as a sister republic. v
are satisfied that she is worthy