The San Francisco call., 1897-02-17
GREEKS WILL
MAKE READY
The Local Colony Is Very
Eager to Oppose the
Turks.
FUNDS WILL BE RAISED
TO HELP.
Patriotic Addresses to Be De-
livered at Banquet
Sunday.
THEIR LOVE OF CONFLICT Is
INHERITED.
So Say Demetrak and Vamvalss,
Prominent Members of thu
H llenic Society.
THEIR LOVE OF CONFLICT Is
INHERITED.
So Say Demetrak and Vamva1sS
Prominent Members of the
Hllenic Society.

The mem bers of the local Greek colony
are wrought up TO high pitch of patrl-
otto enthusiasm by the news of the mo ther
country's expressed determination to
defy the unspeaka BILE Turk and to draw
the sword il necessary in defense OF Cretan
liberty. As already stated in these col
umns, this enthusiasm has assumed
practical form; funds are being raised TO
succor the wives and families of the mas
sacred Christians, and fully $50 able
bodied Creek are prepared to leave for
the scene OF hostilities at almost mo-
ment's notice should the mother country
be actually in need of their services.
c. Demetrak of 1922 Mission street stated
last night that banquet would be given
on Sunday evening in the Druids' Hall,
Sutter street, at the expense of a. Kosta,
the chairman OF the committee recently
appointed by the Hellenic Mutual Benev-
olent Society TO consider the question of
raising funds on behalf OF the Cretan
patriots. The banquet proper will lie
preceded by meeting, in the course
of which Messrs. De N etrak, NJ. D. YAM
wales, NJ. Damianakis and +. VrewIos will
deliver addresses on the subject of the
present crisis and invite suggestions from
the rest OF their countrymen in this City,
almost to man.
1t was also decided the other evening to
give ball for the benefit OF the sufferers
on the island of Crete, at the Turn
Verein Hall, 323 Turk street, on the 9th
inst, particulars of which will be pub
hshed later. Every guest will appear in
the Greek national costume, and a large
gathering is confidently ANTICIPATED.
"All the Greeks in the City" said Mr..
Demetrak, ''are very enthusiastic, and the
Cretan question alb OrDs our attention Just
now. We are preparing to assist our coun-
try in every way possible, either with men
or with monev. II Greece has 10 fight
Turkey, there are many OF US, not only in
San Francisco, but all over the States,
who will go over to help her. Most of us
are naturaliZed Americans, and love our
adopted country, and are equally ready to
draw the sword on her behalf when called
upon. Just now, however, the United
States enjoys peace and can spare us to
hight for the mother country. l believe we
can raise company of $50 a able-b bodied
men, fully equipped, to leave at a mo-
ment's notice when needed. 1t is nat
ural instinct with the Greeks to aid the
distressed, as was illustrated last week,
when our society contributed large sum
Tor the benefit of the sufferers by the re-
cent floods a. Athens. To-day's news
from the seat of war was received with Joy
among us, and we have been holding an
impromptu celebration in honor of the
event"
NJ. D. Vamvales echoed the sentiments
OF Mr.. Demetrak, when interviewed yes
terday.
Yes he said, "all is in readiness when
the struggle really begins between Greece
and Turkey. There are probably about
600 Greeks in San Francisco. and 1000 on
the Pacific Coast. At least 100 In this City
alone are qualified to fight when called
upon. 1t should be borne in mind that
nearly all of US have served our time in
the Greek army, with the exception of
those who left home before they were of
age, and some others who were born IN
this country. At present we are merely
concerning ourselves with the raising of
funds to assist the cause of Crete and we
give bail on the 9th inst. for the bene-
tit OF the widows and children of the mas
sacred Cretans. Nevertheless we are pre-
pared to form a company more than 100
strong TO leave foT Crete when called upon.
Many OF the Greeks here are fairly
wealthy, and We shall have no difficulty
in raising plenty of money"
Vamvales is big, powerfully built man,
and physically, at least, seems admirably
qualified to undertake a warIike mission
The love of fighting for its own sake, he
explained, was a national inheritance
dating from ThermopvIa. Salamis and a
hundred other blood stained fields upon
which his ancestors have vindicated the
cause of freedom against the incursions of
Asiatic tyranny. Wherever there IS any
fighting" said Vamvales naiveIy 1--WE
must be in it. We would help the United
States with equal readiness against for
eign foe"