The San Francisco call., 1897-05-16

there are none that are more potent and
important than the secret societies Dy
which Europe, Asia and Africa are honey
combed. Relatively, little is known con-
corning them. but the solution OF the
present crisis in the Levant may be said
to depend entirely upon the wishes of the
unknown leaders of one of these organi-
cations, who alone can determine whether
by the time this article appears in print
King George will still be on his tottering
throne or an exile from the land over
which he has reigned-but hardly ruled
for the last four and thirty years.
For monarch, cabinet, assembly and
army of Greece are all subject to the des-
potism of the Ethnike Hetaria, the chief
of which is generally believed to reside at
Alexandria, while some OF its principal
leaders have been established for years
here in the United States. 1t is this
society that has compelled King George
to invade Turkish territory in Crete with
out any previous declaration of war
against the Sublime Porte, an act which
from the point OF view of international
law is fully as unjustifiable as the much
decried Transvaal raid; and it is the same
association that precipitated the trouble on
the northern frontier OF Greece when every
nerve was being strained, not only by the
great powers, but also by the Sultan and
by King George himself, to avert HOSTILE
ties and to bring about a pacific settle
ment of the trouble. Moreover, the popu-
lar feeling at Athens against the Crown
Prince or "Diadokus" is mainly due to the
reluctance which he manifested in obey
ing the behests of the society to assume
the offensive and hasten the attack upon
the forces under Edhem Pasha-a reluct-
ance, which was in no wise attributable to
cowardics as has been asserted, but solely
to the pressing remonstrances on the part
of his foreign relatives, to allow them time
to secure a com promise in every respect
honorable and satisfactory to Greece.
Not only the major portion of tho rank
and file, but likewise the greater part OF
the corps of officers OF the Greek army, are
affiliated to the Hetara, and, knowing
the wishes and comm ands of the society,
they naturally rebeiled against being kept
back by the Crown Prince, and vented
their anger by charging him with lacking
courage, an imputation which they COM
respondents ON the spot. Discipline is not
the strong point Of the Greeks, who are the
most passionate, unruly and, above all,
democratic people of Europe, and the
officers and men of the regular army
ended by joining in large mum bers the
guerrillas, who on their own account
were making raids into Turkish territory.
This was of course more than the Sultan
could stand. He was prepared to abstain
from treating acts of overt hostility on
the part of the irregulars as casus beill,
and to look upon their forays across his
frontier as mere pieces of brigandage by
irresponsible bandltti. But the moment
that officers and soldiers OF the regular
Greek army, in full uniform, took part IN
the raids the latter assumed quite diff
ferent aspect, and Edhem Pasha received
orders from Constantinople to assume the
offensive and to march upon the Crown
Prince.
The disasters which have ensued are
wrongly laid at the door of Constantine.
The Turkish army, in spite of all that has
been said to the contrary, is one of the
finest in the world, the men being abso-
lutely indifferent to the danger Of death,
SO much so, indeed. that when wounded
they prefer to die of their injuries sooner
than have their lives saved by means of
am putations, which, according to their
ethics and religious convictions, are CAL
culated to i'm pair their chances OF eternal
bliss hereafter, since the Houris of Para
disc will naturally prefer man who is
com plete to one who is deficient in the
normal quantity of arms and legs. The
Turkish army held even the splendidly
trained forces of Russia in cheek through
the entire winter of 1877, although the
Muscovite troops were vastly su-
perior in numbers, and grandly led
by such celebrated generals as GOurko.
Skobeleff and Todieben. 1t was therefore
only to be expected that the Turks should
easily hold their own against the Greek
army, which was from the outset of the
struggle inferior in numbers, in equip
ment and in armament.
It is clear that as soon as the moving
spirits of the Hetaria realized that the
Greek army would be able to make no
definite stand against the Turkish invad-
ers, they decided to withdraw from
the game, and to await more propitious
they had in view. being particularly dis
appointed at the failure Of their under
taking to precipitate general European
war, from which they had expected to
reap golden results. This is evident from
their neglect to play u number of very
valuable cards which they held in their
hands, and which they would certainly
have placed on the table had they seen
any chance of winning the game. Thus
the European provinces of Turkey,
as we'll as Servia, Bulgaria. and even Rou-
mania, literally swarm with Greeks nearly
all affiliated to the Hetaria, and ready to
rise at a moments notice on receiving the
word. This word was never given, nor
was any endeavor made by the Hetaria to
avail itself of the services of the several
hundred thousand of its members, who
reside at Constantlnople and who are
scattered throughout the various cities
and seaports of ASIA Minor. At Vienna,
at Paris, Frankfort ana London some of
the leading fnanciers are Greeks belong
ing to the Hetaria, who had they been
commanded might have worked wonders,
not only by means Of their local influence,
but also with their purse. Yet not sign
was given to them that their assistance
was required. In the opinion OF the
Hetaria it would have been q useless waste
of excellent material which might bs
found far more serviceable on another
occasion.
1t being held necessary to secure some
one to bear the brnnt of the failure of the
enterprise and OF the popular odium that
followed from the reverses sustained