Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-30
MAY FORCE KING OUT
Acute Political Crisis Reached
in Greece.
ARMY AGAINST THRONE
Military League Bent on the Sover.
eign's Humiliation.
TURKEY TRIES TO FORCE WAR.
New and Weak Government Resorts
to the Favorite Ruse Of States
men to Obtain Harmony.
TURKEY TRIES TO FORCE Wal

BIZ WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record.
HERALD.
AS every one has doubtless noticed, by
the cablegrams In the newspapers, there
is an acute political crisis In Greece
which may develop. a republic or a
change OF kings or war with Turkey
or the Intervention of the six powers OF
Europe and their selection of new
sovereign, as occurred in 1888 and again
in 1868. Indeed. the situation is very
much like that of 1863.
After Greece which had been a prov
ince of the Turkish empire since the
beginning Of the sixteenth century, gain
ed her independence by the revolution
of 1920, and was declared an indie
pendent kingdom under the protection of
Great Britain, France and Russia, Prince
Otto of Bavaria. then eighteen years OF
age, was placed upon the throne Jan
uary %, 1888. After a reign of twenty
nine years his subjects drove him from
the palace and the country in October,
1862, and the following year the powers
selected Prince George of Denmark as
his successor. George was only eighteen
years of age when he assembled the
throne. He has ruled acceptably and
with amiable tact and gentle dignity for
forty-six years. In the meantime there
have been numerous uprisings and
changes of administration, due to the
turbulent disposition of the people and
| their periodical fits of restlessness; but
King George has always avoided politics
and has overcome many a perplexing
situation with patience and philosophy.
The present crisis has been brought
about indirectly by the aggressive atti-
tude of the new Turkish government,
which is trying to provoke war with
Greece in order to divert the attention of
its people from the bunders of it's par
lament and incompetent officials. The
present government of Turkey is COM
!! posed almost exclusively Of men without
doing the best they can, their admins
tration is not satisfactory and provokes
continual criticism and complaint.
Old Ruse of Statesmen.
1t is a favorite ruse of statesmen to Sc
cure harmony at home by quarrels
abroad. and for several months the Young
Turks in power have been seeking a pre-
text to attack the Greeks, who are the
weakest and most convenient victims
within reach: while intelligent and pa
triotic officers of the Grecan army,
alarmed at the aggressveness of Turkey,
have adopted radical measures to COM
pei their government to prepare for war
by reorganizing the military and naval
forces, repairing Notifications and pur-
chasing new ordinance and military sup
plies.
This movement has been SO successful
that Greece is now under an actual mill
tary dictatorship of a committee OF Of
ficers Of the line which has made certain
demands upon the king and the parlia-
ment. They are supported by the stu
dents of the university. who demand
educational reforms: the clergy, the labor
unions, who demand legislation for the
improvement of the working classes, and
all sorts Of other organizations, until the
movement comprehends general refor-
nation of military, industrial. educa-
tional judicial and social conditions
throughout the kingdom. The army con-
trolls the situation and the police are
sympathetic, SO that the authorities are
absolutely helpless.
The Trouble Began in Crete,
The trouble with Turkey is perpleXing
and irritating. and grows out of the
demonstrations of the Greek population
In the Island of Crete. That island. which
has population of about 100000, was
under the rule of the doges OF Venice
until 1869. when it was taken by the
Turks. and has been the scene Of almost
continuous instruction because the popu-
lation are Christians and will not tolerate
Mohammedan rulers. Finally. in 1893, for
the peace OF Europe, the six powers in
tervened. reorganized the government and
appointing Prince George, the second son
of the King of Greece, as the ruler of
the island, with the title of high COM
missioner. The police are in command
of Greek officers: justice is administered
In the name of the King Of Greece, the
postage stamps are surcharged with the
-
tually more Greek in their patriotism
than the Greeks themselves. Last sum-
mer, on one OF the national holidays.
some body raised the Greek flag upon a
pole in the central plaza OF Canea, and
1t has foated there ever since. mailed to
the mast. so that 1t cannot be taken
down. Although Crete is no longer a
province of Turkey. neither is ii prov
ince of Greece: The Turkish govern
ment has complained OF this demonstra-
ton as violation o. neutrality. and
has found it convenient to hold the
Greek government responsible. II has
also complained that more than 300
Greek spies and conspirators have been
sent into Macedonia, and Rumelia, which
are Turkish provinces, to stir up OPPOSE
ton to the Turkish authorities. The
Greek government denies all responsible
ity for this; it claims to be abiding strict
~ by the terms Of the treaty and asks
the protection Of the powers against the
aggressive policy Of the Turkish govern
ment.
Eager to Fight Again.
The officers of the Greek army, on the
other hand. are dissatisfied with what
they consider a cowardly policy on the
part of their government and it's apathy
and indifference to what they regard as a
serious crisis. They insist upon a. more
aggressive policy toward the Turks and
immediate preparations for national de-
Tense. They have not forgotten the dis
aster of the war with Turkey a few
years ago, which they are eager to re-
trieve.
The public generally are earnestly COM
mitted to the program of military re.
forms and rearmament, which the gov
eminent has reluctantly adopted to save
It's existence. but the financial situation
is discouraging. 1t is impossible to cary
out the pledges made to the army with
out negotiating a large loan, which will
be difficult and make it necessary to dou-
BILE the taxes on tobacco, liquors and
petroleum. The minister Of finance is
confident that he can float loan of oOO,-
100000 drachmas-a drachma is equiva-
lent to 121z cents-and that will probably
be the solution Of the problem.
The attitude of the powers Is to prevent
a war, because 1t would be calamity for
both countries. They have notified the
Military League in Athens that it must
not force things, and have warned the
Young Turks that they must not take adj
vantage of the internal troubles of Greece