The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-26
Germany and France Become
Alive to Importance of Greece
as Mediterranean Power.
ranean Power.


BY LA MARaUIsE DE FONTENoY.
MPEROR WILLIAMS action In
bestowing the baton and rank
or a field marshal of the Ger
man army upon his brother-in-law
King Constantine of Greece. calls for
word Of explanation. especially in
view OF tho fact that for u long time
and, indeed, until quite recently, the
TWO men were not on speaking terms
The fact of the matter is that both
Germany and France have become
alive to the growing importance OF
greece as a Mediterranean power and
are each endoavoring to secure pre-
dominant influence at Athens
The Greeks are intensely proud OF
their military progresses and their UNI
interrupted series OF victories during
tho recent was In the Balkans oblit-
Grating, as they do. the memory of
their ignominious defeats In tho pre-
vious conflict with Turkey near TWEEN
ty years ago. They arc keenly alive
to the fact that the fine showing OF
their troops Ia the recent campaigns
has been entirely due to the splendid
training which they have received
from the French General Eydoux. and
his carefully picked mission OF fellow
officers OF the Fronch army. loaned
for the purpose by the French govern
nent. In the face OF financial difficult
ties of the Hellenic government, OF
political interference in the admins
tration of the army. and tho native
spirit OF indiscipline of officers and
men, the French instructors have
achieved wonders, and, although the
people OF the Southeast of Europe do
not include gratitude. as Il rule. among
their national virtues, the Greeks GER
tainly do feel the nkful to the French.
Tho Paris government Is anxious to
take advantage of these sentiments to
establish an alliance with Greece, in
order to uso her against Italy, and, in
fact. against the entire triple alliance.
should occasion arise: and in tho re&-
cent deliberations at Bucharest con-
corning the treaty which brought the
war between the former Balkan allies
to close, gave the strongest kind OF
support to ALL the pretensions OF
Greece. much to the dissatisfaction and
disappointment OF Russia.
France, which controls ono OF the
two principal money markets Of the
world-namely, that of Paris-which
almost always works in unison with
the other. namely, that of London
is also Arranging to furnish the Greek
government with the financial assist
ance which 1t will badly need now that
the quart d'heure de Radicals has ar
defray the overwhelming obligations
incurred during the two recent wars,
and to pay the expenses thereof.
Frances main Idea at the present mo-
meut Is 70 Hxalt and strengthen Greece
as big Mediterranean power, and to
thus serve MS a counterpoIse to italy.
The Kaiser is keenly alive to this,
and has been sending the most enthu-
siastic Of kilograms to King Constan-
nf
OF the warmcst admiration for his
achievements as a victorious military
commander at the same time convey
ing his most laudatory congratula-
tions to the Greek army. In bestow
Ing the baton of German field marshal
upon Constantine. he. emphasizes the
fact that Ii has been won on many
battlenelds, and is, therefore. no mere
compliment-words which Will be read
with mingled feelings by King George
of Great Britain. by King Frederick
Augustus III. of SaXony. and some
other royal and imperial personages.
whose rank as field marshal of the
German army is OF purely honorary
character
King Constantine seems to have
been very gratified by the Kaiser's
baton of field marshal from his Ger
man brotherin-law as a disinterest-
ed token of appreciation OF his MILL
tary achievements. But the Creek
Premier the leading statesmen. and
military and naval commanders at
Athens, as we'll as the troops. see In
the Kaiser's gracious and cordial mes
sages mere Teuton statecraft and
diplomacy and Il desire to establish
his standing at Athens as the principal
friend of the Hellenic nation and gov
eminent. They cannot forget that
the Turkish troops in the last war, as
in that OF eighteen years ago. were
trained wholly by German officers. che
most conspicuous among whom was
the German Field Marshal Won der