New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-03-14
GREECE ASKS FOR JUSTICE.

Ian trOUDleS was Hduucu " u" W
Mr.. c.. Arvanetes with request
that We reproduce it, so as to
familiarize our readers with the
true conditions now existing be-
tween those countries. Mr.. Ar
vanetes came to New Iberia from
Meteleno. Greece and has built
up quite large business here.
He informed us that over 'oo
papers in the United States have
seen fit to reprduce it:
From the sad spectacle OF a
nation calling for material help
to foreign lands We beg you to
turn to the inspiring vision OF a
nation silently bearing her burd-
ems and intelligently bearing her
losses. with a unanimous effort
that unites Prince and peasant,
colonial migrant and the worker
at home. We invite you to con.
slider not only the self-denlal OF
the Greeks Of America, who gave
their savings, often their all. to
aid their country, but also the pa
triotism of the young men, VINO,
even now, are leaving their lucra-
tive employments and the safe
home of their adoption to return
to Greece and enlist in the army
that will toll, not alone IN It's
military capacity but as the
workmen who must slave to con-
struct where destruction has
passed and to bring prosperity
once more to the waste places
left desolate by massacre and
pillage.
According to Bulgaria's des-
cription of her needs, one must
infer that she alone fought all
the wars, she alone extended
open arms to all the refugees.
The fact is her refugees are COM
paratively few. During the sec
ond war, Bulgaria closed her
boundaries against all who sought
admission. To no one, not even
to her own people, would she give
protection. This is matter OF
public record and was well
known in America at he time. 1t
is not mentioned now. The ref
ugees for whom she may legltl-
mately ask aims are afew thou
sand from Dobroutsa, the Prov
ince allotted to Roumania. These
left the new control, not because
Of any persecution on the part OF
their masters, but because Of at
filiations of language and nation
atty. The Bulgarian pensioners
from the new provinces Of Greece
are not in any true sense fugi-
tives, except from justice. They
ARE for the most part the 'Comit-
adjis'' mountaineer bandits, cal
ling themselves ''irregulars, |"
who co-operated with the Bull
garian army, and for whom court
martial waited, as the result OF
their outragers. Knowing the
country and the personnel Of its
inhabitants, they were OF great
service to the hooters, gaining
not little from the private en-
terprise of abduction for ran
som. The same type, in short,
who were responsible for the kid
mapping some years ago, Of the
we'll known missionary, Miss
Stone-1or has America forgotten
its 100000 purchase Of her lib
erty7 With the establishment Of
Greek rule. these bandits sought
the protection Of those who were
equally blood stained, but the
spoils they took with them should
have been more than ample to
prevent their becoming public
charges.
Let us now consider the posi-
ton Of Greece with regard to her
refugees. Greeks, Turks, Jews
and Bulgarians, destitute because
Of Bulgarian savagery. rushed to
her for aid. When peace was de-
clared after the second Balkan
war, 12S,O00 refugees Of four ma
tionalties and three religions
had already poured into Greek
territory. Many Of these had es-
capped from the regions allotted
to Bulgaria, upon hearing Of their
annextion. They knew only toe
well what to expect from theil
new protectors.
Once within her borders Greece
received and sheltered the un
fortunates who thus threw them
selves upon her mercy. She gave
them food, tents were provided
literally 'scities Of refuge ap
peared in the land. Before thu
bitter winds of winter came
wooden structures were erected
md +hn Gnvnrnv opr;r oo,.,