Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-03
GREECE NOW AT THE CROSSROADS

The coming Of Greece to the CROSS
roads was inevitable because Of the
folly Of Constantine 1 II
Result AZ had been moro honorable
I'M and moro easy to stand by
HoAy' the treaty with Serbia and
save Serbia Italy's declaration Of war
against Germany was Immediately fol-
lowed by Rumania's declaration against
Austria Hungary. and this finds Greece.
her soil invaAsd by Bulgarians. at the
crossroads. whilst Rumania, her army
led by King Ferdinand. has already
entered Pennsylvania. VIII Greece re-
main at the crossroads? Can she re-
main there?
The dispatches announced that on the
9th ultimo there would be something
doing in Athens. and there was. Fifty
thousand Greeks assembled before the
residence Of venizelos, the former
premier. These fifty thousand cheered
him with great enthusiasm. NeniZelos
told them in the language of Sparta:
Go tell the king to support the
present government and prepare the
army for possible rupture of existing
conditions. Tell him. Your majesty,
you were the victim of persons who
persuaded you there would be Ger
man victory and you thought you could
violate the constitution. The people do
not approve of these acts. The re-
servists telegraph you that they are
ready to follow you because they think
you always will remain neutral. Elec-
lions are necessary, but you must not
use your influence politically because
the results would be destructive. The
present government is absolutely nee
essary. The premier, Alexander Zaimis,
is an excellent man. You should give
the government full political authority.
You must now show the entente powers
most benevolent neutrality and exer-
else the army in preparation for pos
sible rupture of existing conditions.
CARDS your position
And the peoples delegates must have
told King Constantine these things. for
he called a council of
A New Chief war and Gen. Constan-
tine Moschopoulos was
VI 0tan' appointed the new chief
of staff. an officer Of distinction and in
cordial accord with Gen. Sarrail and
personally cognizant of the situation in
swer. and it is assumed that 1t means
that the king has finally lent ear to the
people Of Greece. Subsequent reports Of
his abdication and the outbreak of a
revolution are not sufficiently detailed or
confirmed to permit clear view of the
situation at this hour
Greece has been the victim of an in
trigue at court and Conspiracy Of
palace" The people, who are quite well
aware OF the matter, calm in the hope
that the approaching general elections
would rectffy the situation, waited. So
also the entente powers. which, after
long hesitations. finally decided to adj
dress the Hellenic government In ener-
getic language, and, more, supported their
demand by a naval demonstration be-
called. demanded the dismissal Of the
Skoulidis Gounaris ministry the disso-
luton of the chamber. new elections,
the rehabilitation Of the army, the re-
placement of the high officials Of the
police department
King Constantine was not surprised
at the action Of the entente. The min,
the council. NJ. Zaimis. was designated.
It is said that Constantine I, on receiv-
ing the communication Of the demands
OF the entente, presented him by Prince
Demidof, Russian minister, turned
deathly pale and cried: They wish to
take my crown!"
But Constantine appeared hopelessly
entangled In the meshes which had been
woven around him by Herr Won Mirbach.
the representative of Austria Hungary,
and Herr Won Schenk, the representa-
tive OF Germany. who it is charged, had
unlimited credits at their disposal