The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-01
CONSTANTINE
ADVOCATES THE
GREEK. THRONE
Crown Prince Will Succeed
But Venizelos WILDE
Real Power.
WAS ONCE POPULAR Il0l|
Beginning of War Broue
Serious Troubles for
King.
WAS ONCE POPULAR IDOl|
(By Associated Press

W. "ccOSAahcu - AO81K
LONDON. Sept. liking Constsn
tine, OF Greece, has abdicated; accord
ing to the British official press rep.
resentative at Soloniki.
The representatives says the king
has abdicated in favor Of Grown
Prince with Venizelos as the power
behind the thrown.
The new policy, he reports, WIN Be
to work with the Entente allies &C
cording to information now available
Premier Zaimis will remain &C The
head Of the government.
The correspondent questions vhc<k|
er the Entente allies desire tho I'd
tive assistance of Greece. variou|
rumors are in circulation here N IL
gard to the situation in Greece.
Reuther dispatches from SaioniId
say there has been fighting between
Greek garrison at Saloniki and Greek
volunteers recently organized TO as.
sist Greek regulars who are resist
ing the Bulgarians in Mscdeonia.
French troops interviewed to suppress
the fighting and the garrison finally
surrendered and marched out of sal
oniki. .
The reign Of Constantine I. as King
Of the Hellenes was brief, dating only
from March Is, 1913, when his fafiI<f'
George ], was assassinated n SaIonI|-
Brief as the reign was, Constaniino
enjoyed period Of remarkabIe roou-
lartty until the present war began
and increased the territory OF the
Greek monarchy by over fftype cent
Born on August 3, 1868, he was ed
ucated largely by private tutor ffom
Leipsic. which was said to haya stamp
cd upon him q permanent German IN
fuence. His military education WIS
furthered by attendance 1t n1nno-
evures in Germany. He being 4 broth
er.in.law Of the German Emperor br
marrying the latter's sister. Princess
Sophia, in 1889. 49,
His alleged pro-German iearninrs
thus indicated. were unpopular with
his people. and strong party antacorI-
istic to his desire to have Greece prc-
serve neutrality and In favor Of Join
ing the Allies. precipitated q crisis
The most interesting chapter OF Con
stantfnes life Is the way In which be
became the peoples idol. Like his
father. he had his ups and downs Ia
favor. the Greeks having been quick
changing in their likes and disiikes.
In 1896 when he saw hfs country
drifting into war with Turkey. he
sounded warning that the Greek
army was utterly unprepared Tor A
campaign. The infantry was armed
with condemned French rifles. which
had cost 50 each; the cartridEes were
10 years old; there was no cavairy:
the artillery was absolette, and lie
officers few. Nevertheless, the couu-
try decided upon war. Theiresult Wa
dfstrous-a humiliating defeat for
Greece. Immediately the popular tide
turned against its rulers. whom Il de-
nounced as foreigners who could have
little In common with the Greeks. Ths
King and Queen were booted IA the
streets and the officers turned their
backs upon the Crown Prince.
A similar spirit was reused aeainsf
the royal house when, in 1903. KING
George tried to oppose the popu1ar
clamor for the annexation az Crete
knowing that Turkey wa; eaxsrIr
awaiting such an excuse to bring
second crushing defeat upon Greece
This time the clamor almost became
q revolt, and the King was OBLIGED
to yield to the demand Of the military
league. both for re-organixation or
the army and for the dismissai Of the
Crown Prince as Generaiissfmo. He
thereupon decided to accept con-
mand In the Russian army, but the oD-
position to him was smoothed out