The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-03-17

the subtraction Of Macedonia. Not
outstanding that all the Greek states
men had regarded Macedonia as essen
tial to the future of Greece. and even
Premier N%cnizelcs himself had declar-
ed that in amy arrangement with the
allies there would be no concession of
Macedonian territory to Bulgaria. Brit
iSh diplomacy. having a childlike conf
dence in Rulgaria's good faith. was ac-
tually seeking Il slice of Greece's Mace
DOMAIN territory for restoration to Bull
garia.
The failure of Greece to observe her
treaty with Scrvia when the central
powers invaded that country and the
preteXt that the treaty only contem-
plated defending Servian territory from
aggression by the other Balkan states
or by Turkey is one of the more re-
cent chapters in the world war. The
Greek neutrality party. in justifying
Greece from making Il sacrifice Of her.
self regardless of the treaty, offers
some plausible grounds at IL time when
neither treaties nor international law
is observed by the great Delliyerents.
But the question will recur whether,
with the central powers now menacing
her on the land size and with the al
lied powers controlling her coasts and
with the possibility of domestic revo-
luton, the sacrifice would not have
atfored her better prospects Of an ex-
banded national life.
In the event of victory of the allies
they will be under no obligation to
encourage the accretion OF further
Grerian territory. and while Germany
may. as the price of Grccian neutral
ltN. give some assurances about Bul.
@arin and Turkey, it will be difticulr
to restrain these armed allies from
getting back some of the territory that
they have lost to Greece during rcrru,
! years.
The Greece of today has an area
about equal to Maryland and a popula-
tion somewhat under 5000. 900. Athens
ana liraeus. its port, have Il pupula-
ton of 275,oun. and the Macedonian
port of Saloniki. before the military
occupation and the influx of refugees,
had 1I5,GUO inhabitants.
The possession of the numerous is
lands is absolutely essential to the OK
i>tonce of Greece. Nothing now iuli-
Gates that the dream for the rcstora-
ton of Grecian empire on the .Asiatic
mainland will he realized. but there is
still the possibility of Il fairly strong
Greece if the islands are not cut off
and if Macedonia is retained.
Most OF the export products of Greece
are from the islands, Zanie is the
chief source of the c%urrantS. and SO
per cent of the olives are produced IN
the Ionian islands. The mainland pro
duces very little of the other fruits and
agricultural products which are en-
ported, and. while ThesSaly produces
wheat. there is not enough of it for
local consumption.
Greece has Il fairly good navy for IL
small country. Besides the Idaho and
the Mississippi. which were purchased
from the United! States. the navy was
strengthened two years = by the adj
dition of Il cruiser said to have lren
obtained indirectly from Chile.
When the wal hogan IL new naval
arsenal replacing the old one at Sala-
mis- was under construction. at IL cost
of $%14,OOO,OOO. British engineers d.
reclcd the work. These naval faciIi-
ties undoubtedly will he awaited of by
J the allies in the present emergency.