The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-10-23
MARTIAL LAW IN
GREECE DRASTIC
IN THE EXTREME
-Suspends All Guarantees OF
Free Speech, Speedy
Trial
DIRECT MEASURE AT
MILITARY PLOTTERS
People Cannot Even Express
A Hope For Reversal OF
Present Regime

BY Associated Press to The Bannrrl
ATHENS, Oct. 19-Thc proclama.
tion of martial law, which is now in
force by royal decree, has been adopt.
ed by the government as means of
dealing with the elements which con
tinue to agitato in behalf of the old
royalfst regime of King Constantine.
1t is drastic measure, suspending the
constitutional guarantees of free
speech, speedy trial and placing the
capital and the section of southern
Greece comprised in Attica and Boetia
Ill state of siege, and giving to the
military instead of the civil authori.
ties the safeguarding of public order.
On the abdication of Constantine
most of his ministers and chief offic.
ers were cXiled or deprived of their
functions. But it was imnossiblc TO
make clean sweep of all those
friendly to the old regime, and many
of the leaders including prominent
military men, remain at Athens, II
Is said they hold meetings at two
points, one at Kaphissia. a suburb and
the other at Athens, where plots arc
Matched and the eventually of Con
stantine's return looked forward to-
While the new administration has a
1rm hold of affairs. and is in complete
accord with the Entente Allies. vet
the Entente officials feel there is still
danger in the old military element
which continues to agitate with the
public, and is even said to have some
OF its representatives in the cntour-
age of the new king.
Martial law is expected to reach
these military piottcrs. 1t is also cx.
pected to put u stop to the flood of
sensational rumor which keeps the ig.
norant classes and the peasantry in
a continual state of unrest, with the
evident purpose of making them be-
lieve that Il German victory and the
return of Constantine are near at
hand Some of these reports were of
the fall of Verdun, the flight of the
French government from Paris, and a
separate peace by Russia The gov
ernmont and the allied diplomats arc
satisfied that all this is part of Il sys-
tematic campaign by which the Cen
tral Powers are operating through the
element favorable to the late king.
An American official closely in
touch with recent events tells how "A
report circulated that an American
fleet was coming to support King
Constantine. This report was widely
believed and had been printed as a
fact in the local press. One of the
Kings household met the American
minister, Mr.. Droppcrs, and said:
"At last we are to have the Amcri-
can fleet"
Indeed" said the American min
lister, when is it coming"
"Very soon; it has passed Gibraltar;
we have kilograms from that point"
81 am sorry to differ with you" said
the minister, but | don't believe the
fleet is coming"
"Why not" demanded the royal of
fetal
Because" said the minister, "if an
American fleet is sent to Greece the
American minister will be one of the
first to know it,"
This put an end to the report that
the fleet was corning, and it brought
about considerable coolness toward
the American authorities. 1t is this
sort of rumOr, for political effect, that
martial law will seek to stop.
The rigors of this martial law are
indicated by the rules issued by the
commanding General of the Athens
district. One of the prohibitions he
lays down is as follows
THE communicate tion in any public
manner, by expose, opinion, or inror-
nation, of anything likely to increase
in the eyes of the people the force
of the enemy or to diminish our force
or that of our allies or which will at
tribute too much importance TO the
dangers of the war and the losses it
involves, or inspires fear or uncertain
ty among the people or in the army;
or doubt upon favorable issue of the
war, or upon its efficacy, or upon the
necessity to consent to all sacrifices
in view of this isgup "
Another prohibition is against ex.
pressing any hope or tendency in fay.