The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-12
STRENUOUS DAYS IN GREECE WHEN
 FIGHTING BEGAN
American Representative Tells of Efforts to Remove
 Non-Combatants.

Athens, Jan. 12.-I write from the Phaleron. The institution owes it's eX- istence to John w. Frothingham,I of New York, and it's continued support so far. AS the children are under the protection of the American flag, but without any American representative since the departure of Miss Reed, of New York, some six months ago, at Madame Gruich's wish. the American minister in Athens, Garrett Droppers, delegated me on December 6 to look after the children and accompany them to any port to which they may be sent.
 On December I had boarded ths battleship Provence, the admiral flag ship, with Miss Canzuch, of the Or phanage, and we had been strongly advised by the naval aide-de-camp of Admiral du Fournet to advise Mime. Gruich to remove the children. There was no immediate danger, and it was not decided that day whether it would provide transport. We notified Madame Gruich and packing was be- gun.
 French Already Leaving.
 There is, or was, a large French col ony in Athens. All were leaving un- der orders of the French Legation. The English, Italian, and Serbian col onies were also leaving. The quaysj of the Piraeus were blocked with all sorts of vehicles loaded with baggage, and boats heavily freighted with passen- gers and belongings were going out to the different French war vessels and requisitioned steamboats. French and Italian war vessels were in the harbor, the English ships remaining at Kerat- sini, and the large Greek Atlantic liner, asileus Constantinos, requisi- toned by the English naval authori- ties with Admiral Lambert on board. was "the house of refuge" for the English. Many of the women on board had taken to their berths on arriving, on account of fatigue and shock consequent on the indiscrim- mate street firing of the 1st, 2d and 3d of December.
 I called on Minister Droppers early on December 6, and told him the French naval authorities urged the removal of the children, out, between the English and French naval auth critics, the old adage of trying to sit on two chairs was exemplified. The circumstances were extra aordinary- they had to save their friends and al- lies, the Venezelists in Athens
 In the afternoon Miss Canzuch, as- sistant to. Mime. Gruich, and I wen: to Piraeus. We found the Jurien de la Graviere, the first-class cruiser,
 had left for Keratsini so we boarded the Resolue, the French dispatch boat, with staff on board, where we met Capt. Clergeau and Commandant Rigaud, who happened to be on board. They are icharged with refuge ser
 vice. We placed the case of the Ser
 bian children before them.
 have avoided danger of being sus-
 pected by having no dealings what ever with the Kings party, though I was once asked if I would like to meet the King. Commandant Ri- gaud promised us transport, but could not definitely promise Marseil1es as the ports of disembarkation. We returned to Piraeus. It seemed a curious state of affairs-no French flags flying except on French war ves- sells; the City Hall, Nfagless, remains
 occupied by French sailors; the post office since Monday has been reoc- cupied by Greek troops, when con- trol of post and telegraph services in Greece proper returned to the Kings government.
 Serbian Children Frightened. From the Central post office I sent my cable dispatch about the Serbian children. To have seen the little ones gather together on the sound of heavy firing on December 1-when l they had last heard it., it meant loss of home and parents-if the Ameri- can people could have seen the lit l tie figures clasping each others hands (no crying). awaiting the new ca 1 lamities they expected, it seemed as 1 if a ship would have been sent for l them and a home made for them, 1 far from wars alarms.
 On my return Mime. Gruich told me | of Princess Demidoffs donation of 10000 francs to the orphans. The Princess had called on the American minister that afternoon, brining part of the money in cash. Miss Canzuch had seen her that morning, and her 1 response was immediate. for only D. 900 francs balance remained with the American Consul.
 On Saturday, December 9, I went to Athens early to see Minister Drop pers. We talked on current events, the treatment of the Venizelists. The staffs of the different Liberal and l Venizelist papers had been taken to the Chamber. Stripped to their un-
 derwear by tie Kings soldiers there. and with >b1ackehed faces, they were promenaded through the streets sub- 1 jected to the derision of the baser populace. Thirty thousand dra achmas 1 in bills all the office funds were talk I en from one editor.
 l In the afternoon I went to Piraeus.
 Following the battleship Provence