The Washington times., 1917-06-13
Greek King Ruled
By German Wife
Queen Sophia Checked Every
Move to Range Greece on
Entente's Side.

Entente . St0es
From the start OF the European war
II was a shifting hold that Constan-
tine, the retiring King OF the Hellenes,
had upon his throne. His fondness
for Germany, an affection constantly
nurtured by Queen Sophia. q sister OF
the Kaiser. caused him to fall into
disfavor with a large section OF the
Greek nation and broughthim into op-
position with the Representatives OF
the entente powers. His sympathy
for the central powers became motor
ious. Frequently It was openly mani
fest, despite periodic protestations Of
a desire for strict neutrality and even
OF a friendship for the allies, until
at length the foes Of Germany and
Austria came to look upon him as q
veritable enemy.
Since last autumn, when Venizelos.
most eminent of Greek statesmen.
whose political following Is said to
number so per cent Of the nation,
Joined with the principal admiral and
the foremost general in forming a
Constantine's retention of the throne
was regarded a. a matter at best
OF months. But there were many
who believed that his retirement
would mark the end of the dynasty.
The fires OF revolution have long been
smoldering in Greece. and even yet
they are not extinguished.
Displeasure with Constantine was
aggravated by the fact that he owed
his throne to the allies. To appreciate
conditions II IL necessary to look back
into history to the days preceding
the formation OF the present kingdom
Greece had been a province OF Turkey
since the latter part of the fifteenth
century. It was when Greece gained
her independence following the insur-
rection OF 1920 that Great Britain,
France, and Russia stepped in
Under q Proteetorate.
BY the protocol OF London, signed
February 3, 1880, the country was de-
elared a kingdom under the protec-
torate OF these three powers. Prince
Otto OF Bavaria, selected as the frst
ruler, ascended the throne January
rs, 1888. He was expelled after reign
ms =" ChNg yGaA - me SCOA >
OF Denmark was chosen King in 1862,
his election taking place under the
guidance of the three present allies.
King George was assassinated March
IS, 1913, and his son, Constantine, sue
ceeded him
Constantine was born in Athens.
August 2. 1888. His father was the
favorite brother of Princess Marie Of
Russia and Queen Alexandra Of Eng
land, so that family influences might
have pointed him in the direction OF
the allies rather than against them
But he was educated by tutors
brought from Leipsic, and at thirty
one-eighteen years ago-he married
the Prussian princess.
Queen Sophia has always been the
most masterful Of the German EN-
peror's' four sisters. She gave evil
dence OF this two years after her mar
riage when, in defiance OF the Kaiser,
she abandoned the Lutheran and be-
came a convert to the Orthodox Greek
Church. This, It was charged, was
not done from religious motives. but
to increase her political power at
Athens and her influence over her
husband. A violent quarrel followed,
and for years she was not on speak
ing terms with her brother
At the outbreak OF the Balkan wars
Constantine, then crown prince and
titular head OF the army. announced
that he would take the field in COM
mand OF the troops. He led an army
OF 10000 Greeks in the capture OF
Saloniki. where he forced 10000
Turks to lay down their arms. His
popularity was such as a result OF
this feat that Greeks in America
raised several thousand dollars and
purchased a sword. Inscribed with the
legend "To Constantine. the Liber-
ator." At home he was q national
idol when the bullet which laid low
his father placed him upon the
throne.
Constantine'H BIunder.
Soon after the Balkan wars Con-
stantine made a speech in Berlin In
which he praised the German teachers
for the success OF his troops. As
Venizelos had had the soldiers train
ed by French officers this unmeritsd
bestowal OF gratitude caused much
i'll feeling in the entente countries
and gave an intimation OF the opposi-
ton which was to develop after the
outbreak Of the conflict in which al
most the whole Of Europe was in
volved.
Constantine's throne began to totter
in less than two years after he be-
came King. With the entrance OF