Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-21
Ex-GREEK Queen
KAISER'S SISTER
Her Influence Over Constantine
Led to Downfall.
new MONARCH IS PRO.ALLY

Of Ex-Premier VenixeIos and Is Elk.
pected to Steer a Perfectly Neutral
Course In the War-Majority Of Sub
jects Are Also Opposed to Germany
A desire to steer a middle course be-
tween the influence exerted over him
by his German wife and his own sym
pathy for the Teuton cause on the one
hand and the desire of the Greek peo-
pie for a strict neutrality on the other
was responsible for the gradual breal:-
down of King Constantines rule over
his subjects.
Since the outbreak of the European
war his hold on the Greek people had
been weakening. His final clash with
Venizelos, beloved Of the Greek peo-
pie, was the turning point from which
is traced his gradual decline.
Educated in Germany and married
to Sophia, sister of the kaiser, Con-
stantine at the very start Of the Eu-
r0pean war began to show his SYM
pathy with the cause of the central
powers. In many ways he caused the
Greek people to form the opinion that
he placed the Greek ideals below his
feelings for Germany.
Constantine was born in Athens on
Aug. 2, 1868. His father was the broth
er Of Empress Marie of Russia and
Queen Alexandra Of England. His
education was obtained from tutors
brought from Leipzig, and at the age
Of twenty-one he married Sophia, the
sister of the kaiser
Sophia a Mastsrful Woman.
Sophia was the most masterful of
the kaisers four sisters. Two years
after her marriage to Constantine she
aroused the displeasure of Wilhelm BY
renouncing the Lutheran church and
joining the Orthodox Greek church.
The opinion frequently expressed that
Sophia's influence over her royal hus-
band was great was confirmed soon
after the outbreak of the present war.
when Constantine, despite his Russian
and English aunts, began to show
signs of German sympathy.
Constantine's first break with Vent
zelos, then premier, came after the en-
trance Of Turkey into the war on the
side Of the central powers. In his in
sistence on strict neutrality Constan-
tine spurned the arguments of veni-
zelOs. The disagreements between the
king and the premier continued until
1t came time for him to choose between
the shrewd advice Of Venizelos and the
spen exerted over him by the queen.
The continual refusal Of the king to
look kindly on the requests Of the en-
tente powers for cooperation In the
Dardanelles campaign caused Venice
los to suspect strongly that Queen So
phia was exerting powerful influence
to prevent action with the entente.
The continued refusal of the king to
heed Venizelos caused the latter to re-
sign the premiership and eventually es-
tabl1sh the Saloniki government.
Protest by vsnixeIos.
You hoped that after a German vic
tory you would be able to concentrate
In your hands the whole power Of gov
eminent and sweep aside our system
OF liberty" Venlzelos wrote to the king
after he had established the provision
al government.
Even before the European war Con-
stantine manifested his feeling for Ger
many in such way as to arouse the
criticism Of the entente countries. Aft
er the Balkan war Constantine In the
course OF speech in Berlin praised
German teachers for the success Of his
troops. AS a matter Of fact, French
officers had trained the troops Of the
Greek army. Later when Constantine
visited France he was not received ia d.
vorably.
The new king, Alexander, is said to
be strongly pro-ally and Is known to
have a great admiration for venizelos
At the outbreak of the war Alexander
was In England and was given a vel.
come which was remarkably warm.
At the time the London press com.
mented on the reception and expressed
wonder that such a welcome should be
accorded Alexander In view Of the Teu-
ton tendencies which his father and
brother were beginning to display. 1t
was reported after the break between
the king and Venizelos that Alexander
had thrown up his commission as cap.
tain In the Greek army to cast his for
tunes with the former premier.
ONE Is S0IIMn IN 1nO