The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-06-15
KING OF GREECE
HAS ADVOCATED
Prince Alexander Is Named as
Hellenic Ruler.
CROWN PRINCE PASSED OVER
End of Long and Harrassing Crisis in
Greek Affairs Marked by Constan-
tine Giving UP Throne-Was Pro-
German-Was Once Idol of His
People.

tine Giving Up Throne-Was FRO
German-Was Once Idol of His
People.
ATHENS King Constantine
has abdicated in favor of his son,
Prince Alexander.
His abdication was the result of a
demand made by the Entente allies.
Premier Zaimis made the announce
ment of the resignation and designa-
ton of his successor. He said also
that Constantine and Crown Prince
George would leave the country.
Constantine has expressed the in
tention of embarking on British
warship and proceeding to Switzer
land by way of Italy. Allied troops
have occupied Elassona without re-
sistance. There has been no disorders
in Athens up to the present.
Alexander, the new king, is the sec
Ond son of the monarch who has just
abdicated. The crown prince was
Prince George, who was born July 19,
1890.
Prince Alexander was born Aug. L,
1898. He was a captain in the First
regiment of artillery in the Greek ar
my.
Assembled Throne in 1918.
Constantine assembled the throne
March IS, 1913, when his father.
George l., was assassinated in Salon
Xxi
Born Aug. 8, 1868, Constantine was
educated largely by private tutors
from Leipzig, which was said to have
stamped upon him a permanent Ger
man influence. He became brother
in-law of the German emperor by mar
rying the latter's sister, Princess So
phia, in 1889. His alleged pro-German
leanings were not always popular, and
a strong party antagonistic to his de-
sire to have Greece preserve neutral
ity in favor of joining the allies pre-
cipitated a cabinet crisis which was
weathered with difficulty.
Became the Popular Idol.
The most interesting chapter of
Constantine's life is the way in which
he became the peoples idol. In 1896,
when he saw his country drifting into
war with Turkey, he sounded warn
ing that the Greek army was utterly
unprepared for campaign. The infan-
try was armed with condemned
French rifles. which had cost 81 each;
the cartridges were fifteen years old;
there was no cavalry; the artillery
was obsolete and it's officers were few.
Nevertheless the country decided up
on wal. The result was disastrous-a
hum;liating defeat for Greece. Imme-
diately the popular tide turned against
its rulers, whom it denounced as for
eigners, who could have little in COM
mon with the Greeks. The king and
queen were hooted in the streets and
the officers turned their backs on the
crown prince.
Father Had Stormy Reign.
A similar spirit was reused against
the royal house when in 1909 King
George tried to oppose the popular
clamor for the annexation of Crete,
knowing that Turkey was eagerly
awaiting such an excuse to bring a
second crushing defeat upon Greece.
This time the clamor became almost
revolt and the king was obliged to
yield to the demand of the @1ilitary
league, both for a reorganization of
the army and for the dismissal of the
crown prince as generalissimo. He de-
cided thereupon to accept a command
in the Russian army, but the opposi-
ton to him was smoothed out and he
was restored to his former dignities
Constantine finally became a nation
al hero when in the Balkan war of
1912, when he led an army of 10000
Greeks to the capture of Saloniki,
causing $4,000 Turks to lay down
their arms. His popularity was sSch,
as a result of this feat, that Greeks
in America raised several thousand
dollars with which to purchase a gift
sword, inscribed: ITO Constantine.
the liberator."
Abdication Not Voluntary.
There is every indication that the
abdication is not voluntary, but more
in the nature of a dispossession.
Crown Prince George, pro-German as
his father, shared the latter's fate.
AS in the case of Russia, the forma.
ton of republic looms large as the
most probable result of the over
throw of the reigning monarch. The
logical president of republic of
Greece" would be Eleutherios Veni.
zelos, who already is the head of
provisional government established by
him at Saloniki. A considerable armed
force called the 'Venizelists'' is fight
ing with General Sarrails army.
Chief interest now attaches to the
Greek army which, when fully mobi-
lized, is between 10000 and 100000
strong. The army is known to be alb
solutely loyal to King Constantine. 1t
ic dom0hiIizod homovor opd ~ 10 -