The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
GREECE WILL. ENTER
 WAR BEFORE CLOSE
 SAYS SPAPPAGEORGE
Cost of Living 40 Per Cent Higher Than Here-The Country Full of Starv-
 ing Refugees

Thousands of starving refugees are in Greece, the cost of living is 40 per cent higher than in the United States; 1t Is the opinion that Greece will en- ter the war before it terminates; sem timent is divided between the allies and the central powers. These are the facts that George Pappageorge is re- lating after having just returned from the country that has been on the verge of war since 1914.
 Greece does not want war" said MT. Pappageorge yesterday, flor she has had a taste of it's bitter suffer- ing before. However, 1t seems sure that Greece will be forced to take up arms before the war in Europe is over Sentiment is divided between Germany and her allies, and France and the en- tente powers. There are two great par ties in Greece, one headed by King Constantine and the other led by Ven izelos. The King seemed inclined to favor Germany, while Venizelos is strongly for the allies.
 Tn view of the fact that should Greece join the Germans the allied fleet would have the country at it's mercy, there is little doubt but that Greece will not join the central pow CTS. For the allied fleet has the ports of Greece blockaded and could bom- bard all of the seaport towns.
 COST OF LIVING HIGHER
 Greece never did produce enough to feed it's own people It depends al- r1ost entirely now upon the United states for sugar, flour, potatoes, cof- fee and other foodstuffs, and the cost Of living is about 40 per cent higher than here. There are about 100000 people who have fled to Greece as refugees to escape the war They look crazy, cannot speak Greek and are not able to get work to do to keep from starving. It is a terrible thing, and I don't know how they live
 The people of Greece are more in- terested in the war than the Ameri- cans. Papers come out about every i've minutes and the people do noth- ing but read and talk about the war. Some of the papers are for Germany; some for the allies. It is said that Germany has spent several million dol lars buying up the papers so that they might be in favor of the central DOW CTS. You never saw as much interest Ill war news. You know the Greeks are great politicians They had rath CT talk politics than eat. venizelos is the big man, and mighty smart man. He wants Greece to fight for the al lies. but the King is against it.
 GREEKS LIKE WILSON
 "The people over there think Will son is mighty big man, and think ne is trying hard to do right. They think Teddy is easily excited and a big talker. As to how long the war will last, there is no way to say ab- solutely It is my opinion that it will last two years and that the allies will win. But others in Greece think differ ently and some think like me"
 MT Pappageorge sailed to America on the Greek steamer Themistocles.
 The submarines scared us on the way" he commented. "We were just east of Gibraltar when the captain sighted what he thought was Ger man submarine. This scared the peo- pie on board the ship, but the steam CT headed in the other direction and the submarine did not follow.
 The people of Greece know what an awful thing war is and want to keep out but it seems that we will be 1orced into the war. King Constantine does not favor fighting with the all lies and he is pretty obstinate in his views. Once he gets something in his head you can't get it out But I be- lieve Greece will join the allies before it is all over'