Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-07
Thursday, April 7, 1921.
WOULD THAT 1T MIGHT BE

lantis," a national Greek newspaper
published in New York an article
entitled: Put the Turk Out of
Europe Forever. Let Greece Have
Constantinople." Evidently this was
written when the Greek armies were
making such Roadway into the ter
ritory of the Turk. The spirit of it
is the same as that which famed out
in the revolution, 1921 to 1927, cul-
minating in the establishment of the
Greek state. 1t is spirit that is
contagious in this land of the free,
even though the Atlantis" which is
endeavoring to spread it, bears in
large display the, portrait of the
Greek king.
The following will afford some idea
OF the appeal:
This is the month when Greece
celebrates the One Hundre@h ami
versary of her independence, while
her armies advance VIGOROUSLY in
Asia Minor putting the Turk behind
those frontiers whence he invaded
Europe five hundred years ago.
Fifteen generations of Greeks felt
during five long centuries the OPP
preston, the barbariSm and the
atrocities of the most backward race
that ever took possession of the most
classic land of Europe. That this
nation was not eXtinguished under
the Turk during those terrible years,
when Greek boys were snatched
away from their homes to swell the
hosts of the Janissaries, while Greek
maidcns were sold to slavery in the
public markets, and when the life
of a Christian was worth less than
that of a dog, is one of the wonders
of human history; but that the
Greek nation has succeeded, not only
in preserving its language and ira
ditions and culture and religion, but
in overthrowing the yoke of the bar
barian, is one of the marvels of
national vitality, which no other
people has ever shown, or will ever
be able to show.
Today, almost five hundred years
after the fall of Constantinople and
"a hundred years from the Hellenic
revolution of 1921, the victorious
Greek armies are battling beyond
the old capital of Eski Shehir and
beyond the Black Fortress of Kara
HiSsar, while from the Gulf of an
cient Nicomeda renamed Ismid by
the Turks. to the shores of the Black
Sea, and all along the Chatalji line
Greek soldiers, assisted by Greek
warships, surround the Holy City of
Constantinople, where the heart of
the Turkish Government has almost
ceased to beat.
Removed is from STEAMBOAT the
last vestige of Turkish power, and
if there still is Sultan and a
Turkish guard in Constantinople.
their prestige is non existant and
their authority dead Christian Eu-
rope. civilized Europe was late in
fulfilling it's duty to Christendom
and Civilization; but finally she did,
and the overthrow of Turkish power
in Europe will stand forever as one
of the highest accomplishments of
the last war, for the victorious out
erously contributed.
The Ottoman Empire law pros
trate; Arabia is an independent
Kingdom; Palestine is free: Meso-
potamia no longer pays tribute to
Constantinople; Syria is an autono-
nous State; Thrace and the Aegean
Islands, Macedonia and Epirus have
rejoined their Greek Motherland,
even Albania is forming an indie
pendent state. There is left Ar
menia, still bleeding under the Turk
ish scimitar, and never to be free
unless Turkey is definitely elimi-
mated from Constantinople and re-
duced to the status of small state
whose rule will be enforced to Turks
alone.
The Greek armies fighting in the
interior of Asia Minor. are still
fighting the battles of civilization
against the hordes of barbarous
Asia. They go forward fully con-
WINGED that race which has re-
manned in the most beautiful spot
of Eastern Europe for five centuries,
continuously destroying all that is
best in civilization. without the
capacity of producing either culture.
or art, or beauty, is not a race fit
to govern much more superior peo-
pies. That was the issue at
Thermopylae and Salamis between
Athens and Persia, and that is the
issue today between Greece and the
Turks.
1t is thanks to the Greek valor
at Marathon that Europe was not
submerged under the waves Of Asia
tic barbarism; it is thanks to the
millenial struggles of the Byzantine
Empire against Turk and Saracen
that Europe was saved from sub
mission to the invaders Of the East
And 1t is to the valor of the
Greek troops fighting today in Asia
Minor, that the final liquidation OF
the Ottoman Empire is beink accom-
plished under our eyes,"
One would scarcely be a good
American and not respond to such an
appeal. There are many things to
consider and we cannot know all the
conditions. There are other obstacles
than diplomatic intrigue in the way.
But, however we view all that, it is
gratifying to know that the in
domitable Greek spirit survives CEN
turtles of obstacles and is yet capable