The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-07-21
C.F. H. CRATHERN
BACK FROM EAST;
At MASON, N. H.
Suffered Two Years Hardships
Under Turkish Flag
SAW KING CONSTANTINE
Had Long Interview With Greek
King and Believes His
Aims Honorable
SAW KING CONSTANTINE

Among the passengers who arrived
on the S. s. King Alexander" which
reached New York from Piraeus last
Saturday was the Rev. G. f. Hill Crath.
ern formerly a pastor in Old Benning
ton and for the past two and half
years Y. NJ. c. A. Secretary in Fracne
and Turkey.
He was accompanied by Mrs. Crath.
ern, who left New York in August to
join him in Constantinople, but who
found Oh reaching the City that he had
been sent as Field Secretary into the
Caucasus and the interior OF Asia
Minor, where he was later interned by
Turks for several weeks until re eased
by order Of Mustapha Kemal and per.
mitted to pass through the Turkish
lines at Jerabolus, In Mesopotamia, and
the Arab lines at Membridge on his
way to Aleppo.
While crossing the Taurus noun
tains from Harpoot in a native wagon.
Mr. Crathern was taken seriously III.
and on reaching Diarbekir two days
later consultation OF Turkish army
doctors led to the report of his death,
which, as Mark Twain once remarked.
was greatly exaggerated.
DR.. Stewart, Of Mard'n was tele.
graphed for, and after a ride of a hun
dred miles reaches his bedside to find
the Moslem physicians considering an
operation based on a wrong diagnosis.
In two weeks the pat 'ent was able to
be carried in an ARABIA four days
journey to Urfa. and three months
later to Aleppo and Beirut. Syria.
where Mrs Crathern joined him. A
convalescent period OF several weeks
was spent in Athens before Mr.. Cath
ern was permitted by his physician to
leave for America. Just previous to
sailing for New York Secretary Crath
ern had a private audience with His
Majesty King Constantine Of Greece.
at the Royal Palace, 1t was few days
before the King left for Smyrna to take
command OF the army against Musta.
pha Kemal and the Turkish nationa
lists.
In speaking Of the interview Mr.
Crathern said, 81 was sitting in my
hotel In Phaleron when a messenger
was announced and a soldier was ush.
cred In bearing a letter from the Royal
Palace It was message from the
King informing me that His Majesty
would receive me in audience the fol.
lowing morning at 1913 o'clock.
Several minutes before the appoint.
ed hour drove to the palace gates,
and after passing the picturesque
sentries in their stunning Greek uni
forms. who stood mutely at attention.
! presented my card to an attendant
and was presently received by a Court
omcal and ushered into a large re.
cept'on room. Here ! found several
gentlemen in military uniform and
others in frock coats with silk hats.
who were | was afterwards informed.
army officers and members OF the
Greek parliament waiting for an audi.
ence with the King.
Right on the dot OF 1915 was in.
formed that His Majesty would receive
me in his library, Although had been
in Athens several weeks this was the
first instance | could recall OF Greek
attaching any value to time or consid
ering II worth while to regard Of any
Importance the exact hour OF an ap
pointment. That His Majesty, the
King. burdened with the affairs of
State should be the royal exempar
OF such a virtue, revealed one of the
sterling qualities of his character.
On being ushered into the library.
| found myself alone in the presence
Of the King His Majesty received me
most cordially, coming toward the door
to welcome me with the gracious fam
iliarity Of friend. | venturod to re
mark that being an American citizen
was unaccustomed to Court etiquette.
and although | had tried to be dilgent
In business, | was not IN the habit of
standing before Kings. His Majesty
laughed good naturedly and assured
tiA' AiluA lAu lVi ulNilAltN Mflt UtitNhNINs e
as he was a real democrat at heart
and loved to meet Americans, especi-
ally when they represented such
splendid organization as the young
Mems Christian Association" He then
to the fine work done by the
Y. NJ C. A. in the Greek Army and
how much the soldiers appreciated
the services Of the Secretaries at the
front AS had son who had served
with the Greek Army In Anatolia.
told the King that was glad to hear
his tribute of praise
Constantine has magn'ncen phys
iQue. He Is every inch King. and like
Saul of old he towers head and should.
crs above his fellows He must be
nearly six feet six inches. IN height.
and would probably tip the scales at
two hundred and fifty pounds. He has
the Commanding presence OF great
soldier, and the inspiring personality
Of born leader. The Greeks as race
are small In stature but the King Is
n giant and handsome as a Greek god
No wonder his people admire and love
him He Is the idol Of the army and
adored by the common people.
Continued on page 81