Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-16
BY Frederic j. Hsskin.

Washington. d. c.. May IA coun-
try which has been at war continuously
for nine years. which has been indus
trially ruined by war and is heartily
sick of war to tho last peasant. and
yet determined to so on nghting-that
is tho strange case of Greece today, ac-
cording to American observers who
have recently returned from there
Crops in the rich central valleys OF
Greece are rotting on the ground for
lack OF men TO gather them. Industry
is in chaos. Boys are growing up into
manhood without knowing any cccu-
patton except war. and each new gen
Grafton. as IL reaches military age. is
drafted to NIL the ranks. The finances
of tho country are in u tangle which II
will take a century TO straightcn out.
And yet Greece fights on. not in self
defense. but in the effort to consolidate
an empire.
Greece. tho observers say. is the
purcst survival OF the spirit of nation
alism. which formed the present Eu-
rcopean states out OF chaos and is slow
" giving way to the world spirit. the
sense OF international solidarity, the
feeling that all nations together have
n common responsibility for the hu-
man race.
Allied Diplomacy has played its par;
u
wanted consolidated Greece. And
doubtless strong groups within Greece
have fomcnted war because they OK
pcctcd commercial advantage both
from its continuance and from Its ulti-
mate success But. in addition to these
diplomatic d and commercial Ingredients
which go into the making OF all wars,
Greece is said to be sustained by a
genuine popular faith In II great Greek
A-I doc ~
rents OF popular opposition to the war.
tho typical Greek, who has been
starved and ruined by war. Is still will
ing to go on lighting for his dream of
a grcatsr Greece He has not shared
the great disillusionmcnt which WIS
brough 10 the western world.
The Allied roIie,
To understand the part played by the
Allies in bringing about the present
situation in Greece one must glance
back TO the 18th century history. Since
in 1884 Great Britain and France fought
with Turkey against Russia they have
remained united on one principle in
the Balkan question. S.ithor power
| would alloy either Russia or Germany
to get command OF Constantinoplc ana
tho Dardancllcr. because these places
exercise strategic command over the
routes TO Asia Minor. India and tho
Far East. Russia and Germany now
being disposed OF. the Allied states
men feel the need OF a stable Balkan
country to prevent any now attempts
at interference. BY tho Treaty OF sew
\ res. Greece has neNcd almost all ~
! European Turkey and has her eastern
/ frontier on tho Black Sea, completely
cutting of Constantinopic from tho
north. Also. through tho efforts OF
vcnizcios, she has been given a large
slice of Asia Minor around Smyrna,
| For the consolidation Of gains which
doubled her area. financial and ~ al
support were vouchsafed from Eag-
land and France. Then last DG~embt r
came tho political change In Gr1ec-.
Venizelos. OF whom the Allies worg
suro was ovcrthrovn to permit 'hc re-
turn of Constantine. suspected OF pro
| German ioanings throughout tha war
| Tho Turkish nationalists movement
| thcn showed unexpected rccupcrativc
power. and in March inflicted a crush
4 ing defeat on tho Greek armies in
Asia Minor. Greece consequently finds
herself up against a stiff var to re-
tain her new tcrfpory in Asia Minor
at tho very time when Allied support
is withdrawn because ot the dcfc1t %
| Venizclos.
This is where the fcaiing o. nation
pirations for national asSronIigcmcnt
| tho Greeks are now dst,rnilvd to ilEh
on for the Greek Empire. whicn for tho
| first time seems within tho!- grasp. 1t
| is this determination - pursue a war
| for Greater GeoCe in spite of Is ruin
| Gus effects on Little G-cece. IN spite
| Of the discomfort and fuffsrin- al home
that strikes the westsrnir At inoon-
gruous
Greece has been at war continue Islv
since 1919 Men who vcro boys OF q
| in that war are now nearing 20 without
| having done a stroke of productive
work. In the central region Of the
| mainland that region famous for its
/ green valleys and fertile olive groves
the most prosperous section Of a Greco
that is by no means all SO fertile. tie
| olives fall unpickcd TO rot upon tht
| ground. Tho csascless drain Of mon ~
war has been responsible. From The
] little villages go forth reluctantly til,