The New York herald., 1921-01-30


run on heavy oil, not petrol When they
came TO me with such stories put around
by German agents / laughed at them. III
was too silly. But also sent officers 10
the spot who invariably found nothing.
From the beginning l was entirely
against any Of the Balkan States coming
into the war at all. And In this connec-
ton at the beginning of the war wrote
to Mr.. Asquith and pointed out that II
we made a declaration stating that Con-
stantinople would be internationalized
they would probably stay out. Humania.
Bulgaria and Greece were all afraid OF
Russia getting Constantinople and keep
ing II. But Russia would not give up
her pretensions.
"I also pointed out what Greece would
do and would not do during the war
showed my letter to King Constantine
before / sent 1t and he entirely ap-
proved of It, reckoned that the entry
of the Balkan States would lengthen the
war by a year. AS matter OF fact, !
rather unde-estimated the period.
knew that the only place from which
Germany could obtain oil for her sub
marines was Rumania. If Greece had
been talked into the war when we
wanted she would have been overrun BY
Serbia. and then the Greek Islands would
we should have lost every ship In the
Mediterranean and the war. because
they would have held up the Suez Canal
"In connection with the entry OF Bull
xaria into the war the same trick was
played there as was afterward tried Oh
us in Greece. Bulgaria was tied -
Germany, but when Germany did not
win in- the short number of months she
had hoped Bulgaria began to shy. The
Germans were afraid that when ordered
TO attack Serbia the Bulgarian army
would plead tired feet, just as the Ser
bians had done after the Balkan war
when Greece was threatened by united
Bulgar-Turk attack. The German
agents, therefore. who were always NIL
ing up our people with dope. were m
structed to inform us that 5000 German
officers and non-coms were training the
Bulgarian army. On this being reporter
to the Allies Russia was told TO presen!
an ultimatum demanding tho dismissal
of the Germans within forty-eight hours
THE bulgarian premier replied that he
was very sorry he could not dismiss
them as they did not exist. Russia then
declared war on Bulgaria. The same
tricl. was then tried on the Allies in
Greece. but our people had gained the
above experience and the plot failed"
COMPARES King and venixelos.
Asked as to his opinion of Venizelos.
the Admiral said: ''Venizelos is com
bination of D'Annunzio and Kerensky,
and ] said this long before D'Annunzio
went to Fiume. Everybody thinks OF
Venizelos as magnetic, eloquent, broad
souled patriot I thought SO for three
months; after that l got down to rock
bottom have told the politicians ana
statesmen that they have only seen MIN
at the council table on an equality with
themselves they have never served I'M
der him as a subordinate. He is out
for a greater Greece, and the driving
force Is his own personal ambition. He
wants to see written across the map.
"Venizelos Recreated the Ancient Greek
Empire" venizelos promised the Allies
the Greek army In Asia Minor and would
have promised a Greek army In China
II the Allies had asked for it and 1t
would have furthered his policy. He
has never kept good Minister with
him. II Minister tries to run his own
Ministry he is kicked out. He does not
want Ministers, he wants lackeys. When
in a very tight corner moral courage
fails him.
I'm affairs OF war he has no practi-
cal knowledge. A battleship Is merely
a name. he doesn't care whether she has
guns, ammunition or anything else at
all. He thinks possession of q ship is
enough to win the battle. He Is an au-
tocrat and cares nothing for justice or
anything else as long as he has his own
way. He arrested my chauffeur on the
word of Greek army officer When
protested and said the accusation was
lie CT was something he was supposed
to have said to me), he shouted. You
cannot alter the laws of this land and
the man was thrown into prison without
the semblance of a trial.
Constantine. on the other hand. is
eminently fair. Peasant or courier can
appeal to him. There is no favoritism
In the matter OF justice. During the
first Balkan war a regiment arrived ten
minutes late at the rendezvous. In q
few seconds the spectacle was seen of
the King on horseback chasing the ur-
fortunate colonel with whip. and the
colonel bore him no ill-will. He under
stands the people and feels with them.
And this is why he is so popular.
THE war in Asia Minor is not very
popular. The Greek peasants do not
worry much about Smyrna. They are a
people who require some magnetic vision
to lead them. History and tradition tell
them that when a Greek fleet sails the
Marmora, then the Holy Table which
the Turks cast into the Marmora will
float up and follow the fleet to Constan-
tinople. II, therefore. Constantine was
leading them to Constantinoplc the ma
tion would be filled with wild enthusi-
asm. But Asia Minor is another ques-
tion. The Greeks are a people that like
to be respected and not bullied. ] found
that myself, and after my first inspec-
tion On the battle ship Giorgio Avroff
told the captain to tell his men that
instead of casting their heads down
they were to stand up straight and look
me in the face and show their pride in
their service. On my next visit the
change In their mien was wonderful
King Constantine respects his men and
inspires respect but venizelos does not.
Hence the reason the masses adore the
former and dislike the latter"