Evening star., 1921-04-17
GREECE IS UNABLE
TO MOBILIZE ARMY
Treasury Is Empty and Loan
Denied, Though Victory
Seems Possible.
BY HIRAM X. MoDERwELL.

BY HIRAM X. MODERWELL.
by Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News
Copyright, 1921.
ATHENS. Greece. April 1S-Greece,
on the eve of resuming the offensive
IN Asia Minor. is in the position of
a man obliged to raise money to con-
summate a profitable speculation
but is prevented by his family from
going to the pawnshop. The new
attack against the powerful Kova-
itsa defenses near Eskishehr, al
ready the scene of one defeat, re-
quires massed reinforcements, but
the government cannot find the
money for general mobilization be-
cause OF the allied financial blockade
England. acceding to the French de-
mand, refuses to permit a Greek loan
while the interallied finance COM
mission refuses to permit an imitation
OF the currency; Thus. although the
general economic situation is favor
able. Greece is penniless. After a
big victory these problems would be
solved, but meanwhile Greece, un-
able to get money until she wins a
victory. is equally unable to win a
victory until she gets money. The
financial stringency is admitted on
all sides in official circles. but there
is suspicious secrecy about the
exact situation. Numerous officials
and fnanciers. including the governor
OF the national bank and the min
lister Of finance, refused to reply or
evaded the question when asked for
information. r rf,,-a
Deficit Usiquidated.
Greece has not yet covered the deficit
Of 1.s33.o00.0oo drachmas NORMALLY
about $e,S6s.o00) on last years bud
get. At a conservative estimate the
Sracbmas ls eo'tisS tina oGo Greece
Kemalists will probably consider
time their ally because of the grow
ing financial exhaustion Of Greece.
General mobilization Is being loud
ly demanded by the newspapers. This
is considered necessary because only
kemahsts from their mountain in
trenchments. but the government re-
fuses to tell the people why it hesi-
tates. In the present deadlock party
strife is reappearing.
The parties which month ago
were obliged to pretend complete sup
port of the government have within
the last few days begun violent news
paper attacks. The editor of the
Venizelist PATHS was arrested for al
legged discussion Of military secrets
when he printed an editorial COM
pairing the recent Greek defeat to
the German defeat by the Russians
in August. 1914.
venizelos Men Active.
The favorite Venizelist charge is
that the royalist government Grip
pied the army by cashiering venizel-
ist officers experienced in modern
warfare. and substituting royalist
officers whose only knowledge was
gained IN the Balkan wars. Hints as
to the future stages in the Veni-
zelist campaign were given me by
M. Papanastaious. who was Premier
Venizelos' right-hand man and his
minister of communications. He has
just returned from France. where he
hobnobbed with the exiled premier
He intimated that the attack on the
present alleged army mismanagement
would be followed by an attack on
the government for sacrificing the
advantages Of allied diplomatic and
solidating the Constantine dynasty
This will be followed by the asser-
ton that IL the king abdicates these
advantages will be regained.
1t is difncult to say whether the
Venizelist leaders seriously expect
who was one OF the saloniki tri-
umvirate and Is now a local Venice
los leader. .is expected to take. this
line of attack in parliament. At the
same time the Gournaris government
is being attacked by the conserva-
tives under M. Starts. who in par
lament this week charged Premier
Gbunaris with having failed ade-
quately to maintain the Greek de-
mands in London.
but visibly depressed. The centenary
Of national independence last week
was not inspiring. The people were
not prepared for the Kovalitsa de-
feat because the government had led
them to believe that victory was
easy The king characterized the
Kemalist army as made up Of ir-
regular bands Of rebels. and the gov
ernment newspapers announced that
the war would be military prome-
made to Angora-
The government has not announced
the Kovalitsa casualties. but it is
generally believed that they were a
large percentage Of the total fight
ing force. Several shiploads Of
slightly wounded have already ar
going to the front daily. but there is
little enthusiasm among them: on
the contrary, q number Of acts Of
characterization have occurred.
Secrecy Policy Scored
Foreigners here question whether
the government is willing or able to
take measures comporting with the
actual seriousness Of the situation.
They point out tho policy Of secrecy,
the delay In general demobilization.
and especially the failure TO send
King Constantine to the front. Tho
newspapers assert daily that he. 10
homo fires burning" He Is worship
ed fanatically by his people. and II
is understandable that the government
docs not want to run the risk Of loss
Of prestige by sending him to lead
the army TO possible defeat. Many
foreigners here believe that the king,
whose popularity rests on tradition
and his military prowess. must take
all risks at q moment OF supreme
gravity like the present.