The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-02
TRAITORS
shot AT
ATHENS
Greeks Make Clean
Sweep Of Ministers
and Generals Who
Brought on Smyrna
Disaster

Brought on Smyrna
Disaster
Athens. Nov. 90 (By the Associat-
ed Press) 1.-The six former cabi-
net officers and army officers. con-
victed Of high treason in connection
with the Greek disaster in Asia
Minor, were executed today.
The execution of the condemned
men was by shooting. The men eS-
ecuted were: Former Premiers
Gounaris. Protopapadakis and
Stratos; M.< Theotokis. former war
minister; NJ. Baltazzis, holder Of
portfolios in several former cabi-
nets, and Gen. Hadjanestis, COM
mander of the Greek forces at the
time of the Asia Minor military
disaster.
The British minister, F. o.
Lindley, has notified the Greek gov
ernment that Great Britain has
broken off relations with Greece
and that he is leaving Athens to-
night.
c. H. Bentinck, British member
of the financial control, remains
here.
A statement issued by the court
martial which condemned to death
the former ministers, giving the
reasons for imposing the SEN
tences Of death, says in effect that
the defendants knowingly conceal
ed from the people the danger in
yolved in King Constantine's re-
turn to the throne and that, al
though Greece was breaking away
from her alliances. they did their
utmost to consolidate Constantine's
throne in order to enjoy Office un.
der him.
"By terroristic methods" the
statement adds, they stifled all
public opinion contrary to them,
! arranged with General Hadjanestis
Ia pretended offensive against Con-
stantinople and thereby brought
about the enemy's offensive and the
collapse Of the Greek front in Asia
Minor, thus deliberately delivering
a large part Of the army into the
enemy's hands.
They therefore were convicted
in accordance with several articles
of the military and penal codes of
conspiring to commit high trea-
son."
The official announcement issued
today after the execution Of the
ministers says:
"The sentence of the courtmar-
tial was delivered this morning.
Messrs. Gounaris, Baltazzis, The
otokis, Protopapadakis, Sratos and
General Hadjanestis were condemn
ed to death and were executed this
morning.
General Stratigos and Mr.
Goudas were sentenced to penal
'servitude for life. The military de-
PENDANTS were also sentenced to
degradation, and the following fines
were inflicted: Gounaris 100000
. drachmas; Stratos. 355,000 drach-
mas: Protopapadakis 100000, Bal
tazzis 100000; Theotokis l,000.-
900; Goudas 100000 draehmas."
London Nov. 2S.-A despatch te
The Daily Express from Athens
asserts that before the Greek min
listers faced the firing squad Gen,
eral Hajanestis was solemniy de.
graded. His medals and the in.
sigma of his rank were cut from
his uniform and his sword was
broken. Communion was admins.
tered to all the men before they
were shot. Their bodies later were
take nto the cemetery where the,
were turned over to relatives.
The despatch adds that F. c
Lindley, the British minister, con.
tinued his efforts to. secure elem.
ency for the condemned men up t
the last moment. He visited The
foreign Office twice Monday even
ing when it already was an oper
secret that some of the accused
men would be sentenced to death
He also visited the revolutionar!
chief, Colonel Piasticiras.
London, Nov. 2S.-The Times
asserts that the British minister a
, Athens, +. o. Iindley. has asked
, for his passports.
Lausanne, Nov. 2S (By the AS
sociated Press).-The news of tn
executions of ministers at Athen
caused great excitement among th
delegates to the Lausanne confer
ence tonight. Former Premie
Nenizelos of Greece denied himsel
to the newspaper men. The othe
Greek delegates said that withou
official information they were un
able to say whether the execution
) would have any effect on the po
sition Of the Greek delegation.
Philippine Editor is Acquitted.
Manila, P. l., Oct. 30.-The su
preme court UNANIMOUSLY acquit
E tod Craporio Perfecto former edi