The New York herald., 1922-12-04
Commanded Army Corps
Merely Because He Was
Brother to the King.
ESCAPES DEGRADATIONs
Banished for All Time, He
Departs With Wife on
British Warship.

ATHENS, Dec 8 (Associated Press).-
Prince Andrew. brother of former
King Constantine, has been sentenced
by a military court to banishment for
life and deprivation of his rank. He
will not suffer actual degradation.
The Judgment of the court finds that
Prince Andrew refused to obey orders
in the presence of the enemy and
moved his army corps in another d.
rection, but considers that in view of
his lack of experience in command
ing large masses Of fighting troops.
and the conditions in which he was
placed, application of the penalties
provided by law would not be justi-
fable.
His counsel begged the judges "as
good soldiers" to adjudge the accused
as they would any other soldier.
The Prince read his defense. which
obviously had been prepared for him.
He pleaded extenuaing circumstances.
contending that 1t was not fair to
treat a Prince the same as a general,
because he was only figurehead and
occupied his position as chief of an
army corps through the fact that he
was brother Of the King.
The trial Of the Prince closed last
night. The indictment set forth that
during the advance on the Sangaris
River Prince Andrew. commanding the
Second Army Corps, refused to obey
an order 10 attack.
Prince Andrew and his wife. Princess
Alice, embarked at Phaleron this after
noon aboard British warship. 1t is un-
derstood they will be taken to Eng
land.
Opposes Princes I'm Army.
Royalty had a bad time during the
final stages of the inquiry. The prose-
cution dwelt on the disadvantages OF
employing princes in high army posi-
tions, asserting that their influence was
pernicious not only In Greece but in all
countries. He cited cases where they
were responsible for military disaster
and alluded to the former Crown Prince,
which pleased the democrats among the
spectators.
Andrew bore up we'll. It was touch
and go whether he would escape with
his life as the charge on which he was
convicted Is punishable. according to
Article 2o7 OF the Greek Code. by death.
The defense, however. evoked special
circumstances and the Prince found HIM
self referred to as unqualified for the
position of commander of an army corps.
which could only have been obtained
through favoritism to royalty.
The prosecution admitted that Prince
Andrew was unable 10 realize the re-
sponsibilities OF his position and conse-
auently could not be treated as n real
general who fled before the enemy after
disobeying the orders OF his superior.
The Prince patiently listened TO these
unpleasant remarks. and when asked at
the close of the proceedings whether he
had anything to say replied that he had
not. AS usual in court martials. the
prisoner left the court before delivery
Of the verdict
Princes wife Worried.
Prince Andrews wire, VINO was flln-
cess Alice of Battenburg. also was Wis
ibly worried. she had passed sleepless
nights since his arrest and arrived at
Athens only a few days ago. She had
been allowed 70 visit him several times.
The courts deliberations on the YER
dict lasted nearly three hours. and the
sentence. deprivation Of rank and life
Punishment. came as n relief when the
worst was feared.
On the witness stand Prince Andrew
said that according 20 his orders the
Second Army before attacking had TO
await instruction from the Third Army
Corps.
Col. sariynnis testified that instead OF
attacking the Second Army Corps re-
piled that an attack to the north was
Impossible owing 10 the strong enemy
defenses. whereupon the Commander In
Chief ordered the Chief OF Staff OF the
Second Corps replaced. Sariynnis de-
ciared that II Andrew had carried nut
the order the battle OF Sangarius would
probably have been. won. He added that
the orince threatened TO resign IL the
Commander in Chief insisted upon his
orders being executed.