Evening star., 1936-03-18
VEN|ZELOS, GREEK
EX-PREM|ER, DIES
SeIf-ExiIed "Man of Des.
tiny" Was Leader OF Ill
Fated Revolt.
Nv the Associated Press.

of the Greek Republic" which has now
become a monarchy, died In self
imposed exile today after short Ill
ness.
His wife and two sons, Sophocles and
Kiriadis, were at his bedside when he
succumbed at $50 am. $3.50 am.
Eatern standard time), to complica-
tions arising from slight attack OF
influenza early this month.
The statesman's health had been
generally poor since he came to Paris
after the failure Of the Greek revolu-
ton Of March, 1885.
The news that he was dying spread
swiftly among other Greek republican
exiles in Paris and the emigres lin
Sered at their leaders Paris home.
His followers were hoping for his
return from his second retirement.
Sentenced to Death.
veni5elos fed from Crete, the island
south Of Greece, after a revolt ne
headed last March failed. While In
exile, he was sentenced to death.
The recalled King George Of Greece
recently granted him amnesty, out
Venizelos preferred to remain in exile.
II am not going back; it would not
he wise" said Greeces man OF des-
tiny" when word of the amnesty
reached him, and he persisted in that
attitude after his Liberal party led all
others in the first general election
under the restored monarchy, on jan
uary 26, 1896.
The death sentence was the outcome
of an armed revolt which broke out IN
the navy on March /, 1885. 1t was
designed to overthrow cabinet DOM
mated by royS1ists, the Venizellsts
charging that the government was
planning to destroy the republic.
Venizelos, in retirement on his ma
tive island of Crete, espoused the rebel
cause. So did Nicholas Plastiras. a
former dictator of Greece, who had
been living in Southern France. But
Plastiras. starting to take command
of the rebel land forces, was detained
In italy and Venizelos, embarking on
a rebel man of war, never reached the
fighting front. There were 10 days OF
bloody civil war marked by pitched
battles on land and air bombardment
of the rebellious feet by government
planes. Then the rebels broke and
Venizelos fed to the Island Of Rhodes
where, under the Italian flag, he found
sanctuary.
Joins Son In Paris.
A few days later he sailed to Naples
on an Italian liner and after brief
rest there Joined his son in Paris.
On May a court martial in Athens,
irving Venizelos and Plastiras in abb
sentia, passed sentences Of death
upon both.
Venizelos had been premier seven
times and a power both in and out
of Office before disaster overwhelmed
him. The power of his leadership had
touched on some phase or other OF
Greek life almost continuously from
the days when he helped free Crete
from Turkish rule in 1897.
President Wilson, upon his return
from the Paris peace conference, char
acterized him as one Of the greatest
statesmen in Europe; in fact, Veni-
Eelos was the only one there to get
all that he asked.
Yet in this hour of triumph he was
beset by would-be assassins, repudiated
at the Greek polls and driven into
voluntary exile.
He then was Sc, had been premier
three times, had played leading role
In the revision of the Greek consti-
tuition. and conducted his country
through the first and second Balkan
wars and the World War.
Venizelos suffered a heart attack
while engaged in a heated legislative
debate, four physicians gave the ver-
dict that he must rest, and in June,
1924. he resigned.
Succeeding years found him in vari-
out parts Of Europe, building himself
up physically. To occupy his mind he
translated "fhucydides" into modern
Greek, and late in 1926 issued mani
festo announcing his definite with
draval from political life.
Three times more, however, he re-
turned to the premiership. He came
back in July, 1928 because Of a crisis
between the Royalists and the Repub-
licans, staying in Office until May 81,
1882; took up the reigns again in
June, resigning in November to make
way for a coalition government, and
served again from January to March,
1893.
Assassins Seek Life.
EleutherioS VenizeloS was born Au-
gust %, 1854, at Murniaes, Crete. Ed
ucated at Canea, Syra, and Athens.
where he took his degree in law in
1887, he returned to Canea to practice.
Drawn into political life, he came
into prominence in 1897 as one of the
leaders in the Cretan uprising against
Turkish rule and steadily increased his
power and influence in the succeeding
decade. becoming premier for the first
time in 1910.
In the tempeStuous career that fol-
lowed, there were several murder plots
against him, and in 1920 he was seri-
ously wounded by would-be assassins
In Paris. The most recent attempt oc-
CURED in June, 1888, when a party of
gunner fired on his automobile and
his wife was wounded.
VenizeloS was first married in 1891,
his wife dying in 1895. They had two
sons. Kyriakos and Sophocles. On
September IS, 1921, he married Miss
Helena Schillizzi, heiress of a Greek
family in England. This was within
his postwar exile, and following the
wedding he and his bride toured North
and South America. In the United
States. because of his political status
at home, Venizelos was pledged not to
make any public addresses. One Of his
quasi-public appearances was as a
platform guest at rally of the Chi
eago Diocese Of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church at which several Greek
orthodox dignitaries were present.