The Wilmington morning star., 1940-11-16
WILMINGTON GREEK
PRAISES METAXAS
CONTINUED From Page One)

connected with politics, Petalas said.
Petalas says he never net the die
tator personally but saw and heard
a. lot about him in Greece. Metaxas
was always very enthusiastic about
the army and anything having to
do with national politics. His par
ents, Petalas pointed out, sent Ne
taxas to Germany for additional mill
tary training and upon his return
he continued with the Greek army.
In 1912 he was a member Of the gen
eral army staff when the conflict
between the Balkan states and Tur-
key got under way.
The present dictator Of Greece
played a prominent part in the vic
tory Of the Balkan states in that
conflict. A firm believer in strict
neutrality for his country, Metaxas
was exiled from Greece in 1914 with
the breaking cut Of World War No.
l, Petalas recounted. Metaxas re-
turned from exile after the close Of
the war and, as a member OF the
Royalist party, Immediately began
to take a leading part in national
political affairs.
All along, Petalas said, Metaxas
kept moving to the forefront as the
chief political figure in the coun-
try. He eventually became the lead
er OF the Royalist party after serv-
ing as minister in several govern
Yocnto1 rNc{tf1~- ~ Ao-
Because Of worldwide conditions,
Metaxas in 1896 became the dictator
of Greece, took on all the respon-
sibilities Of his country, asked the
people to help and support him in
the things that he had promised
them.
The past four years the Greeks as
a nation have been willingly fol.
lowing the leadership of the dictator,
who has helped the general condi.
ton OF the people, and, as a result
OF his vast army and political expert
ence, has organized the country bet
ter than ever before.
With the motto Of Tets try to stay
neutral" Metaxas has directed pro-
grams for strengthening the Greek
army and navy and the nation was
ready when the italian invasion de.
veloped about three weeks ago, Pc.
talas continued.
Petalas said the Greeks had put
all of their confidence in their die
tator as a leader and were now call.
ing him the father of the country.
Short In stature and having an at
tractive personality. the dictator is
good hearted in nature, speaks and
acts with confidence.
The Greek soldiers with the kits
are proving to be the best fighters
against the Italians. Their short
skirts don't seem to be hindering
them in the war;" said Petalas.
The dictator and Petalas were
born in the same neighborhood in
Ithaca, n Of the seven Greek is
lands in the Ionian sea adjoining
the Adriatic sea and the Balkans.
Metaxas was born in 1881 and Pc
talas in 1894.
During World War No. 1 their
birthplace was used as an airplane
base and now again might be called
TO play an important role for the
prosecution Of the present conflict,
Petalas said.
During World War No. 1 Petalas
served on a British government ship
operating between London, Scotland,
and Ireland. He came to the United
States in February of 1919, operated
a cafe business in Norfolk, Va, for
several years, and came to Whining.
ton in 1925.
Petalas, who became an American
citizen in 1894. expressed the hope
that the United States would con-
tinue to render all help possible to
Britain in her war with Hitler. His