Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-05
Greek Army Worlds
Highest Spirited,
Stowe Declares
HeIIenes Are Unduunted
By Hundreds Of Gorees,
Precipices and Peaks
BY LELAND STOWE,

BY LELAND STOWE,
Chicaso Daily News FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT.
WITH THE GREEK ARMY
SOMEWHERE IN ALBANIA, Dec. 3
(delayed) After 10 days of inces-
SAINT travel, usually by car, some
times on horseback, occasionally
afoot through a few miles of slither-
ing mud, we have visited every war
sector from Corfu and the southern
seacoast al the way to the shores OF
Lake Ochrida, nearly $50 miles to
the north.
Edmund Stevens of the Christian
Science Monitor and I are the only
correspondents who have yet ira
versed this wild, frantically noun.
famous Albanian war theater from
one end to the other. We have
seen Greek troops under all kinds of
conditions, and we have seen them
constantly in motion, forever pressing
forward. This is why it now seems
possible to discuss what kind of army
this incredible Greek Army really is.
First of all, the Greek soldiers
appearances are entirely deceiving
They are little fellows, not averaging
much more than fee inches in
height, and most Of them look as If
their uniforms are one or two sizes
too big for them. At first glance,
you would think they were a hap
hazard lot, and to hear their ami
mated chatter one might suspect
them Of being almost incapable Of
well-organized effort.
Extraordinarily Efficient.
But you soon discover that these
nondescript-looking Greek troops
are extraordinarily efficient. Be-
meath the surface of seemingly
chaotic gestures they get things
done and they recognize no OBJ
stacles. The Finnish soldiers were
much more impressive to look at,
but these tough, wiry little Greeks
possess the same kind Of astonishing
fortitude, endurance and will to win.
never expected to see another army
which could be favorably compared,
man for man, in these respects, with
Finland's warriors, but I have found
one, mere III GrecCe.
I have never seen soldiers who
actually thrived on war and its
hardships as much as these diminu-
tive, effervescent Greeks do. They
are the most cheerful fighting troops
you can possibly imagine. Wherever
we have gone we have met these
muddy, dirty, smiling men. After
nights of forced marches, over kill
ing mountain roads. 1t is common
thing for Greek soldiers to shout and
cheer as you pass them. Plugging
slowly along. through the rain, on
muleback, the Greeks will yell.
"Macaronis," and gesticulate elo-
quently to indicate what they will
do to the Italians when they catch
up with them. Their gestures are
masterpieces Of mimicry, always ac-
companied by diabolical, but good
natured, grins.
Surely, this Greek Army today
is just about the highest-spirited
army in the world, regardless Of
mud. rain and snow, regardless Of
hundreds Of gorges, precipices, and
now-covered peaks which must be
conquered, day after day. They are
iron muscled, warm-hearted men.
these humble. assuming sons Of
Greece, and they win your heart
with both their courage and their
spontaneity. You understand why
their officers speak Of them with
quiet pride.
80 Miles In II Hours.
The other day we passed q long
column of troops plodding through
bitter cold and rain. An officer told
us they had started marching at
6 o'clock the previous night and
continued in the mud and rain, and
finally snow, until o'clock in the
morning In those IL hours, these
men covered 80 miles They had
slept on wet ground or piles of rocks,
then resumed their march at 2
o'clock in the afternoon.
They are fine soldiers" the Of
ficer remarked simply.
Such things are happening in
every sector Of the 250-mile war
zone and they go far to explain
the remarkable achievements Of the
Greek forces in less than six weeks
Of war. But quite as important is
the caliber Of the leadership with
the Greek Army. After intimate
association with the forces In the
field you get q pronounced feel
ing that all activities, from one
end of the front tn the other have