The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-01-16
EPIC HISTORY

Germany coming to the aid OF
Italy will attempt TO rob the
Greeks. of their victories" says Sir
Philip Gibbs, famous British war
analyst, but Germauy's plan may
be frustrated by more material aid
from Britain and the United States.
There is deep snow in the noun
tains. with heavy drifts in the val
leys and on the roads-which in
many places are only tracKs-and
the precipitous mountain passes are
ice-bound.
The Greek troops are not too
well clothed and not too well fed
for a winter campaign. But they
have been fighting for long time
and still are making short rushes
and assaults upon Italian positions,
taking more prisoners and guns, and
strengthening their own defenses.
One day all this will make epic
history.
After two thousand years, by
some miracle the spirit Of the old
Greek heroes has come back. The
siege of Troy did not produce more
yalor than the deeds performed dur.
ing recent weeks by the humble
men whose names are not yet re-
corded. and who in normal life are
peasants in goatskins. carpet-weay-
ers. carpenters. and mechanics.
They have had 10 face a worse
thing than did the mythical heroes
OF Homer The thunderbolts OF Jove
were less alarming than the high
explosive bombs dropped by Italian
airmen or the explosives fired by
Italian guns.
The modern mechanical divisions
OF their enemy are more formidable
than was the Trojan cavalry.
Yet these Greeks have Inundated
Mussolini and his legions, and have
given new hope to all those who are
fighting for liberty against the tyr
annies Of dictatorship.
That has surprised the world, but
not few men here and there who
knew Greece during the World War
and have known it since were not
surprised.
The Greeks can live for months
on bread and goat cheese. They are
as sure-footed as their own mules
on the narrow Lodges OF the noun
tain passes. They are tough and
obstinate fighters who will take a
lot Of beating.
II Is a curious freak OF history
that the present victories Of Greece
are partly due to the defeat and
tragedy which came to Greece when
Mustapha Renal smashed their
lines in Asia Minor on the way to
Smyrna.
This led to an exchange OF popu-
lations-a most lamentable episode.
1t seemed then. More than one mil
lion Greeks we're expelled from
Asia Minor where their ancestors
had titled the earth and traded for
three thousand years.
Those refugees, expelled and
brought to the mainland OF Greece, |
were crowded into huts around
Athens and Piraeus. They had lost
everything and they were in a bad
state.
But they were very quickly abb
eorbed into the life OF Greece. II |
was a marvellous bit OF organiza-
ton. In great central office In
Athens they were sorted out. Farm.
ers were given land and tools. Fish.
ermen were sent TO the coast. Car.
pet-weavers were provided with new
factories. Every man went TO his
own trade.
The Greeks who resented their
coming, In fear that their own eco
noinic life would be Invaded. found
thst new strength and prosperity
came with these refugees.
They were OF good stock They
were hard workers. And they had
fine sons.
The Greek army which has been
doing so well in this war with Italy
mas been strengthened by that
HOOD OF exiles who reached Greece
homeless. despalring. and forlorn.
now the Greeks have made close
friends with their former enemy
The Turks have made an alliance
with them IN sincere and loyal
friendship. :
something else has happened 10
Nreece because Of its heroism.
All liberty-loving peoples through
out the world are eager to give them
nelp' They are getting il and will
get more from Great Britain and the
United States.