Evening star., 1947-04-01
I would IKE to get rid Of It. but what

=
can / do about it?"
AS In the case Of several OF the
|monarchies established by the Holy
Alliance and since, the Greek
dynasty has not one drop Of It's
subjects blood In its veins.
When the German food tide
spilled over the mountains Of Mace
donia into Greece, George fed
Athens and set up his government
in the Grecian isle of Crete. When
the Germans launched their air
borne attack on Crete the King
managed to escape by crossing the
island ON foot from north to south,
hotly pursued by German para
chutists for three days. He even-
tually escaped to Egypt.
For his courage in Crete King
George was awarded the Greek War
Cross and the British Distinguished
Service Order (DSO). He was the
only sovereign to receive the British
decoration.
Escaped Nazi Fire.
Several times in his fight across
Crete King George threw himself
into bitches to escape Nazi fire. Once
or twice the Kings party was fired
on by Greek patrols which mistook
them for Germans. He slept In a
cave with shepherds, sharing their
food. He crossed a 7,000-foot noun
tain range and finally was riding a
mule when he reached the haven on
the south coast where a British de-
stroyer picked him up.
King George visited Washington
in June, 1912 and was guest at
the White House. He was accom-
panied by his Prime Minister,
Emanuel Tsouderos. Prime pur-
pose of his visit was to appeal for
the starving Greek people and to
seek an increase of the $1,000 tons
of wheat the Allies were shipping to
Greece every month. He addressed
the Senate, placed wreath on the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and
visited the Naval Academy at Ann
apolis while here.
Greece was liberated in October,
1914. King George, on the advice
of the British Government, did not
return Immediately. Prime Minister
Winston Churchill visited Greece
and on December %, from London,
King George appointed Archbishop
Damaskinos as regent Of the coun-
try pending plebiscite.
British Tanks Save Regime.
The unrest in Greece had been of
great concern to the British govern
ment. Mr.. Churchill in defending
British policy in Greece told the
Commons that on December S he
had ordered the commander of the
British forces in Greece to use his
power to keep ELIAS bands, guerril-
las from the hills who had been ac-
tive in the resistance, from taking
Athens and establishing a reign of
terror. The continuity of the Greek
pre-war government was saved by
British tanks rumbling through
Athens downtown streets.
The plebiscite was held September
2, 1916. The vote was about 2-to-1
in favor of Georges return. Amer
ican correspondents on the spot who
were allowed to move about freely,
described normal voting procedures
with no official pressure and rela-
lively little disorder. The opposi-
ton was both Republican and Com
munist. The Communists instructed
their followers to turn in blank
ballots.
King George returned to Greece
by plane on September u, 1916, land
ing at ElevsiS Airport and was i'm
mediately sped by automobile to a
launch which took him aboard q
Greek warship at Salamis.
The next day he rode in an open
car through tremendous crowds in
Athens in a 4-mile triumphant pro-
cession to the cathedral where Arch
bishop Damaskinos, who relinquished
his regency, conducted a tie deum
service.