A SOLDIER KING.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2732, 1 June 1915, Page 4

A SOLDIER KING.

FAME IN THE BALKAN WAR,

King Constantine's critical illness naturally increases the world's interest in Greece regarding the war. Recent reports indicated that popular feeling favoured the earliest possible action on the side of the Entente, but the sovereign, whose wife is a Hohenzollern, has been —to put it'mildly— hostile to hasty action. If Constantine's illness threatens to be protracted, or. if he dies, Greece may soon be at war, according to some prophets. The Greek throne is tied to a number of European thrones. Constantine's father (King George) was the brother of Queen Alexandra and of the Empress-Dowager of Russia. The late King's consort is the Duchess Olga, cousin of the Tzar. Thus, Cohstantine's father was uncle of King George V. of Britain, King Haakon VII, of Norway, and King Christian X. of Denmark. These were the principal Royal relationships, but there Avere others. Germany's share came with the marriage of Constantirie to the Kaiser's sister. Princess Sophia of Prussia. This followed a schooling under German Uitors. Constantiue was trained for the army. In 1897, in the war with Turkey,' he was tried in the chief command, but luck was against him. The Greeks' equipment was comparatively poor, and they Mere not ready for war. The campaign was unsatistory, and the Crown Prince was made the scapegoat by the public. This unpopularity continued in varying degree till the outbreak of war with Turkey in. 1912. He left Athens on October 12 s for the operations against Salonika, which was .taken on November S. Janina, in Epirus, fell to the Prince on March 6, and these two important victories made Constantino the hero of the Greek nation. The title of Liberator was given to him by Greek residents of America, who sent him a "sword valued at 3000 dollars. On March 18/ 1913 .(the fiftieth anniversary of his reign), King George was assassinated in Salonika, and was succeeded by Constantine. The now King had ample knowledge of his duties, for he" had acted as regent for some years. His father, who was distinctly'not a Greek, preferred residence atl>ris and Aix-les-Ba/ins. The new King has boon working steadily .for the interests of his people in the Balkans. There are fire childron in the Iloyal family. The oldest son, Prince George, was born in 1890. The Greeks have a tradition that when a Royal Constantine weds a Royal Sophia, their son will reien at Constantinople; and the cross will replace tlie crescent on the dome of St. Sophia in Turkey s threatened capital.