Corps de Telegraph

A good way to seize the Government of Greece is first to occupy the central telegraph office at Athens with a handful of men. The operators should be forced to announce that the Government has been seized, and to demand expressions of loyalty to the new regime from the provincial authorities. With these pledges of support in his pocket almost any potent Greek can declare himself Dictator. General Theodore Pangalos seized power in exactly this way (TIME, July 6, 1925), and held on for 13 months. His successor, General Kondylis, accomplished his coup by methods equally simple and unconstitutional (TIME, Aug. 30). Therefore sophisticated persons were not surprised to learn that while riots and rebellious outbursts occurred generally throughout Athens last week they were most frequent near the central telegraph office.

Those who held the Office successfully throughout the week were adherents of Dictator Kondylis. Early in the week Colonel Zeryas, commander of the Republican Guard which had been supporting General Kondylis, strode into the new Dictator's office and demanded tangible spoil for himself and his men as their wages for deserting General Pangalos. Dictator Kondylis refused the Colonel's demand. Colonel Zervas, vexed, grew purple, spat in the General's face, cried: "I made you Dictator and I can unmake you! . . ."

Within a few hours Colonel Zervas and the Republican Guard were advancing upon Athens with two tanks. Ammunition stored in one of the tanks exploded, killing its crew and several bystanders. A pitched battle in which some 50 persons were killed ensued up and down the Kifissia Boulevard. At last Dictator Kondylis announced from the justly suspected telegraph office: "Athens is quiet, and the situation is well in hand." A subsequent despatch told of reports that the Royalist leader Colonel Plastiras was marching upon Athens with intent to coup.

Meanwhile the only man in Athens who was not greatly flurried by events was old Paul Koundouriotis, recalled to the "Provisional Presidency" of the purely hypothetical "Hellenic Republic" by Dictator Kondylis. Admiral Koundouriotis, 71, has been by tacit consent the ornamental and gentlemanly figurehead of Greece since the departure of King George II from Athens (TIME, Dec. 31, 1923). For a time the hard-boiled adventurers who are exploiting Greece dubbed the Admiral, "Regent." Two years ago he was styled "Provisional President," and during the last few months of the Pangalos regime he was forced to resign and suffered an eclipse which is now styled "illegal." What manner of man is he?

Born on the Island of Hydra in 1855, he adopted a naval career in his earliest youth, and rose to the distinction of twice defeating the Turkish fleet during the Balkan War of 1912-13. An adherent of Diplomat Venizelos, he shared the fortunes of that statesman until the

Greek Parliament raised him above common strife by creating him in 1919, "Grand Admiral for life." Thus bedizened with a not easily tarnishable prestige the old Admiral continues to serve his country as an official adornment of certified quality.