The Monkey Bite

This handsome fellow is a Barbary Macaque.  Quite a set of grinders, no?

King Alexander of Greece.  Passionate about motors and automobiles, he was one of the first Greeks to own one.  Snappy hat, too.  One of his dogs, maybe even this one, will be mentioned here in a bit.

 For a number of reasons, but primarily because his father, Constantine I, was pro German, the government of  Eleftherios Venizelos, forced the king to abdicate.  He did so, but did not renounce his crown.  The allies did not want a Greek republic, but the next in line was also a little too warm to the Germans, the king's brother gave the job the thumbs down, so young Alexander got the gig.  On his way out the King told Alexander he was only a regent and to keep the seat warm on the throne.  Thanks, Dad,.  This is where I leave Wikipedia and tell the story on my own.  The Venizelos government was committed to the Big Idea, in that all the Greek speaking peoples, no matter where, would become Greek citizens, i.e., their countries became Greek.  Most of these peoples were living in Asia Minor, aka Turkey.  The Greeks occupied Smyrna, whose population was more than half Greek. The Greeks held the town but went no further.  Then the most unbelievable thing happened.  On the 2cnd of October, 1920, the king was strolling in the gardens when his dog Fritz attacked a Macaque belonging to the keeper of the vineyards, which is probably a title but I have not capitalized it due to my egalitarianism.   I mean, where's my monkey?  When Alexander was separating them, another monkey attacked him and bit him in the thigh.  The king shrugged it off but the wound became septic and he died 25 October 1920.

With the King out of the way, Venizelos orders the Greek army to take Turkey.  Well armed and highly motivated, they push the Turks back, but time after time fail to surround and annihilate their disciplined and well ordered opponent.  Then, outside Ankara, Johnny Turk digs in.  The Greeks attack in a huge screaming fight but eventually get their ass handed to them.  After all, this guy was running things:

 Mustafa Kemal, the outstanding general of the first world war, whose actions at Suvla Bay changed the course of history.  He proceeded to beat the living hell out of the Greeks.  Soon the Greek army was in headlong flight.  Many civilians were killed.

Let me now emphasize something.  If one is planning on slaughtering innocents, you better plan on winning the war.  Of course my country would never do such a thing!

Planning, I mean.  We tend to be espontáneos!

 

The Greek population of Smyrna expected the army to fortify and protect the town, the soldiers were first on the boats.  Although Kemal forbade looting and atrocity, the Turks went ape (not a joke, although apropos) and fucked Smyrna up, not least by renaming it Izmir.  There are many more photos but it is not my intention to inflame anyone, I am only reporting a sidelight of the first world war few Americans have ever heard about.

September 13, 1922.  The Armenian and Greek quarters are set aflame and the city is nearly destroyed.  Estimates run up to 100,00 dead.  The Allied navies were ordered to not intervene and only take off their nationals, although a British admiral defied his government and rescued 20,000 refugees.  The Americans helped in evacuations.  It is said that the screams of the dying could be heard a mile out to sea.  A Japanese freighter dumped it's cargo and took as many people as they could get aboard to Piraeus.  Some 250,00 refugees were eventually evacuated.

 

Alexander was brave and did his best although he had no power and a hostile government to deal with.  He had proven his courage in war, and trying to help a servant's pet at risk to his own safety showed what he was made of.  What a shame.

 

"...it is perhaps no exaggeration to remark that a quarter of a million persons died of this monkey's bite."

Winston Churchill.

 

Et in Arcadio ego.