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Show METAXAS DIES TELLING FAITH IN GREEK FIGHT Banker Appointed By King to Succeed Premier By MAX IIARRELSON ATHENS, Jan. 29 (AP) General John Metaxas, premier and dictator of Greece for nearly near-ly five years, died Wednesday of a throat infection at the age of 70, bequeathing his hope of victory over Italy to a government govern-ment swiftly reorganized and dedicated to that purpose. The strong man, ill for only three weeks, regained consciousness conscious-ness just before he died, it was said, and, knowing that the end was near, addressed these words to Minister of Home Security Constantine Maniandakis, at his bedside. "So there is no hope whatever? You understand, Costa, it is not for myself that I mind, but I place my hope in the Creeks." ("Costa" was Metaxas' familiar form for Constantine.) Shortly after death at 6:20 a. m. King George called a meeting meet-ing of the cabinet and announced his decision to name Alexandros Korizia, 55-year-old governor of the National bank, as Metaxas' successor. Hold Same Portfolios In addition to being premier, Korizis will hold the same portfolios port-folios Metaxas held foreign affairs, af-fairs, war aviation, navy and education. edu-cation. All members of the Metaxas Me-taxas cabinet continued in their old positions. The king issued proclamations to the people and the fighting forces, pledging a continuation of the war until "victory over the enemy and afterward the serving and promoting of the working classes which constitute th ; productive pro-ductive power of the nation." Metaxas' Illness first appeared January 7 with attacks of dizziness. dizzi-ness. At first these were thought to be results of fatigue, but medical medi-cal examination indicated he had a kidney ailment. He returned to work, however, and apparently was in improving health when a trnsil infection developed. Still it was thought the condition was not serious and he continued to work. On January 19 Metaxas worsened wor-sened after removal of his tonsils and he remained in bed until death. On Sunday his situation was pronounced serious and he was given a blood transfusion Monday afternoon. Two more transfusions were made Tuesday. The chief physician of the Brit- (ContlniiM on Pare Two) (Column Four) Death Claims Premier of Greece After Illness of Three Weeks I yS: , , . v .. . " : ' , v r;, - t .... ..-.. ...,,. ,., . . - . "V - ' ; : . . .. -' ' - . i '. J j "I ' ' ' x , - ; . :- fi ; '- r - - I iJ ' tasISSIIasssssassISSSSSHasssssssssssssI (Continued from rii On) Ish Mediterranean fleet flew to Athens from Crete to assist Greek doctors and German specialist was en route from Vienna when the dictator died. Coryoils and the ministers took the oath of allegiance in the presence pres-ence of the monarch three hours and 40 minutes after Metaxas died at his home in Klphissla, a suburb of Athens. (A D N B. German official news agency, dispatch from Belgrade said that, in addition to the premiership, pre-miership, Coryozis inherited from Metaxas the ministries of foreign affairs, war and air.) Metaxas' physicians announced that he died of "various complications," compli-cations," including blood poisoning poison-ing and uremia, following a throat inflammation. Carry Oa Same Policy King George'a proclamation said the new government would carry on with no change in policy, especially at it affected the war With Italy. The Greek people, the proclamation procla-mation added, received "the sad news in calm and with absolute confidence in the king, and the government it decided to carry on the victorious struggle." The proclamation exhorted Greek soldiers to continue vigorously vigor-ously "the struggle for our altars and homes," despite the "hard loss." The king referred to Metaxas Me-taxas as "he, who with my consent, con-sent, said a proud 'No' to brazen invaders on the historic dawn of October 28." The government ordered a na- AitocUxted Press Wirephoto. WAR AGAINST ITALY WILL CONTINUE John Metaxas, Greek dictator, who died Wednesday tional mourning. The funeral was scheduled for Friday and a communique com-munique aald that "every honor shall be paid him at befita a cardinal figure in the history of the land." King George went to the Metaxas Me-taxas residence to pay hit respects and offer condolences to the family. King' Proclamation Pledging himself to follow Metaxas' Me-taxas' domestic and military policies, poli-cies, the king in hit proclamation declared: "I am convinced that. Inspired by the high example of the recent bright pages of our national life and tightly unified around my throne, we shall bring the gigantic struggle now being waged by the heroic Greek army on the battlefield battle-field to a successful conclusion." The king, in a separate proclamation procla-mation to the armed forces, said: "The loss it hard for all of ut, very hard, but the Greece which he (Metaxas) dreamed of it eternal eter-nal and Immortal. . . . "We must make up for this hard loss by strengthening our will, our decision, our daring and our insistence that justice it on our side and, therefore, we shall win." Metaxas, a veteran soldier and military genius, had held dictatorial dicta-torial oowers in the Greek cov- ernment with the approval of King George II since August 4, 1936, when he engineered the coup d'etat which gave his country coun-try an authoritarian regime. Named Premier for Life He was proclaimed "premier , for life" on July 30, 1938. Military men have given him much of the credit for Greece' successful stand against the Italian Ital-ian invasion, which was turned into a retreat into Albania. Early in his career Metaxas was regarded in tome quarters as somewhat "pro-German," but he repudiated any such sympathies In his role as Greece's etrong man, and there was no doubt ot his British leanings after the European Eu-ropean situation flared into open war in September, 1939. Known as an organizer and an ardent patriot, he had been famed for his driving determination to see hit ideat carried through. The last vestige of opposition to his regime disappeared in February, Feb-ruary, 1938, when several party leaders favoring a return to constitutional con-stitutional government were banished ban-ished to Greek islands in the Aegean. Governed Firmly He governed Greece with an iron discipline while carrying out a sweeping program of social legislation, leg-islation, public work, land reclamation recla-mation and road building. He aimed at increasing Greece's Industrial activity, raiting waget and bettering living condition!. Mctaxat enjoyed the undivided support of the army and highly efficient secret police. |