Salt Lake Telegram | 1919-03-25 | Page 14 | Venizelos' Guards Resemble Opera Bandits

VENIZELOS' VENIZELOS GUARDS RESEMBLE OPERA BANDITS Cretan Soldiers Are Attired in Most Marvelous Trappings PARIS March Correspondence of the Associated Kings presidents and premiers have ceased to be a novelty at the peace conference con con- ference but the bodyguard of Premier Premier Pre Pre- mier Venizelos of Greece never falls to attract great crowds At the hotel where the American delegation Is housed and at toe Foreign office Venizelos' Venizelos approach Is always heralded heralded heral- heral ded by the arrival of one ot of his Cretan Cretan Cre- Cre tan soldIers arr arrayed more brilliantly than a comic opera bandit The Cretans who escort the Greek statesman are all more than six feet tall and apparently have been chosen from various organizations as asa asa a different man appears dally daily and the same uniform Is never seen twice The swarthy Cretans all have small waxed mustaches twisted Into upturned points and stand rIgidly at attention for hours while awaitIng awaiting await await- Ing r. M. Venizelos at the entrance to the hotel or the Foreign office The jibes of small boys and the jokes of various allied soldiers who gather In wonderment never seem to disturb the Imperturbable Cretans Perhaps the most startling uniform worn by one of the guards consisted of o- white tights bound by tasseled black sill silk cords at the knees a red velvet elvet blouse and sash a red fez surmounted by a black silk tassel so long that It tails falls below the waist and black sandals with upturned toes topped by great silk porn pom This costume was completed by an Ivory Ivory- handled knife two feet long thrust carelessly Into the sash The knives and swords worn by bythe bythe the Cretans are the chief feature of the uniforms and make the collectors collectors col- col lectors of antique weapons very en- en They are of all sizes and shapes and have sheaths of great splendor jeweled and carved in a marvelous manner Some of the guards are bare bare- kneed and have costumes not unlike the Scotch in style but much gaudier in color Others wear marvelously decorated leggins reaching far above the knees Capes of orIental hues are frequently worn by the Cretans and add to the brilliancy of the Greek uniforms which male make the fancy dress uniforms of the French and English look sombre J