iers on the frontier would lose
control of themselves, and that their officers would not be able to
prevent them from crossing the frontier and attacking the Turks.

The Crown Prince issued a General Order to the soldiers, commanding them
to preserve order, and, possibly in consequence of this, the day passed
without disturbance of any sort.

But it was not likely that the Greeks and Turks could remain long on the
frontier facing each other, without trouble of some sort arising.

Both countries have been massing their armies on their side of the border,
in readiness for the declaration of war, and in some places the opposing
forces are so near together that the block-houses are only thirty yards
apart.

It was only a question of time when the first blow would be struck.

On the 9th of April, three days after the great fete had passed over, and
just as Europe was praising Greece for the behavior of her men, the
fighting broke out.

Great excitement prevailed when it was learned that a body of Greeks, one
thousand strong, had invaded Turkey, and was holding the Turkish army at
bay.

War had not been declared, so the news of the fighting surprised everybody
very much. But it was soon learned that the Greeks engaged in the fight
were not soldiers of the regular army, but were described as "brigands."

They were, however, a body of men who were armed by a powerful Greek
secret society, which is at the root of that enthusiastic demand for war
which is echoing from every quarter of Greece.

This society has been gathering men into its service for years, and making
them swear, on joining, that they will do all in their power to restore
to Greece her old possessions in Macedonia, Epirus, and Thrace, and that
they will bring these Greek peoples once more under the rule of Greece.

For years the Greeks have been in the habit of putting all the money they
could spare aside, for the use of this great League which was to free
them. Even the little children have devoted their banks and money-boxes to
the cause of liberty. In this way a large sum of money has been gathered
together, and this society, which is called Ethnike Hetairia, has been
able to arm men, and send them to the frontier to fight for their country.

King George was well aware of the existence of this society, and probably
that its members were on the frontier waiting for their chance to overrun
Macedonia and reconquer it from the hands of the Turks.

He t