New-York tribune., 1868-01-07

W
DINARY RAILROAD sCHEME--FRRNCH EDU-
cATIoNAL PROJECTS.
Our Special Correspondent
CossTANTISoPLE, Dec. II, 1867
No doubt many of your readers are tired of Crete.
II is now more than year since the war commenced
there No doubt too, the Cretans would rejoice II
there was nothing more to write-if there were no
more battles no more murders; no more desolaton.
The Turks would be equally glad to have nothing
more said about Crete.
But what can be donei The Turks will not give
mp their effort to subjugate the isand-the Cretans
resolutey refuse to be subugated The war goes on,
and | must still write Of Crete. If any of your
readers are tired of the subject let them wake up
their interest by sending food and clothing 10
the thousands Of starving naked refugees from des-
olated Crete, who now crowd every town and VII
lage in Greece If they synpathlze with the re-
belon, let them send contribution TO the Cretan
Committee at Athens. There Is nothing IKE giving
TO rouse one sympathies - -
La TurqHie of to-day saws the paciicalon OF Crete
is almost fat aooomp Aali Pasha has organized an
Assembly Of Notables Hussein Pasha has been
made Governor: three four Greek employees OF the
Porte have been made sub-Governors; the people
are everywhere begging for the protection OF the
Turkish troops against the Greek brlgands and the
few vagabonds who remain IN arms Will soon ne cap
tured. Some of the villagers are begging that their
villages may be destroyed III order that they may no
longer give shelter 10 the rowing bands OF Greek
robbers.
~
al liberty TO believe il who thinks it best.
On the other hand, private letters from the most
Trustworthy man III Crete assure ns that the iuIks
are worse of than Here Is his story and be-
lieve it:
IInssein Pasha. the new Governor is in the lowest
spirits. Two better men have failed before hn, and
he sees only failure before himself.
Only about half the island IL in the hands OF the
Turks and two Of the four sub.Goyernors may be
considered pashas iH pdrtbus. The Assembly Is q
humbug. 1t represents Aali Pasha and his money,
nothing more .
nj akos which lasted eight hours and resulted IN the
defeat and flight Of the Turkish troops This was a
village near the coast where the people remaining In
it had invited the Turkish troops to come up and oc-
cupy. So thu Turks say. AT any rate they went
there with large force and were driven of by Zim
brakak Other less important skirmshes have taken
place with various results but IN general Il Is true
that the Turks hold less ground than they did three
months ago. ReenfOrcements are still going down
from Constantinopc. The Russians are still remov-
ing all the families who wish To leave, and the fight
ing-men have the island now pretty much TO them
selves. This is unquestionably an immense advan-
tagc to the insurgents.
But the most important development upon the
island il the rapidly growing discomfort of the Turk
ish population Ii is understood that or two of
the leading Turks now sympahize with the Greeks,
and are ready To make common cause with them
The war has now forced the Turks to keep within
the fortified towns for more than year Their vii
lagos are at the mercy OF armies, and they cannot
pursue their ordinary ayOcatOns. They long for
peace. but they see no prospect of IL as things
now. The only prospect OF peace is in the annexa-
these Cretan Turks is that, unlike the Turks the
Continent they have freely intermarred with the
Christians. and many Of them have Christian wives
whose fathers and mothers are now In arms against
the Government Ii is not strange that at last these
Cretan Turks ready for any settlement which
will restore peace, that they have gwen up their
hope of q settlement favorable to the Turkish Gov
eTnment.
determination TO put down the rebellion, and the
prospect is that through the Winter at least, the
will 90 Greeks
against Turkey in the Spring; but so they did last
Winter. Not much dependence can be placed upon
Greek talk of this kind.
The Pacific Railroad was n job which even Yankee
enterprise hestated to undertake But at last thanks
especially TO The TRIBUNE, the Government took 1t
up and the road is under way. Turkey proposes TO
do n thing quite grand, III some respects more stu
pendous. We are to have railroad from Belgrade
through Constantnople to Bassora, on the Persian
Gulf With certain branches it will be nearly 5000
miles in length and the estimated cost is fG00000O0
sterling, or $30000000O. The Turkish Government
guarantees the interest on this sum, per cent on
part, and per cent on another part, amount
ing to about f3,5OOOO0 sterling a year. which
is nearly third of the whole revenue of
the Empire That portion of f the LINZ, line which which
discussion, and has been given to Franco
Belgian company. The engineers are now at Belgrade
arranging with the Seryian Government as to the
The other and grander project, the line from Con-
stantinople to Bassora. with a branch to Alexan
dretta, has been rushed through in few weeks. 1t
Everyone is amazed and at a loss To know how
only this has been done; but happen to know that
Capt. Stewart, the agent OF the company, came to
Constantinople with private letters from Lord Stan
lev assuring the Port that il this concession
granted and if the Turks would ask it, England
,couid share the guarantee, and become surety with
Turkey for per cent interest on f32 10000 capital
This not only gives a reality to this project, but will
add life to the European Turkey scheme.
The only trouble now is that this fGO0000O0 has to
be raised, for neither of these companies has any
capital. Both are pure specuations. The stock is
10 be created and put upon the market, | have
garded the whole thing deluson but this action
on the part of England makes it possible to raise
even this immense sum. 1t remains to be seen
whether the companies equal to the task
The value of a simple Turkish guarantee may be
The Government have not vet paid cent of the in
terest due two years ago, and there is prospect
of ANYTHING for at least six months to come. The
Secretary has been here these three months trying
10 raise at least 10000 fraction of the whole
amount due Fourteen times Fuad Pasha gave him
his solemn promise that the money should be paid at
and at the fourteenth interview, when reminded OF
the thirteen previous promses-which might in all
mildness be termed outrageous lles-when requested
der, he said it could MT be done, his word was
enough. SO the poor Secretary took the next steamer
to England. with no money in his pocket and iiea
in his ear Fuad Pashas word, and Turkish promises
generally 60 in the market at just 100 per cent dis
connt.
The French Government has very nearly persuaded