The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-10
THE GERMAN PRESS
SCORES ENGLAND
Denounced for Not Acting with the
Powers in the Cretan Affair.
BISMARcKlAN ORGANS ARE BITTER
British Sentiment, However, Ap.
proves Lord Salisbury's Determine.
tiOn Not to Help Bolster Up the Sui.
tan..The Terrible Situation in
Crete Demands q Remedy.

Berlin, Aug 9.-Political interest dur
ink the week has centered in the in
surrection in Crete and the means to
restore tranquility in that island, where
the Christians are making a desperate
attempt to throw off the yoke of Tur-
kish rule, in which they are being aided
by Greeks who desire to see Crete part
Of the Grecian dominions. All sorts of
reports regarding massacres and the
destruction of villages by the Turks and
excesses on the part of the Christian
inhabitants are almost daily circulated.
Only one thing is certain, and that is
that the situation on the island is de-
plOrable.
1t is the consensus of official opinion
that something should be done by the
powers in concert to put an end to the
present state off affairs. The German
press, especially the Bismarckian and
Conservative organs, which never at
tempt to conceal their hostility to Eng
land and all things English, are par
ticularly sore ovepwhat was practically
the refusal of Lord Salisbury to join
a blockade of Crete and his alleged
championing of Greece and the Gre
loss to find epithets strong enough to
denOunce Great Britain for her refusal
to join in a joint naval blockade Of
Crete to prevent the insurgents from
obtaining arms. ammunition and other
supplies.
German opinion strongly favored
blockade, but Great Britain contended
that If 1t were established 1t must be
directed against Turkey as well as
against Greece; that Is, the war ships
should be employed to prevent the en-
trance Of Turkish troops to reinforce
those already on the island. while at
the same time they prevented the send
ing of Grecian supplies to the insur-
gents.
SALISBURY'S SHREwDNESS.
1t is contended, with good reason,
that Lord Salisbury well knew the
powers would not agree to this, and
consequently the negotiations for joint
action are at a standstill. and will
probably remain so for some time. To
impartial observers of the situation 1t
is pretty well known that Great Brit
ain will, after her experience in the
Armenian matter, no longer act as a
protector Of Turkey, and that she will
let Russia, which blocked her plans
in regard to Armenia, take all the
responsibility for Turkish misrule.
In official circles here the idea IL
repudiated that there Is anything in
the situation that endangers the peace
Of Europe. 1t is even thought that
matters are in some way tending to-
ward concert Of the powers, which.
however. may be as futile as the much
talked-of concert anent Armenia,
where the diplomats found all their
plans frustrated by the diplomacy
Of Russia In the mean time the an
archy which prevails in Crete de-
mands that some action be taken that
will restore peace to the island, but
what action shall be is difficult to de-
eide
London, Aug S.-The refusal of Lord
Salisbury to take part in the proposed
blockade of Crete has met with unani-
nous approval. In view of the strong
feeling aroused by the Armenian out
RACES, Great Britain will at least do
nothing to bolster up the sultan, while
the activity of the British Mediter-
ranean fleet, which left Barcelona for
the east yesterday. adds to the Turk
ish governments qualms, and is likely
to assist materially in inducing the
government to grant reforms.