The San Francisco call., 1896-07-28
IN UNHAPPY CRETE.
In the Face Of Horrors OF the Past
the Island Patriots again
Battle for Liberty.

cattle TOR Laperty-
The present troubie in Crete, like the
struggle for independence in 1856, origin
ated in the western part OF the island-in
the province OF Khznis-but it is gradu-
ally extending as before TO the adjoining
province of Retimo.
In these uprisngs, as well as those
against the Yenetians, who preceded the
Turks as masters OF the island, the leading
part is borne by the SDahkists, who are the
Eneal representatives of the ancient Gre
tans and have preserved in their noun
tain businesses comparatively unimpaIred
the character and customs Of their ances-
tors. They inhabit chiefly the high lands
and upland plains OF the Aspia Yuma, or
White Mountains and from the rugged
and almost inaccessible nature of the
surrounding country they have always
enjoyed q condition OF practical Inde-
pendence from foreign rule, and on &C
count OF their active and wsrlike habits
have always been very formidable neigh
bors for the dwellers IN the cities and
towns along the coast.
They constitute the entire population Of
the southern slope OF the White Noun
tains and almost the entire population of
the towns along the western and southern
coasts from Selino 10 Spahkia. Their
country is very difficult of access The
only road leading from the northern to
the southern side of the island west of
Retimo Is the one from Kisamos up the
mountain defiles to the town of Paleo-
kastron, and thence through the Gina
chorium" 10 the town OF SkIavopula and
on to SeIino on the southern coast. From
Selino the highway is compelled by the
mountainous character of the country to
follow the Eindings Of the coast until il
passes some distance beyond the town of
Spahkia. From this highEay-whIch was
built in ancient times-Irails and paths.
impracticable for the passage OF troops
with artillery and supplies, run up the
steep defles and sides OF the mountains TO
the small towns and villages with which
they are studded. II was not until the
latter part of 1866 that these people OF the
Selinos and SpahkiAn provinces were
really brought under semblance of sub
lection TO the Ottoman power.
In the latter part of that year Mustapha
Pasha, commanding the Turkish forces,
arrived in the island and after issuing q
proclamation promising concessions TO
the Christians and giving i've days in
operations against them with an army OF
some $1,000 men, and after campaign
which for bloodiness and barbarity stands
almost unrivaIed IN the annals of warfare
since the beginning OF the Christian era,
by the end OF the year bad succeeded in
restoring temporarily the authority of .he
Porte 70 all OF the island except the coun-
try OF the Spakiotes in the provinces of
plInos and Spahkia.
In November he attacked and DESTROYED
the monastery of Arkadi in the province
OF Retimo. built during the time of the
Emperor HeracIius, and which had been
spared oy every previous foe, even the
JanizarIes. There were some 700 persons
within the walls, of whom go were COM
batants. and the rest women and children.
Forty-IEo men and ninety women and
children were taken captive. The rest
were killed and butchered under circum-
stances Of sucE horror as 70 cause a shud-
der throughout the civilized world.
The Cretan General Assem- bly, soon
issued another appeal to the Christian
governments, imploring that the three
great protecting powers, England, France
and Russia, aided by America. would
bring about a prompt intervention and q
cessation of the cruelty and extermina-
ton AS in the present instance, d.
plomacy PLAYED double and delayed any
decisive action. The Turkish Govern
ment was induced, however, to allow
foreign ships of war TO carry away the
women and children and such others as
desired 10 leave the island, and many
were thus seEt 10 Greece. In December,
1866, Austaphz recsptured Kisamos and
advanced his army along the same road
which Is now being attempted into the
heart OF the province OF Selinos, driving
the insurgents into the mountains. burn
ing the towns and villages over the heads
OF the defenseless women and children.
Murder, IRE and rapine went with him
along the way TO Spahkia. Every one
able 10 move fed before him. At Tripiti
over 100 terror-stricken refugees col
lected and managed 10 communicate with
the captain OF the Russian frigafe Grand
Admiral. which was cruising of the
coast. and he stood in TO rescue them. a
Turkish trigste warned him to observe the