The San Francisco call., 1896-07-28
FIGHTING FEROC|OUS TURKS.

VI AAecIfSnl1Ons especially as puOtlc - IL
pathy II Russia, from the Emperor and
his household down, was with the suffer
ing and struggling Cretans.
Russia, with France, Prussia and Italy,
IN June, 1867, urged upon the Porte ces-
sation Of hostiiities and an inquiry into
the Cretan grievances by a commission
appointed jointly by the great powers and
the Porte, TO which Turkey refused 10
agree, and later more urgent note was
addressed the Porte on the subject Eng
land and Austria contented themselves
with q recommendation 70 the Porte 10
grant liberal concessions to the Creta rs.
Turkey did nothing al all il the matter
The Russian Government declared in a
circular that while it would not adopt an
isolated course OF action il was determined
10 perform its duty 70 humanity. The
war went on. In April, 1867, Omar Pasha
was appointed TO the chief command. and
with an army Of 1900 men marched
against Spahkis, the stronghold OF the
insurgents, only to meet with defeat at
the hands OF 5000 Cretans. Another expe-
dition against Spahkia and Apokcrama
with ., 600 men was likewise repulsed.
The atrocious barbarities OF the Turkish
troops during this time caused all the for
eign Consuls TO report them to their
Governments. and at the instance of the
latter Omar Pasha wss directed in Sep
tember TO suspend operations for four
weeks and grant general amnesty. The
Grand Vizier, Ali Pssha, reached Crete in
October and proclaimed the amnesty
himself The Cretan leaders, however,
protested against it and demanded an in
ternstional commission of inquiry. so
again nothing was accom- mplishsd-
Throughout the rest OF 1867 and 1858 the
Turks, with an army of $1,000 men, con-
tented themselves with holding the forti-
fed town, Gambia, Retimo, Canea, Kisa-
mos and few other places on the north
ern coast and chain of block houses run
ming from Canea south to the plain of
Amalo and Luiana. while the Cretans,
with an army Of II, 000, men held the rest
OF the country.
Toward the close of 1858 events occurred
which involved the settlement of the Gre
tan question with other interests and the
end OF the insurrection was at hand.
The Cretan Assembly voted for anne1a-
ton with Greece ana sent deputies 10 rep
resent their country in the Greek Parlia-
ment- They were cordially welcomed, but
the Turkish Minister protested, and the
representatives OF the other powers
supporting him, the deputies were
not received. The manifestations of
sympathy for Crete on the part OF
the Grecians, however, continued and the
Turkish Government sent an ultimstum
10 Athens which was rejected. The great
powers hastened 70 prevent the threatened
trouble A conference was called and met
at Paris. January 8, 1853. England and
Austria took part with those who had at
tempted TO intervene between Turkey and
Crete in 1867. All agreed that the delib-
eraIions should be confined TO the matters
between Turkey and Greece only and that
If they could not effect g settlement the
other countries would observe tho strictest
neutrality and in case OF war between
those two powers the rest of Europe would
be simple spectators.
The result of the conference was that
having no prospect OF support Greece was
compelled to accept the settlement pro-
posed and observe a strict neutrality be-
tween Turkey and Crete. Thus cut OF
from the only support they had in the
way OF sympathy and supplies, to say
nothing of recruits. of whom several thou
sand. had gone TO Crete, the revolution in
the little island gradually died out. The
Greek Patriarch addressed letter to the
Christians in Crete and in February the
leaders submitted and in March the
trouble was at an end and the Porte re-
opened all the ports of Crete.
In spite OF their terrible and disastrous
experience of thirty years ago. the spirit
OF Independence and the desire for free
dom from Turkish rule and for annexation
10 Greece has again broken forth. The same
tactics as before are being pursued The
Cretans are harassing their oppressors
and the Turks are shelIing and burning
the villages, the helpless and innocent
suffering alike with the others. Greece Is
again manifesting her sympathy and is
backed up by the Christian people OF
Albania, who have never been well dis
posed toward the MussuImsn masters. II
the powers stand aloof in any trouble that
may arise Crete, Greece and Albania viii
do much toward settling the Eastern ques-
ton and changing the boundaries OF
European Turkey.
Crete, or Gambia, as it often called,
has an area, including the smaller islands
with which It is surrounded, of about $500
square miles. Its population is about
800, 600, OF whom %, 600 are Greek Catho-
lies and the rest Mussulmsn. The capi-
tai, Canea, with Retimo and Gambia. are
the only cities of any size on the island.
having together a population of some
4. 900. There are number of towns OF
from 500 to 2500 people, mainly along the
coast, and about 100 villages. The island
has had an eventful history. At the cap
Iure of Constantinopie by the Latins in
1204 it fell to the lot OF the Marquis OF
Montocrat, who sold it TO the Venetians,
VINO held it until 1863 when, after a seige
OF twenty years, the Turks captured Can
dia, the last stronghold of the Yenetians.
ana became the masters OF the whole
island. Their rule was an iron one, and
the people groaned under II till 1921
when, taking advantage Of the revolution
in continental Greece, they tried to gain
their independence They drove the
Turks into the fortified towns, and the
war dragged on till 1880, when England,