The San Francisco call., 1896-07-27
ARMS AND FOOD
FOR THE Gre ETANS
California Greeks to Aid
Their Prosecuted Coun-
trymen.
MUCH MONEY COLLECTED
Hellenic Benevolent Society
Leads in the Soliciting
of Funds.
ALL THE GREEKS INTERESTED.
President Demetrak of Berkeley Talks
Freely of the Cretan
Situation
ALL THE GREEKS INTERESTED

Greeks OF California are raising fund to
supply munitions of war to their perse-
cuted countrymen on the isle of Crete
The recent dispatches concerning the
barbaric treatment received by the Hell
lenes at the hands of the Turks on the Gre
tan Island have caused nearly every native
Greek OF America to turn his attention in
the direction of his mother country, and
to lend what assistance is possible from
this side of the Atlantic. The movement
by the Greek-Americans to supply funds
to purchase arms, ammunition and pro-
visions for their maItreated countrymen
has been going on silently for the past six
weeks.
The Grecian benevolent societies In
nearly every State in the Union have been
raising money for this purpose. The tide
of sympathy and the desire to extend
financial aid to the Cretans have reached
this State. The Hellenic Benevolent So
ciety of California, the strongest of all the
Greek organizations on the Pacific Coast,
has taken up the matter and is making
good progress in the raising of fund for
the defense of the Cretans against the
Turkish power, and for the re-establish-
ment of the Grecian power over the
'tgreen isle of the Mediterranean"
G. Demetrak, president of the Benevo-
lent Society and citizen of Berkeley, has
the work in charge. He, together with
the other three officers OF the society, con-
sistlng OF George Fundas, vice president;
A. Papageorge, secretary, and A. Kosta,
treasurer, compose committee appointed
by the society to take the work OF secur-
ing subscriptions in hand.
They have been at the work for only
short time, and already several hundred
dollars have been subscribed.
In an interview to-day with CALL cor
respondent, Mr.. Demetrak told OF the
persecution which his people are now
forced TO bear at the hands of the heart
| less Turks in Crete, and of the work of as
sisting them with equipage for war, which
he and his associates had undertaken. He
said: "We are poing to collect all the
funds we possibly can for our prosecuted
friends, the Cretans, who are now fighting
for their liberty against the dog-hearted
Turks.
Every one knows the circumstances
surrounding the last troubles which the
Cretans have been having with the Turks
| Crete is one OF the largest islands of the
Mediterranean Sea. 1t is beautiful green
island and the pride of the Grecian archi-
pelago because of its excellent climate, i is
fertile soil, its nearness to the mainland
and its many historic associations. 1t has
population at the present time of about
200 900 Greeks, besides the Turks and
few other foreigners.
'The Cretans have been fighting against
the Turks many times during the last few
hundred years, but this struggle for their
rights will be the final one, because they
have made up their minds to secure lib
erty or perish in the attempt. They are
not asking for any, held from any one, ex-
ceptinG their mother-Greece. Thev say
they can, If left alone, run the Turkish
| forces off the island and burn all the
Turkish ships, and set up in the middle of
the island the blue and white flag of
Greece. / believe that they can do all they
claim, FOR l know full well what the
Grecians who love their country are when
1t comes to matter of liberty, and the es-
tablish-nent of their rights Sometimes
| the Grecian people have quarrels and dis
agreements among themselves, but when
there comes an issue of such importance
to our nation as the present one, we are
as one body-a single unit. We care not
| for our lives so long as We can secure our
posterity their just heritage.
"Once Greece was the most prosperous
country In all the earth; then her power
and strength waned; persecution came
upon US later and some of the stronger
powers of Europe attempted to overthrow
us entirely and to deprive us of what
little we had remaining. We are now de-
termined, in the face of much opposition
and almost overwhelming difficulties, to
regain at least a portion of the territory
and authority that has been snatched by
unclean hands from us.
1--WE are not asking for anything but
! justice. We want the property which be-
longs 10 US, but which has been taken
from us by mightier powers. The great
countries of Europe pretend they are good
friends of Greece but we know by this
time.that they are most dangerous enemies.
They have promised often and often to
assist us in securing what really is ours.
| We have become tired waiting for their
promises to be realized, and so now we do
not ask their help, for we do not need it.
All we want is to be let alone and we can
OF ourselves drive the barbarous Turks
from our midst and from all Europe-for
that matter, into Asia, where they belong.
Lately l have learned through teie-
grams from Athens that the grest powers
of Europe have requested the Grecian
Government to keep quiet and they would
take upon themselves the responsibility of
settling the Cretan question. They did
not wish the Grecians TO send any ships OF
war to help the poor Cretan mothers and
children who are suffering at the hands of
| the Turkish forces, but wished that the