The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-30

The news from Crete, which obviously
has not undergone the censorship of tho
Admirals or Consuls, discloses just what
might have been expected. Under cover of
the secrecy which they had secured, as they
thought, we now learn that acts of breach
Of faith and treachery are employed to force
the Cretans into submission to the will of
the powers, whatever that may be.
1t is not to be expected that such a muir.
derous act as placing arms in the hands Of
the Mussulmans who were given up by Col.
VAssos to the British Consul, Sir ALFRED
BILL1orTI, on his giving a pledge in writ
ing that they would not be allowed to fight
against the Christians, will incline the Gre
tans to place trust in any more promises or
assurances given by the foreign command
ers. The attempt of the Admirals to draw
the Cretans at Mirabello into surrender by
false representations that their country
men on the other end of the island had &C.
copied autonomy, is contrary to all notions of
honorable dealing. and unless repudiated
by the Governments concerned, it must
react on themselves, and render moro justi-
fable thai ever the suspicious many al.
ready entertain of the sincerity of their
offers to the Cretan belligerents. The
tenacity with which the Cretans refuse
to enter into any consideration of the ques-
ton OF autonomy Is sufficient refuta-
ton Of the statements made in the Brit
ish House of Commons on the subject,
and is an additional proof that it was
intended to obtain the sanction of Brit
ish public opinion, by a m~isrepresen-
tation Of the true state of the case, to a
rn1TQa IF aNftnU tf -D,,II ..-t-- -.
have approved. 1t is quite unnecessary to
characterize a diplomacy so wanting in
every quality of civilization. to say moth
ing of the Christian spirit to which all of
the powers pretend moro or less to lay
claim. 1t is of bad augury for the Cretans
If they should be forced by hunger to lay
down their arms, and 1t Is sincerely to be |
hoped that the course of events may vet |
bring to these brave people that freedom
which their heroism and constancye ntitIe
them to.
Turning to the mainland. it is now evil
dent that the first accounts of the Turkish
preparations that were to overwhelm
Greece erred, largely on the side of exaR.
geration. The numbers of the Turks, their
cannon, and their resources were overstated, |
and the most trustworthy accounts show |
that so far from being in any way superior
to the Greeks, it Is questionable whether
they are even equal. AS to the morale of
the two armies, there is no doubt which has
the advantage. So far "a the situation can
be judged of. it is not likely thai hostilities
are imminent, even If certain.
The fact that some of tho heavy runs of
the Turks had to be left in the mud near
kojani indicates how difficult any consid.
cradle movement would be until the season
Is further advanced. The disposition of tho
Greek troops, as reported, points to an evil
dent intention, in the event of war, to make
a strong move on the Turkish communica-
between Macedonia and Epirus by
the Grevena-MctZovo,Ja ANNA road across
the Pindus mountains. If successful. as
seems not unlikely, Epirus would be at the
mercy of the Greeks. who would at once
obtain there a large contingent of fighting
men OF the very best quality.
The revolutionary body, commonly
known among the Greeks as the Eihniki
Hctatria, or National League, has been for
several years back specially active among
the Greek population of Macedonia, pre-.
pairing them for what Is now happening.
with large funds placed at it's disposal by
wealthy Greeks, both in Greece and in other
countries, it has made the collection of arms
ammunition required, most of which
must now be in the possession of those
are to. use them. These arms
have been obtained In France and
Belgium by the secret agents of tho
League. In Macedonia alone, 1t is estimat-
I'd that 1t can put into the field at once as
to tho Greek army bands num-
'ering not leas than 10000 men In the
aggregate; and In the event of the Greek
army advancing, 1t would be Joined by
'very man capable of carrying a rife.
Their deficiency in drill would be- moro
han made up by their intimate knowl-
'dge of every path n pass among the
nountains. With communications with
spirus cut, and the mountaineers press
ne on their right flank and rear. the Turk,