The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-04-08

dIIluCIy pIdCIlCCy DCCduSC II
seems likely that they were
really more anxious to observe
each other than to watch the
common enemy. Moreover
they had a chance, without too
much barbarity, to carry on
this exercise, for it is certain
that the indurgents, who had
already taken all the necessary
precautions, retired rapidly
into defiles and ravines, 1eav-
ing nothing in sight but their
abandoned camps. The fleet
fired upon positions rather than
upon masses Of men, and if any
casualties occurred they must
have occurred in the first two
or three cannon shots, when
the insurgents, like the people
of Canea, did not suspect that
the bombardment was serious,
and believed that it was sim
ply platonic manifestation.
They were soon undeceived,
however, for from the shore one
could perceive at the sunlit
horizon the dust that the shot
threw up; and on that beautiful
day ofEastern sunshine, which
put away every idea of mourn
ing and of warfare. all that
smoke and all that dust in the
pure air of the blue sky pre-
sented something unexpected
and absolutely astounding.
The image of war appeared
there more striking and more
sad, on account of the contrast,
and also, we must admit, on
account of the brutal spectacle
of the strength of that machin-
cry of destruction set in motion
to wipe out a handful of men.
No doubt Europe was COM
PEELED to do what it did, because
that handful of men might
compromise the peace of the
the world and cause horrible
carnage. But the tableau
sketched on the spot was, for
all that, grand and terrible, and
the few Europeans who were
there felt relief when the last
gun was fired.
That was not precisely the
sentiment of the crowd which
for long time afterward re-
NAMED on the shore. It evil
IDENTIFY considered that the fes-
tivity was altogether too short;
and among these men, rivited
for centuries to this land of
constantly uncertain fate, there
was a sort of pride in the
thought that their little island,
lost in the seas, was the theatre
of such events. But it cannot
be said that in Canea there ex-
lists only the bleating flock of
the multitude, (moutans de
Panurge), that here are. shorn
closer than they are anywhere
else; it contains also a race of
politicians that swarms around
the military Governor and that
has it's cafe, just as in Constan-
tinople. in which political
events are discussed.
The bombardment was scarce
ly finished before it's conse-
/ quences were weighed and
judged by the so-called great
heads among the Mussulmans.
At first it was announced that
/ 500 or 600 were slain, that it
was a perfect massacre. Then
they brought it down to 800;
and the latest news put the fig
ures at $50. The truth is that
nothing whatever is known of
the result of it, and that moth
ing definite will be known un-
til we have the reports of the
Admirals. At the Consulate
[ was informed that they pro-
posed to their Greek colleague,
Admiral Reineck, to assist them
in their investigation and that
the latter refused. However it
may turn out, for the reasons
4 [ have mentioned above, the
opinion of impartial people
and such people exist even
here that in reality they are
entitled to them, for their call
ing is not a happy one.
The town is occupied mill
tarily. The telegraph, the
official establishments and the
missions are guarded. Twenty
marines surround the French
Consulate. The flags of the
powers float upon the fortress
ess; but the Greeks advance
nevertheless, little by little.
They capture forts and redoubts
and If this thing continues al