Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-03-24
FUSSY LITTLE GREECE.
She Continues to Keep the European Pow
ers In Stew.

She Continues to Keep the European Pow
ers In Stew.
At last the European powers-Great
Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Aus
tria and Russia-have succeeded in
bringing about a blockade of Crete /;
but still they are not thought to have
succeeded in bringing about a settle.
ment of the threatened troubles. The
fact is, the trouble has probably just
begun.
For better understanding of the
situation, a review of the whole trou-
BILE is probably in order. Some
months ago, the Cretans revolted
against Turkish rule, and the Greek
government interviewed with the avow.
ed intention of annexing the island Of
Crete. The Cretans were heartily in
sympathy with this project, and
Greece sent an armed force to the is-
land under command of Colonel Vas.
sos, who was instructed to drive the
Turks from the country.
This is the point at which the Pow
ers began to take hand. Just ex'
actly what the Powers have to do with
the matter has never clearly appeared.
The only explanation lies in the fact
that all Europe is more or less con-
cerned in whatever threatens to affect
the "integrity" of Turkey, and since
the signing of the Berlin treaty in
1878, the Powers have been jealousy
watching each other in all their rela-
tions with the sultan. Though the
ostensible object of the cooperation Of
the powers, therefore, is to look after
Turkey, the real object of the COM
bine is unquestionably to afford the
various powers greater facilities in
watching each other.
Anyhow, within a very short time
after Greece began to threaten war
with Turkey, the Powers have block
AIDED the ports of Crete, which island
promised to be the scene of the COM
mencement of hostilities. The block
ade is by especial agreement, and ac-
cording to it's terms, the vessels Of no
nation are to be allowed to bring sup
plies of arms, ammunition or provis-
ions to either the Greek soldiers or the
insurgents on the island. 1t appears
that the object of the blockade is to
starve out the Greeks and iDsurgent
Cretans, while the Turks are to be al
lowed full liberty to 60 and come as
they please.
Secretary of State Sherman has been
notified of the blockade, and there is
great interest to know what course he
will pursue-whether or not he will
recognize the existing farce. Interna-
tional law does not recognize blockades
of ports except during the existence of
actual war. So far there has been no
declaration of war by any of the pow
ers, and the blockade is not supposed
to be accompanied by any binding
moral force so far as it relates to dis
interested powers. 1t is true that the
United States has no commercial rela-
tions with Crete, and is not likely to
have; but the matter of interest is as
to whether or not this country can af
ford to admit the legality of the block
ade in such manner as will serve as a
precedent hereafter. The United
States has very little to do with the
matter it is true but at the same time
it is question as to whether she can
quietly accept the notice that has been
served upon her by the powers as to
the blockade.
In the meantime Greece continues
in a state of internal agitation. She is
pushing the work of mobilizing her
armies, and is also doing all she can to
stir up Bulgaria, Montenegro and 9TH
er Balkan states. 1t is reported that
she has ordered Colonel Vassos to
hold his own in Crete to the last
ditch, and it is also believed that she
will soon come out with an open de-
claration of war against Turkey.
Up to this time Turkey has not been
making q great deal of fuss. She
seems to have committed her interests
entirely to the hands of the Powers,
except on those of her frontiers which
Join Greece. Here the situation is
rather more ominous. Within sight
of each other on either side of the
boundary line between the two coun-
tries, and each on its own respective
territory, are large bodies of Greek
and Turkish troops. Within the past
few days there have been several
pretty sharp clashes between the SOL
diers of the two countries and num-
ber of men have been killed on each
side. But this is only as showing a
keen eagerness for the fray. There
has been no general engagement as yet,
though with or without declaration
of war such an occurrence might take
place at any time.