Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-05-01
MAP OF THE SEAT OF WAR.

parties. Intrigue followed intrigue, ard
only one man has had the courage to hold
the Office of civil governor for n full term
All the Others were driven to resign it.
A crisis came in 1889. The governor
considered 1t to be his constitutional duty
to bestow certain number of appoint
ments on the Liberals, and the Conserva-
tives thereupon took up arms and with
drew to the mountains. Then the half dor
mant fanaticism of the people became
aroused and the island was again plunged
into civil war In the space of a few
months about 100 Christians and Mussul
mans were murdered. Nine thousand
dwelling houses, 1852 schools, 81 mosques
and IA churches were burned. Property to
the amount of hundreds of thousands Of
dollars worth was destroyed. The insur-
gent Christians, however, got the worst Of
It. The porte soon became master OF the
situation and proclaimed martial law. The
compact OF 1878 was practically abrogated,
and for the next five years Crete was ruled
automatically by a succession OF Mussul-
man governors.
The attention of the powers was attract
ed to the unhappy state of the island, and
toward the end of 1894 the porte was in
duced to select Christian named Alexan-
der Karatheodory Pasha as governor. He
and Mussulmans. The assembly met
again for the first time since 1880 and
passed some good laws. But these were
vetoed by the porte, and trouble again be-
gan. Finally in March of last year the
Christian governor was recalled, and Tur-
khan Pasha, a Mussulman, was appointed
in his stead Tho change seemed to dis
satisfy everybody, Mussulman as well as
Christian. The number of murders on
both sides Increased. Turkhan showed
considerable energy in Furnishing the
guilty and ia UNFOLDING the law, but the
revolt continued, and disturbances were
rife all last summer. Greece sent consid-
cradle AID to the Christian Cretans, and
this led Russia and Germany to propose
blockading the island, but Great Britain
refused to sanction such scheme, and the
project was therefore abandoned.
A plan Of reforms was agreed upon by
the powers last September and accepted
by the sultan. There was to be Chris
tian governor, who should appoint the
subordinate officials, two-thirds Of them
Christian and one-third Mussulman, and
other reforms were agreed upon which
promised to be advantageous to the Chris
tian Cretans. For one reason or another,
however they were not carried out Thus
the present acute crisis ensued, and IL de
rives It's Importance from the intervention
OF Greece. The annexation of Crete &c
Greece has been proclaimed, and Greek
troops have taken possession Of the island
with the exception OF a few ports which
are held by the fleets of the powers.
The inhabitants of Crete, both Chris
tians and Mussulmans, seem to approve OF
the annexation, and there Is reason to be
1ieve that even the porte itself would not
strenuously object to 10. But Russia and
Germany have done all in their power &c
prevent It. The alternative offered IL q
measure Of autonomy. Attic beginning
of the year that would probably haze beer
accepted. Now It Is regarded with suspi.
cion, as a mere Fpse Of the powers *
throw Crete back undor unrestrained