Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-02-24
EUROPE.

stToNlhg lava mas reached the top of
the crater and has begun its blight
ing journey downward toward the
fertile fields within its path.
In order To obtain clear idea of
the situation which now exists, and
an appreciation of it's gravity, let
us consider item by item, the con-
stituent facts which combined make
the possibility of war so imminent.
The island of Crete, now belong
ing TO Turkey, but which by all ties
of race, religion and sympathies,
and by geographical situation, should
belong TO Greece, is in a successful
revolt.
The Christians in the island out
number the Turks by about $50, 900
to 10000, and unless restrained by
the powers they must in the nature
of things oe victorious. Indeed, they
are virtual masters of the situation
today, and under the Greek flag they
are bombarding Canea and demand
ing union with Greece.
The King of Greece has sent a
squadron to Crete, and has notified
the powers that he will prevent the
landing of Turkish re-enforcements
by force if necessary.
Turkey has asked Greece TO with
draw her fleet, and after advising
with Germany and Austria, has no
titled Greece that unless the request
is complied with in three DAYS, she
will consider her territory invaded.
The King of Greece has gone too
far To back down. His country is
ailame for war, and any backward
step on his part would result in rev.
olution at home, and would doubt
less cost King George his throne.
Hence he cannot be expected to com
ply with Turkeys demand.
Crete, being no longer under Tur-
keys control, the question what to
do with it has arisen. But two al
ternatives are apparent. The first is
It's joint occupation by the powers;
the second is sanctioning its immed-
late annexation by Greece.
But the powers do not want to
Jointly occupy the island. Neither
one of them would consent to its
ownership by any one of the others,
so that the only result of such an oc-
cupation would he the eventual trans
fer Of the island TO Greece.
But if Crete is given TO Greece,
the powers know that the Mussul-
mans of Canstantinople would rise
against the 200, 900 Greeks in that
city These 100000 men have been
arming for months in expectation of
the present situation, and should
such All uprising take place a revo-
luton would at once result which
weuld demand that the powers Joint.
ly occupy ConstantinOple.
But here again we have dilemma
The occupation of Constantinople i,
the precise danger which ali the
powers have been dreading and plan
ming to ayoid for thirty months. II
1T should be necessary, the Sultar
would declare a religious war i'm the
name of Mohammed, and the whole
Mohammedan world, including per.
haps 100, 900, 900 natives of India,
would rise against the Christians,
thus bringing about struggle that
would convulse all European Tur-
key, the greater part Of Asia and
much of Africa.
BY today ten fresh batallions of
the Turkish army will be in battle
array along the border of the Grecian
provinces of Thessaly and Epirus,
ready TO invade that country upon
the Sultan'scommand.
In answer to this the King of
Greece is rushing troops to his north
ern border, under the personal com
mand Of one Of his own Sons.
Now comes two Of the most re-
markable features Of this dark and
complicated situation. For two and
half years the Sultan has successfully
defed England, Germany, Italy.
Austria, Russia and France. and
those six nations, which together
could sweep him and fanatic hordes
from the map of Europe, have been
afraid to attack bim for fear of bring
ing about the very conditions pre-
sented in this analysis, and which
now threaten.
Yet now comes puny Greece
boldly dcfyiDg the Sultan, and show
ing herself to be ready and willing
% maintain her defiance by the sword
If IT be necessary. The King Of
Greece, man of lifelong caution
md excessive prudence, is suddenly
metamorphosed into an aggressive
war lord There must be some hid
den cause for this, and none is more
probable than that some powerful
nation is behind him with a euaran-
tee Of it, support.
This adds another element of diff
ficulty TO the problem, for no nation
except that hidden one, and its DOS.
sible allies, knows the identity of
Greece's supporters, and will not un-
less war comes. Then surprises will
crowd on one another's heels.
And there is yet another side 20
this great game Of diplomacy ON the
result Of which depends the fate of