New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
CRETE AND MACEDONIA.
rur QUESTIONS THAT THREATEN WAR
BETwEEN GREECE AND TURKEY.
an OLD STRUGGLE IN CRETE REvIvED-CoNsUI.
GENERAL BOTASSI'S VIEwS-A RELIGIOUS
CONFLICT IN MAcEDoNIA-PoPuLAR
PRINCE GEORGE.


From the dispatches which have been received
nom Athens in the course of the last few days IT
.ems that nothing short of the intervention OF the
bowers can prevent conflict between Greece and
turkey for the possession of Crete. The revolt of
me- Cretans against the Turks Is simply continual
zion Of an old struggle. and while many people who
look at the situation from impartial point Of
v,sv oen see no justification In the revolt at this
time and believe that II was prompted by tho
restless and revolutionary disposition which Is
characteristic OF the islanders. the Greek people
continue TO give the insurgents encouragement and
tangible evidence of their sympathy The mission
o, Prince George will therefore be watched with
much interest.
The Porte has asked the Powers to step in and
restrain Greece in her action. but nothing is known
as 70 the intention either of the Turkish Govern
ment the Powers In the time state
bordering anarchy regns in Crete ana tbs
Turkish Governor Of the island has fed for safety
70 the Greek Consulate at Canea. and his wife has
Fought refuge in the French Consulate. Cretans
and those who sympathize with them In their de-
sire 10 be annexed 10 Greece rejoice the news
which from London to the effect that the
Powers will not coerce Greece. and that Prince
George will prevent Turkish troops from landing on
the island
HEROIC HISTORY.
There are not many islands with moro stormy
or more heroic history than that Of Crete In re-
mote antiquity II the redoubta bic Isle Of One
kings, among whom were Rhadamanthus Minos
and Idomeneus. The ast-named led n feet OF
eighty ships 10 assist IN tho conquest OF Troy and
was tho last Of what we may call tho legendary
kings After him gap oe several centuries co.
ours. and when the record IL resumed II Is no
longer fable. but authentic history At tho time
OF tho Persian invasion Of Greece the island was
populous and prosperous II was divided into
general Independent republics which, like those
o. Peninsular Helas. were not always in peace
ard friendship with each other. They kept free
from foreign wars however. except as they volun-
tarily furnished mercenary troops 10 whichever
side would paw best for them. This was done IN
both the Persian and Polopornesian wars whom
The Cretan archers wero noted ard dreaded
as those Of Merry England in later ages
Tho proves of the ancient Cretans and their
insular position KEEP, them free from invasion
down almost to the Christian era While the
eagles Of Rome Tapped wido wings in fiery
fight over nearly all else OF the known world
that island retained its independence Indeed IL
only through intestine quarrels that # was at
last subdued. Some seventy years before the
Christian era Rome took advantage OF the pre-
vai.ing discord in Crete 10 invade the island. on
the preteXt that the Cretans had given aid and
comfort 70 Mithridates and had ill-treated some
Roman soldiers. The first army was repulsed and
almost annihila:ed by the Cretans But Rome
determined to achieve the conquest II II took
tho whole power OF her empire. Army after army
sent. and after three years OF desperate
fighting Rome prevailed. For the first time in her
history Crete became. in 6S B. c., subject to an
alien From that day 70 the present for
more than 80" years she has been a conquered
province never once regaining the independence
long maintained and reluctantly relin-
pushed
For many years Crete remained an appanage Of
Rome. and then Of Byzantium II first fell into
Mosem hands in S23 when the Arabs led by Mi
chael the Sufferer, found II easy prey. No
important attempt 10 colombo II made by the
new conquerors. hut many Of the Greek inhab!-
tants. voluntarily involuntarily. accepted the
Mosem faith. So II comes pass that at this day
there few Turks or Arabs In the island. |
though many Mahomeans the latter being OF as |
pure Greek blood as their Christian neighbors |
After 1877 years OF Arab rule the island was re- !
taken by the Greeks under Nicephorus Phocas
who taught the Arabs what he thought IAN ever |
lasting lesson" II remained under Greek rule
until the establishment Of the Latin Empire by
The Crusaders. when. in 1901. It turned over !
to Boniface. Marquis Of Montferrat The Geno-
es. tried buy it Of him, bu: he sold It to their
rivals. the Venetians. instead. for the sum of |
in01 silver marks. The Cretans revolted |
against the Veneans and. assisted by Genoa. |
gave them much trouble Indeed during their =.
several centuries OF ownership the Venetians had |
few years Of peace with the turbulent islanders.
YEARS OF RAPINE AND BLOODSHED
The second Moslem conquest dates from 1913.
Sultan Ihrahim, the pretext that Venice had !
given assistance 10 the Knights OF Malta sent an |
army Of 10000 men seize the island. II took |
them nearly months TO capture the port Of |
Canea. and less than twenty-four years TO re-
Gue the capital city OF Gambia. Then Venice yield
ed the whole island TO the Turks. excepting three !
ports the last of which she also relnquished IN