The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-20
PETTY SPITE
True Animus Of Germany's At
titude Towards Greece.
European Gossip.
BIZ Cable to the United Press.

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wise to predict now what the outcome
will be it is the general opinion here that
Greece will ultimately attain her object
and again count the island as one Of her
possessions. Popular opinion in England
is strongly in favor of Greece. The pro-
posa1 made by Germany that joint fleet
Of the powers blockade the Piraeus, the
port of Athens, in order to compel Greece
to heed the demands made upon her has
caused the deepest Indignation here. 1t
is pointed out that the youthful and eK-
tremely impulsive German Emperor may
have other than political objects to view
in his desire to inflict humiliation upon
the Greeks.
Prince Constantine, Duke of Sparta,
heir apparent to the throne, of Greece,
married some six years ago Princess
Sophia of Prussia, sister Of Emperor
William. The Princess, who was a
Lutheran, changed her religious faith
when she married Prince Constantine,
and had the. temerity to do this without
consulting the wishes of her august
brother or asking his permission. This
ignoring of his perogative Iritated the
Emperor and he has since been on I'M
friendly terms with the Princess and her
husband, and it is barely possible that in
addition to what he deems high reasons
of State, he is desirous of letting the
Greeks know that he does not readily for
give what The considers an injury done to
his dignity by their Crown Princess
This, of course seems a puerile reason
for attempting to thwart the aspirations
Of liberty loving people, but those who
are acquainted with Emperor William $
disposition do not hesitate to assign to
him motives that would be termed con-
temptible if they were displayed by men
of less exalted station.
However, it can be asserted with con-
fidence that whatever the Emperors, $, mo-
tive may have been the German proposal
has met with scant appreciation. All the
Powers on which popular feeling counts
have refused to accede to the German
proposition. Even Italy and France will
not give their consent to it, though Rus
sia, despite the relations between the
Cars family and that of King George,
is strongly hostile to Greece.
1t is the unanimous desire in England
that Lord Salisbury shall take a firm
lead in the matter, since experts maintain
that the British fleet dominates the Med
iterranean as completely as ever Napo-
Icons armies dominated the Continent.
When the gravest news reached the For
eign Office Lord Salisbury questioned the
Admiralty relative to the strength Of the
several fleets in the Mediterranean. Mr..
Goschen, First Lord of the Admiralty, re-
plied:-.'We could whip the lot" and fig
ures show that this statement is true.
Moreover, Italy is acting in complete har-
mony with Great Britain, and their joint
naval ornaments preponderate by 250, ,OOO
tons and $50 guns over the fleets of the
other Powers.
Lord Salisbury aims to secure autonomy
for Crete upon lines similar to those upon
which autonomy was granted to the
Island of Samoa, with Greek Prince to
administer its, affairs. The secondary
part that is being played by France is
due to her absolute knowledge that she
is not prepared to become involved in a
naval war.
The Globe" recently published an ar
sticle from correspondent at Canea
which may throw some light on the Gre
tan situation for American readers. The
writer said:-
The troubles which have been ex-
perienced are not caused by the religious
differences of Turks and Christians, but
by those Of Cretans and Cretans. The
Turkish power is confined to few coast
towns; the country at large, in conse-
Quence of it's mountainous character and
the absence of roads, rules itself. The
population is of Greek origin, and Greek
in spaach Thrna.n,io torr ho1a,e~ T., 49,
Orthodox Greek Church, while the re-
naming quarter is Moharnmedan, and is
equally distinguished by the title OF
'Othomanoi 1t is possible that this word
has caused confusion. Hasty observers
would be not unlikely to translate it as
Ottoman, and assume that the sOtho-
manor were Turks. Its actual meaning
is Cretans of the Ottoman or Moham-
medan faith.
7 do not know whether 1t is due to
greater faith, or to the greater cohesive
power of the Mohamedan religion, but of
this am convinced-the Christian popu-
lation is big crowd the Mohamedaa an
organized and effective body. The sssump-
tion of Turkish intrigue cannot account
for everything, especially as the interior
of Crete is practically inaccessible to any
but natives. The Christian popula ton,
though outnunbering the Othomanio by
three to one, are practically as sheep
among wolves.
"The spirit which animates the Othma-
moi cannot be racial 1t can be nothing
but religious-the 'oMum theoiogicum' IL
Illustrated with knives and guns. or course,
there is plenty of evidence that the Turks
started the Othmanoi upon their present
career, and continue to encourage them
in it. A few months ago the following
prayer was posted upon the door of a
church in Canea, under the eyes of the
consuls - Brethren, The Voice, of the
Prophet calls US to awenge ourselves
against the unbelievers who curse olll
holy religion. Rise. SlayE all those unbe.
heving Christians who have drunk of the
blood of our brethren for SO many years
and are not yet satisfied. To our arms
and punish those unjust servants of oui
Glorifled Nation. In doing so. you can tfaer
meet our Prophet with honor. Naturally
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