New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-21
rF1TTRES OF THE EASTERN TROUBLES.

FEATURES OF THE EASTERN TROUBLES.
The report of wholesale butchery of Cretans
nv their fellow-Cretans appears to be pretty wen
supported There need be no astonlshmeht IL II
is ful,v confirmed The Greek race Is warilke
one and in Crete 1t displays some traits tllat can
only be described as cruel and bloodthirsty'
The Cretans have, indeed, been trained 10 saw
ageness of conduct by their oppressors tor cenlu-
rjes past. 1t is little to be wondered at, there
fore. if in the mad ecstasy Of newly gained IN
dependence they commit deplorable excuses
They have themselves been UNANIMOUSLY treated
by the Turks and even by their fellow-Cretans
who have adopted the Moslem faith. There are
few Turks within reach on whom to vent their
retributorv wrath so they turn upon the Cretan
Mahometans. their own neighbors and kinsmen,
inst as purely Greek as themselves. and slaugh-
ter them 1t is a sickening business. but it is
ONLY what was to be expected. 1t calls for
prompt occupation of the whole island by an
ADEQUATE Greek or other force. to restrain The
lawless passions Of the exutant and rampant
Christians and to protect the lives of the help
less MahOmetan minority.
As already intimated in these columns, It has
now become clear that Great Britain Is the best
friend of Greece and Crete and that Germany
and Russia are the foes. Last year 1t was
Great Britain and she alone that prevented the
Powers from blockadng the Cretan coast, doing
police work for Turkey. and crushing the rising
spirit of freedom among the Cretans. 1t is the
same freedom-loving Power that now prevents
a blockade of Greek ports and intervention TO
restrain Greece from carrying out her plans in
Crete. 1t is to Great Britain more than to any
other Power that the Cretans will owe their re-
dcmptiOn from Turkish rule and Greece will
owe her annexation of that island. On the other
hand. Germany and Russia are striving 10 have
the PiraeuS DlOckaded and. presumably. Turkish
rule forcibly reimposed upon the island. and Ger
many is said to be much incensed at Great Brit.
ain because the latter will not agree TO that
scheme. Motives are not difficult TO discover.
Russia wants Crete herself She has a first
mortgage on the whole Turkish Empire, not vet
forecosed. All that Turkey loses before it is
fOreclosed means just so much loss to Russia.
So Russia wants Crete to remain under the
Porte for a time longer until she is ready to
seize il herself. And Germany seems TO be try
ing to play second fiddle 10 Russia in hope thus
of so pleasing the latter as to lure her away from
the French alliance to new alliance with Ger
many.
1t would be an interesting but by no means
surprising. outcome Of this whole Eastern bust
ness if the alliances Of Europe should be wholly
recast on a more natural basis than the pres
ent. \ league of the Three Emperors would he
far more logical than the present Triple ALI
ance. A dissolution of the league between re-
publican France and despotc Russia would DO
a simple reasSertlOn of natural PRINCIPLES as
would also be n more or less intimate bond be-
tween France. Great Britain and Italy. 1t is in
such directions that the tendencies of race and
blood and the genius Of civilizations are strong
~ tending. Perhaps the shock of this Eastern
crisis will hasten their beneficent progress.