The evening times., 1897-03-06
WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, MARCH 8
War Prospects in Europe.


ISSUE that Greece will absolutely ly'refuse TO
vacate Crete at the demand ofthe six pow
ers, and then there viii be war. IL is "a
strange situation, but one in which all
the equities appear to be on the side OF
King George. Indeed, it is difficult TO con
ceive how his attitude could be changed
at this juncture without cowardice. The
cold- -blooded poll cies OF the continental
cabinets ignore the fact, but it is not the
less one, that Greek withdrawal from Crete
at this time would at once turn over the
Christian population Z the island to prompt,
indiscriminate and total ma ssacre by the
Moslems.
Evcnif King George and his government
were willing to oonoede the required retro
cesson. there is every reason for believing
that they would be found poweriess 10 en-
force IL upon their . wn troops in Crete, or
upon the Greek people, who hourly are
forwarding men. arms, ammunition and
erpplles TO the island. Col Nassos, IN CON-
mand Of the army OF occupation, is sup
pIed and provisioned for three months
and. II need he. may be expected to lead
his little army and the Christian inhabit-
ants in a struggle for liberty or death.
Should the powers still force the issue,
and make war on Greece 10 enforce their
brutal demands, their task may not prove
as easy ar the relative strength OF the
parties would make il appear IT is true
that they could blockade the Greek coast
without difficulty, and send an army OF
occupation TO Athens. King George. his
court aud his army would then be likely
20 retire, leaving devastation in his rear,
and fall upon Turkey in Thessaly and
Macedonia, being certainly supported by
the population OF these provinces. So
tense and fervid is the condition of Greek
sentiment that, If he were to do other
wise, he would be dethroned and his king
dom given over to revolution and anarchy.
The same thing would happen if today
he could be driven into accepting foreign
dictation.
But the movements referred to would
only constitute a prelude to the trouble
which surely must follow The armed sup
preston of the Christian revolution in
Crete, and European war against Greece,
would precipitate state OF things in
Great Britain which would sweep Lord
Salisbury and the Tories out OF
power in forty-eight hours. If nothing
else happened to do it sooner, that would
knock the European concert on the head.
Russia then could not well afford to leave
Constantinople alone, in the face OF eventu-
slities, and Austria would he more inter
ested in maintaining her hold in the Balkan
Peninsula and promoting her hope OF a
future Austrian Mediterranean port, than
in playing the game either of England,
France, or Germany. England easily might
be forced to face about and join Greece
against Turkey, and, perhaps, Russia, for
those two powers are practical allies to-
day. singular as that may seem. Turkey is
fortified against Europe on the west, hut
eastward, against the approach OF Rus
sia. not at all. II is an alliance OF the
sheep with the butcher, but il is, never
theless. fact. England must manage 20
command the entrance to the suez Canal,
and hold Egypt, else her eastern com
munications. interests, and dominion would
be fearfully nlenaced.
King George understands and thoroughly
appreciates the situation. Probably he is
1ustified In believing that he can afford to
take the chances on. a sudden collapse Of
the concert as soon as the first foreign
column shall attack his ancient capital or
the first hattle occur on the Graeco- Turkish
boundary.