The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-10

terfered the superior Greek Eaet would
nave been able to prevent the landing
OIL turkish troops and the war el Crete
would have been a success The Euro
penn FORCES In Crete were not sent there
10 protect Cretans from the Turkish
massacres. but TO prevent the Cretan
from succeeding. Or II they did send
them for that avowed purpose, they
nave been cminently unsuccessful. foT
the Turks have gone out of Herak!ion.
Tor example. In spite OF Colonel Cherm-
sizes English army. and massacred
Mhoie villages OF. Christians. not eX-
cepting old men, women and children.
AS soon as the European powers saw
the formidable force OF Vassos' troons
ana trlnce Georges fleet, they raised a
great protest and finally notified Greece
that, If her forces were not out OF Crete
ana her ships withdrawn from Cretan
waters within certain number of days,
thcy would adopt stringent measures.
greece was thus obliged to leave the
Cretans TO the mercy OF the Turks. But
before the evacuation of Crete by Vas
sos, the burning disgrace of the great
powers ought to be recallet--the bonn
parchment Of ATalaXa. This Iblockhouse
was In the midst of the Christian homes,
which were being continually devastat-
ed by the Turkish garrison. 1t was only
1t by the splendid Siege, in which sew
eral Americans took part England was
quick with excuses. 1t was said that the
Insurgents were notified that they must
not take MalaXa. No such message
ever reached the Christians. Since
some time after the event Of Maxala, the
European powers have grown gradual
~ more lenient toward the insurgents.
Sir Alfred Billiotti, Consul General OF
England at Canea. a man quick In mis-
cradle articles, has been a. powerful as
unSorupulous In his determination to
ruin tho cnuse Of the Cretaps Why he
and his colleagues, Admiral Harris and
Col. Chernsde, should be so unnatur-
ally Jealous it Is impossible to say.
Tho situation In Crete when the writ.
er left the insurgents about three weeks
ago was this:
During the long-protracted armistice
the Cretan revolutionary assembly,
which has now resolved itself into an
assembly of provisionary government,
mas urged the powers to take final ac-
tion as to the disposition of Crete, that
affairs might be settled so that the
Christian families that fed 10 the noun
tains to escape the Turkish dagger
might return to their ruined homes and
devastated properties and begin anew.
AC vi lue powers nave
mad frequent meetings. The only aucrs-
tion of doubt In the settlement Ia whcth-
er nil the Turkish soldiers should he
obliged to withdraw from the island. The
insurgents insist upon the withdrawal
OF the whole Turkish force as a definite
condition of peace. Most of the powers
were of that opinion; but England's
representative. Billiotti, insists that a
part at least, OF the Turkish soldiers
be detained In Crete ito protect the
Turks" with the Turkish soldier there
to give confidence TO the savage Turks,
there can never be tranquility, nor can
the Cretan return to his deserted home
with any assurance of safety from the
eVe:~whetted Turkish knife. Chief
Aristides Krkaris, whose father was a
great chief before him, dying n Turkish
death with another son, said: 1--WE will
never lay down our arms as long rs n
single Turkish soldier remains" AS yet
every insurgent has been faithful to
that sentiment for not an unnrmed man
can be found in Crete
SIR Alfred BNhorui In an interview
said;