New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
AN ENGLISHMAN ON THE SITUATION.
THE TROUBLE, HE THINKS LIES BETWEEN
cRETANs AND CRETANs-ABsENCE OF
LAW AND ORDER.
Canea correspondence Of The London Globe.


From what l see in the English papers II does
not seem 10 me that the position mere IS cIearIy
understood at home. The troubles which have been
exist. not caused by the religious differences
and Cretans The Turkish power IS confined to a
few coast towns: the country al large. IN conSe-
quence OF its mountainous character ana the an
sence of roads rules itself The popu lton is OF
Greek origin and Greek in speech Ihree-quar-
tiers belonp to the orthodox Greek ChuIch. while
The remaining quarter is Mahomctan. and IS usia !
" distinguished by the title 'OthOmdHOi' IL Is
possible that this word has caused conLuSi2i iaSly
observers would be not unlikely TO uansilte IL q!
ottoman" and assume that the 'Othonanol
were Turks. rs actual meaning is Cretans OF the
Ottoman or Mahomctan faith
I DO not know whether it is due to greater faith
ye1foion mi of This I am conyinccd-the Christian
POPULATION is a big crowd the Mahometan an or
gained and effective BODY me M
Turkish intrigue cannot account ior t.frE3nIts'
Ger ecialiy the interior OF Crete Is practcdy IN
accessible 10 any bI.t natives. The Christian popu-
lation. though outnumbcrins the othomanoi oy
three to one are as SnecP I0nS nar
enough the cause OF ther az Il S'lom''
by the following extract from the MIRA Ephcm-
III f., our decided opinion that the Christians of
tho island are unfortunately pig-headed independ-
party Is rcprtschteu ny ltM 35r,,, ~, ~ o.,
obe yed by their fellow-rolielonstS Ihus me OhtlS
tians are divided while the Othomano are united
and loyal" The article proceeds with an appeal 10
the Othomanoi as follows: The Othomanoi leaders
s. me habits and customs the origin and lam
guage and that with US only are they able 10 i've a
with all their might these murders so that order
and peace may reign in our island.
The particular murders 10 Nnlch the writer re-
fcrrcd occurred on January new style). They
Illustrate the almost ludicrous lack Of law and or
Of Suda where the ships Of the Powers are
anchored The Consuls live at Carea. and there Is
ing-place on the shore of the bay. This is the only
road know Of in crete. one would suppose mat II
happened as the story IS told in the aboye-men-
toned newspaper; While George Galanakes' OF
Ia. i..tff. gf
two OF his fcl!ow-townsmen were proceeding along
the Suda road. they fell into an ambush, and We're
clothes OF Gaanakes. hut failed TO wound him He
instantly jumped off his mule fired his revolver at
his aesailants and wounded TWO Of them. He then,
Witm ms nrs,ird This was not all some of
panions and fred at Christian named kakalakes,
who was watkins an4 be dicd 'f tbc foow
gay III wiilagn Of Tsikalava killed a certain John
10 the Elilatp u Will mother band killed a ma
tive of a neighboring village Tho news flew rapidly
to Canea. and produced panic among all the Chrls-
The Shirt which anlmates the Othomanoi cannot
bn reciai AZ / have shown; IT be nothing but
,,1oTsthe 'odium theoloGcum" illustrated with
knives and guns. or course there Is plenty OF cyl
o. maj the Turks started the OthomanOi upon
,baTr nresent career and continue to encourage
them In II. A few months ago the following prayer
in Turkish was posted upon the door OF church in
~ 70 nca mndcr the eyes Of the Consus: brethren,
tho voice OF the Prophet calls MS 10 revenge our
Seiirion rise. Stay all those unbeevng Chris
tians who have drunk OF the blood OF our brethren
fnr "a many years. and are not yet satisfied. To
our arms and punish these unjust servants Of our
Cioridcd Nation In doing so you can then meet
,'D pronhet with honor" Naturally enough the
0ihomanoi regard this sort OF injunction as com
,.nd ~ The Caliph and do not reflect that the
.'G.inriaed Nation Of the Turks has done them
p0tbir but mischief in the past. and Is not likely
70 40 ANYTHING else In the future.
I sIouid like 10 say a few words about the Cretan
elief Fund large sum II money has been sent
r.. ,r., Ireond 10 relieve Cretans who have suf-
9 - from The recent troubles. This money has
heen nlarrd i'm the hands OF Mr.. Bickford-Smith,
.ff.y f..I
! h9ve vi.i,ed several villages in the ncgnborhood
go, talked to the natives In their own lam
VI and md no signs Of distress at all. Also,
have not heard Of single person VINO h9s esnent,
- V' rerv I'M from fever and bad food and IA at
, =, Athens trying 10 recover his strength.
ples,in, bis recovery should Ike to know what
e a. b,. done with the money.