The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-24

of the island to the other are covered
with olive trees. Next to the olive in
dustry comes that of the vines pro-
ducing many varieties of grapes, rails
ins and wine. Orchards of orange, lem
on, citron and almond trees abound
in the valleys, while chestnut and fig
trees are found at the base of the noun
tains A peculiarity of all Cretan pro-
ducts is their exquisite flavor, which
they retain long after they are gath
cred and shipped 1t is the opinion Of
the best informed Cretan merchants
that, with proper facilities for trans
portation Of products to the seaports
and a guarantee against misrule and
al 5itrary taxation, Crete could provide
all Europe with oil and fruits of several
kinds.
NUMEROUS REVOLUTIONS.
Like Cuba, Crete has always found
her curse in the beauties with which
nature has endowed her. Since the
island was left by the Venetians to the
Turks in 1715 no fewer than nine reVo-
lutions have taken place among its peO-
pie. Each time the revolt was precipi-
tated by Turkish tyranny. The most
remarkable feature of all these revolu-
tions is that in no instance have the
Cretans been forced by defeat to lay
down their arms. Their disarming has
hee en- due always to the intervention Of
some friendly power" which wished
to give an opportunity to the Turkish
government to introduce reforms.
Whoever has lived in Turkey has his
opinion as to the good faith Of Turkey
to oiCin NNrhp n
they are eXacted by the threat Of DEM
clifton of the ottoman dynasty in Eu-
rope. But for friendly" foreign in
tervention Crete would have secured
her independence long ago. Russian
! diplomacy frustrated the hopes and as
| pira tions of the Cretans in last years
revolution, and, despite the role she is
now playing with the other European
powers. as if to force the sultan to
carry out the long promised reforms
among the Christians in his domin-
ions she is the one country direCSlng
! the sultan's policy in the east. There
| is not a Cretan of any prominence on
! the island who has the least faith in
| the professions of the porte as to car
! rying out any reforms.
OLD COSTO VELOUDAKEs.
At present there is not man more
! trusted by the Cretans than the grand
! old man of Crete. old Costa Veloudakes,
! the permanent president of the revolu-
| tionary assembly and a scion of one of
! the Oldest families of the island. He
| has Just celebrated his ninety-fifth
| birthday. He has taken part in every
| revolution on the island during his time.
! In the eight-year revolution of 1921 he
| was at the head of strong Cretan
! force, having distinguished himself by
| liberatiEg siXty-eight Cretan women
| held in bondage in a Turkish fortress.
| He is a man OF few words, but when
| ever he speaks his utterances carry
! great weight. His courage is proven
| bal. In the battle of the Fountains in
| 1866 he was fighting beside his two sons
J when bullet killed one of them. With
| out flinching he gave orders to carry
| the dead from the battlefield; ne con-
| tinued fighting until the enemy was re-
pulsed. In 1878 he was proclaimed COM
mander-in-chief of all the revolutionary
forces on the island, and was subse-
quently selected with two other Cretans
! to proceed to the German capital during
the drawing Of the Berlin treaty TO lay
| before the representatives of the pow
ers the claims of the Cretans.
To give evidence of the low esteem in
which Turkish promises are held by
the Cretans it is Necessary only to quote
the remarks recently made by one of
the most conservative members Of the
| Cretan revolutionary committee.
Turkish firmans." he said, granting
reforms reminds me of the story of the
| schoolboy caught I'm mischief by his
teacher, and then resorting to all sorts
Of excuses and promises of better con-
| duct so as to escape punishment. So II