The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-04-14
rHE JURkO.CRErAN WAR.

THE yURKO.CRErAN WAR.
it has been so long since this coun-
try has been troubled with such a
thing as war that we take little inter-
est in disturbances in other countries.
We doubt if very many of our read
ers have taken any interest in the
feud that is now broiling in Europe,
and which seems likely to result in
much bloodshed. The Cuban insur-
rection has become stale reading, and
only those take interest in it who
have kept constantly abreast with its
progress But the trouble now go.
ing onebetween Turkey anI Greece
is of different nature, and claims
much more interest.
In the Cuban affair it is rebellion.
In the other it is a quarrel between
two separate countries, and the inter
national relations that exist among
the countries in Europe are of such a
nature as to eventually involve, d.
rectly or indirectly, this whole family
of nations.
This quarrel between Turkey and
Greece is commonly known as the
Crete affair All OF our younger
readers who have lately studied geo.
graphy will readily remember how
southern Europe looks on a map.
Only q moments reference to a map
in a common geography will familiar
ize one with the location of the coun-
tries in question and enable our
readers to follow this disturbance
from now on with much more inter-
est. You will all remember that
Turkey occupies part of both
Europe and Asia. It is tremendous
empire, having q population in both
European and Asiatic Turkey of
nearly forty million souls. The pow
ers Of the ruler, the Sultan, are abso-
lutte. The present Sultan is named
Abdul Hamed. The Turkish Con-
gress, which assemblies at CONSTANT
nople, is known as the Porte. Then
You will also remember the situation
of the little country Of Greece. None
who have studied history can fail to
remember the part that Greece has
played in former ages, but the Greece
Of today is by no means the Greece
of eighteen hundred years ago. She
was once the home of art, music,
mythology aud the traditional gods,
but not now. The population OF
Greece now is only about two mil
lions, and it is surprising to think
that she should be so plucky as to
bristle up against so large q country
as Turkey. But the Greeks claim
that with them it is & matter of prin-
ciple.
The cause Of this quarrel is an
island in the Mediterranean sea,
known as the island OF Crete, or Can
dia. This island is about $50 miles
long, and has an average width OF
about 25 miles. 1t is said to be a
beautiful island. It has for centuries
been under the rule of Turkey, and
has long chafed under the yoke.
Crete has many times before attempt
ed to gain her freedom, and has al
ways failed, but as most of the Gre
taus are Christians, and are therefore
more closely allied to their near
neighbors, the Greeks, than to the
Moham medans of Turkey, they have
succeeded in gaining the s5mpathies
of the Greeks. Greece has said that
the island of Crete naturally falls
under her protection, and that she
shall be free, while Turkey says that
the Cretans shall remain the victims
of Turkish oppression and misrule.
Six OF the great nations OF Europe
England, Germany, Russia, France,
Spain and Italy, have joined in to try
to prevent war, but it is evident dur
ing the past few days that they now
feel that they have interfered in a
quarrel in which they had no busi-
ness, and will probably have little
more to do with it. The Cretaps
would like to be free and have young
Prince George, a son of the Aing OF
Greece, as their governor, and the
little kingdom OF Greece is very per-
sistent in asserting herself and has
troops in the field. On last Friday a
battle occurred in Thessaly, just
north of Greece. aud is said to have
resulted in twenty-three killed and
twenty-seven wounded on the Greek
side, and the losses much severer to
the Turks, and it was also expected
that war would be formally pro-
claimed yesterday. The prospect
now presented in Europe is a most
interesting one, and will claim the
attention of many readers who have
not heretofore taken any interest in
international affairs Should this
war assume any great proportions it
will affect US somewhat in a CONNER
cial way, and for this reason it may
be Of interest to keep up with the
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