The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-09
a LETTER FROM GREECE.
The Attitude of Greece Toward Crcte-The
Little Kingdom Determined That tho
Cretans Shall he Frce-Thc Fine Condi-
ton Of Greece-Her Position Toward tho
Allied overs.

ttOn Oh Eel Ao"aTu u
Allied Powers.
Patras. Greece, March i6.
Editors Messenger:
In a series OF weekly letters from
here l propose TO give your readers a
true account OF the events referring TO
the Cretan-Greek question. II these
events only Affected the island CCrete)
and the Hellenic kingdom. still they
would command attention, but as they
will most certainly also react on thc
whole of Europe and within a very
short time change the map OF that
continent the people OF the United
States will, doubtless. be greatly inter-
ested.
Both in America and Europe the de-
termination OF Greece to resist coercion
is questioned but il is certain To be
carried out. The king. the government
and the people are OF one mind. that is
TO liberate the Cretans from the Turk
ish yoke and fight ii out to the bitter
end, ven if the great powers should
force and coerce Greece. And. weak
as this little country appears TO he at
first sight, she indeed possesses an ele-
ment of strength hardly dreamt OF by
those who have not studied her care
fully.
Besides the sympathy OF the whole
civilized world, Greece has the splendid
satisfaction OF being the champion OF
liberty and doing for Crete that which
the powers are afraid TO do. Greece
has come 10 the rescue of the perse-
cuted island.
But for the presence OF the Greek
army and navy in Crete we should
have seen a few more cities burned. a
few more hundreds OF villages destroy
ed and a few more thousands OF Chris
tians murdered and outraged. King
George has cut the Gordian knot and
cut it in spite OF the satanic policy OF
the powers. He has not only equalled.
but surpaescd Alexander. The latter
was one Of the mightiest generals the
world has ever seen. and besides the
sovereign OF a very powerful people,
while our George i leads one of the
very smallest nations. whose total pop
ulation e, zoe, 900 souls) Is barely half
that of the British metropolis. But he
is at the head Of a nation OF heroes and
Is justly esteemed the hero who with
his people is covered by a flag that
bears no stain. Greece has not yet
sunk to the level of bombarding fellow
Christians who dared to ask for liber-
ty!!!
1t has been often stated that Greece
is simply intriguing for more territory.
not her own. This Is simply mon
strous. Crete was Greek before Eu-
rope had even emerged from the first
stages of barbarism. The arts, liter
allure, and political constitutions were
fourishing in that island at the time
when our ancestors were living In holes
and caves. eating the bark OF trees.
painting their bodies for want Of
clothes and sometimes diversifying
their existence by feeding off their own
fellow barbarians. Greece and Crete
both demand union. but the Hellenic
kingdom has officially stated that she
Will accept the result Of a plebiscite.
But the very strongest card Of all held
by Greece is that she is in perfect
touch with all the people inhabiting the
Greek provinces still under the Turkish
rule of Epirus, E~lassonae. Macedonia
and Thrace. The whole Of this ex-
tensive territory liz peopled almost ex-
clusively by Greek orthodox Christians,
who have been fighting and plotting
for their liberty during the last 800
years.
These people represent over $500. 900
souls, the adult male section OF which
are not only capable OF bearing arms,
but are used to the rifle and sword from
hildhood The whole of this great
element represents about 4J0, 600 TO 500
OOO men who are only waiting for the
regular troops Of King George / to
Overstep the frontier in order to fly
to the Hellenic standard.
Turkey has not in his case TO deal
with Armenians. For them there was
no avenger but their blood has not
been shed in vain Further. she
CTurkey) has a tremendous frontier
line to protect. Servia. Bulgaria,
Roumelia- and Montenegro. may not
be active enemies. but their movements
must be closely watched end the are
all sure to sympathize warmly with
the Greek cause-that Of their fellow
Christians.
Greece Ices not want 10 provoke
either a European war or one with
Turkey. but she demands her rights.
During the last seventy years Greece
has begged and prayed for her rights,
! but in vain. The powers have always
snubbed and coerced her. Hence slc
Is now compelled to force the position.
The terms of the Berlin treaty have
not even yet been carried out. Greece
was then lin 1ss0) awarded about %. 900
square kilometers Of territory contain
ing s00,0 600 inhabitants. In fact only
1900 square kilometres with 300, 900 in
habitants were actually handed over
TO the Hellenic kingdom.
V. G.. MARSHALL.