The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-13
Crete.

In turning their arms against the Brit
ish troops and taking the lives and de-
stroying the property Of foreign subjects
at Gambia, the Cretan Mussulmans have
runR the knell OF Turkish rule in Crete.
The passive attitude of the Turkish troops
during the disorders that prevailed last
week was OF itself sufficient evidence OF
completely on the part Of the Turkish Off
cials with the rioters, If the possession of
arms by the latter had not already es-
tablished it. The responsibility, how
ever, for what has occurred does not
lie entirely at the door Of the Turkish local
officials. DJEvAD Pacha, the military COM
mander in Crete, is a trusted and conflden-
tial servant Of the Sultan, and would act
only in the spirit of the instructions he re-
ceived. AS the special envoy Of the Sultan
In Crete after the withdrawal Of MAHMoUD
DJELbALEDDN Pacha, the promoter of the
troubles Of 1889, DJEvAD became thorough
ly acquainted with the situation there, and
his nomination to the Grand Vizierat soon
after his return to Constantinople proved
the esteem in which the Sultan held him.
His return to Crete early in the present
troubles was a further proofofthe confidence
ofthe Sultan, and affords strong grounds for
the presumption that what has been per-
mitted by DJEvAD has not been without the
approval of his master. The full RESPONSE
bility for the recent events at Gambia is
therefore to be laid at the door OF the pal
ace at Constantinople.
II the report that the places of the Turk
ish garrisons about to be recalled or ex-
PEELED from Crete are to be taken by British
and Italian troops be true, an entirely new
situation will be created in the aspect Of
affairs in the island. At present the for
eign military forces occupying their allot-
ted zones are composed of about equal
numbers of British, Russian, French, and
italian troops Of various arms. Should,
however, the numbers Of the British n
Italians be brought up to that of the Turks
1t Is proposed they should displace, there
would be a pr%eponderance of many thou
sands of the two former over the French
and Russians. Unless the increase be made
with the consent OF the Russian and French
Governments we may expect to hear, there
fore, that friction has arisen between the
two groups Of powers in occupation of
Crete, the Anglo-Italian and the Russo
French, who were left face to face by the
withdrawal Of the Austro-German group.
What is remarkable about the present
position in Crete is that the Anglo-Italian
occupation Of that island and certain parts
in Greece which was projected in 1886 is
now about to be partially accomplished, so
far as Crete is concerned. II carried into
effect it means not only the end Of Turkish
rule, but of the dream Of Cretan ~independ-
ence also; and it may well be that unless
all the European powers come to a decision
to neutralize Crete, it will prove the bone
Of contention over which the l~ong-expected
quarrel among them will break out. But
the naturalization of Crete is not one of the
probabilities OF the hour. Suda Bay pre-
sents too great a temptation to the naval
powers in the Mediterranean for any OF
them to voluntarily place it beyond their
reach in case OF wal.