New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-07
CRETE AT THE PRESENT TIME.
CHARLES STEWART SMITHS INTERESTING
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND.

CHARLES STEWART SMITHS INTERESTING
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND
Just before Charles Stewart smiths return from
abroad on Tuesday GEORGE Wilson received from
him account Of his visit to crete. which Is OF
especial interest. ana is given herewith:
Island OF crete March H. 1873
mcrce. Ncw-lork
TINS Island because the attention OF the world is
low directed TO Ciete ty reason Of its military
All this enormous and costly display OF power
VITA lcw to prevent mo reop'ning OF the
-uost ls constantly Irtarulus To disturb the hopes
and fears OF Europe ana to bring up the spectre
The island is 9 miles in length with maxi
mum u''T'a ., 80 "s ANA M''i.1 .. aooo;
rugged, bar" hills apparently from 80 to LOO
feet hlsh and an Irregular but continuous noun
iuu CHAIN extends cast AMI west from one ex-
urmity OF me island % the other. The western
part forms The LOFTY ridge named Madara Vana or
White Mountains which attain elevation OF
500 feet are covered with snow and present from
all parts Of the island a most imposing and beau
DO ~ he population. according TO an English
o0icia Publication for the use OF rs navy amount.
90 20 -.'"r GAO" si.matcd at 'v'." 10 $4,000. OF
which IS 49, were Mthomctaus 800 Jews and the
ttiNnt" 'hrisi ans mainly OF th' Greek ialtn Inc
tcmp"raturg ranges about so degre"S tahrenheit
below 10 In winter. The orange; grape and olive
flourish. but IA" chief wealth 81 the country lies
in it's olive crop Flour * imported from Russia.
although some wheat - grown IN the low valleys
OF 90" coast The land H. said 10 b" stocked with
3
the main food for III" people some tobacco IS
grown Tor HON" consumption The only native
Vegetables We saw in the market wern lettuce.
Tomatoes and now potatoes We saw some herds
of cattle and f"w nocks OF sheep m the valleys.
ported. There was. when We landed. large cargo
Of 1--we cattl" unloading ttom steamer IN the har
articles Of export The only articles Of native loom
fabrics coarse red wooen blankets IN solid
colors and with varicgatcd stripes
Crock IS III" common language 81 both Christians
hpr "A
frm th wst e. f., INNS ,h,c for vessels To- rsman
1T anchor. Viewed f'om the water fl IS Greek
i H., - r ri,f1rc hy Rlco 90" or Fo ,I
more Oriental. and 1t has the wcli-dehned dirt and
seven or eight thousand inh i6itants and Is now
very gay by reason of the presence OF the European
soldiers who are omnprcsent and are encamped II
the hills abovs and surrounding the town each
nationality taking turns alternately or four days
at a time I'm furnishing guards in the public places
and In performing the duties incident 10 military
occupation. The English redcoats were conspicu-
Gus. and the Austrians very smart In their style
Thc English have IN camp 30 soldiers the French
200" tho Aus,iians $50 the Russians so and the
Italians ZOO. total 5000 The Germans have Just
Withdrawn their soldiers and ships because OF L
noa-concurrenc" with the other Powers regarding
the proposed candidacy OF Prince George OF
Greece IA Governor Of crete. II Is said that Aus
ira agrees with Germany and may also Withdraw
All the other Powers however. have agreed TO sus-
tain Prince George and he is likely to be Installed
Isher up on The hills and overlooking the for,
ciSu camps three four camps OF insurgents
thIistians). who have fought before and WILL like
the Cubans. fight again FOR the independence OF
their island when the foreign troops are with
drawn. An Intelligent English officer who had
been stationed At tanel for twelve months. told me
that he visited one or tn" insurgent camps, and
that he estimated the number OF men In that camp
at fifteen thousand. who are fairly armed with
French rifles. Tho rural population is mainly
Christian. The people supply the Insurgents with
such provisions rs they produce. ana smugglc In
all the art les necessary to complete their equip
nrnt. The .oug coast liu' renders smuggling easy.
Suda Bay. nvr miles from Canea, Is one OF the
most ,apaciOus ard safest harbors In the Levant.
and. indeed. of the best In the world IL II
surrounded on all sides by high hills excepting the
narrow entrance from The sea and Il sheltered by
snOw-cappcd mountains the Madara Vana range.
The bay has few buildings on ils SHORE line and no
villages. In this attractive harbor
unique and most impressive naval display. and one
which WI be- seldom presented, and which will
long remain In our memories. Here are anchored
side by side sixteen nrst-clgss hattle-shps tor
pcdo and gun boats manned by five thousa nd
sailors and marines. representing England France.
Russia Austria and Italy. Three OF the larger bat
tlc-shps carry eight TO nine hundred men each and
all united under command Of the Italian Adj
mlral. rs senior commander
\ military tribunal representing the Powers
stitutes the present government OF the island. u
appoints ihe police and other officers. who execute
the laws and regulations made by the tribunal.
which the French language In all Its public
functions. II will be interesting TO watch the out
come OF all this. The obvious intent and meaning
OF this obectlesson Is TO give the Sultan Of Tur-