Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-06

appointed in his stead. The new high
commissioner began a very active policy,
In which he was backed by the Greek
government. and at the present session OF
the Chamber OF Deputies at Athens the
premier, M. Theotokis, made an announce
ment to the effect that the great powers
had practically given their consent to the
union with Greece and that before long he
| expected to see a representative OF Crete
! IN the chamber.
What this means to the Cretan people
.Oan be understood only by a realization Of
heir intense patriotism and the loyalty
iOf generations to this ideal of union. There
has been nothing which the most ignorant
iCretan and his fathers before him would
mot sacrifice to Hellenism. and Hellenism
20 them meant only one thing, the union
OF the Greek race under a Greek crown.
In Crete is to be found the purest Of thu
Greek stock. and it has cherished and long
supported the traditions of patriotism OF
the race. They have preserved the Greek
literature and language and held their
manhood against the Turks. This small
Aisland In the AEGEAN sea was given over
rhTst to Egyptian and then TO Turkish rule.
against which II protested in series Of
n bloody and extended revolts that almost
transformed the very nature OF its people.
For more than three generations its whole
life and hope. its single stirring inspiration
has been the union, the promise Of which
was so often offered and so often with
drawn
Crete has always been a prize much
sought for by European powers. 1t Ia the
key to the Dardanelles, just as the Darda-
nelles is the key 20 Constantinople. The
Turks early appreciated this, and one OF
fhpir apnuiSffInna WI
the dominant power In southeastern Europe
was this island. The people, who had here
tofore enjoyed more or less freedom. re-
belled against the restrictions of the Moslem
laws. They had not only the mountaineer's
love OF freedom but the islanders as well.
The Turks began such a persecution that
the wives and daughters became scarcely
more than harem slaves and the men them
eselves tolled almost INCREASINGLY for Mussul-
man masters. Many OF the weaker Cretans
y turned 70 Accommodation to secure i'm
munity, while the lot OF those who re-
manned faithful TO Christianity became
harder and harder. The Janissaries would
frequently exercise their skill at marksman-
ship by shooting at Christians The gov
eminent at Constantinople, however, de
clared that this was somewhat wasteful
and put a stop to II.
II was in these days that there was laid
the foundation for the fanatical hatred OF
Turks which charactsrizes the Cretans
The two peoples were sworn enemies. and
Cretan children were brought up with al
abiding faith in the Greek Orthodox church
and an equal adherence OF everything
Turkish. The people rose in revolt, TO be
time after time overwhelmed by the su
perior numbers of their enemy. They
sought refuge in the mountains and carried
on a guerrilla-like warfare so long as they
could obtain arms and ammunition.
There was. however. one part OF the
country that the Turks never could con
Quer. That was the rocky peninsula q
Akrotira which juts out into the sea on me
north coast. Here the Greeian priests early
y IN the history OF the church had established
their monasteries. They built them upon
almost inaccessible cliffs and fortified them
with watch towers and loopholes as II they
were fortresses. Here these men could
withstand attacks from almost aAy force
n They were brave and frugal. RId in the
N times OF pace, with the assistance OF the
neighboring peasants. titled the soil and
raised small herds of goats ami diminutive
cattle. Upon the announcement OF thc
opening OF rebellion they called their noun
taineers together. gathered IN their sup
plies and drove their stock INTO mountain
caves for protection.
In later years, when Greece itself was
free. the Grecians sent supplies to the
Cfetans. On account ~ the neaTness OF
these monasterles to tie seaeoast and thu
n familiarity OF the peasants with the noun
tain pathways most q these consignment
were made TO the mlnasteries. From here
they were distributed 10 the priests
by means OF small pack ponies which were
capable OF clambetng over the steep rocky
passes.
Around these monasteries, too. cluster
some Of the most interesting traditions OF