The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-07
As UP to the Time Of Annexa-
lion There Were Constant
RevoItS on Island.


WASHINGTON. oct. Tile pres
ent revolt in Crete has occurred al
most on the fourth anniversary OF the
announcement Of the islands annexa-
ton to Greece. made by the Greek
premier on October "a, 1912. Up to
that time the Cretans had been in an
almost constant state OF revolt against
Turkish and Egyptian domination
! for the greater part of the nineteenth
and the first decade OF the twentieth
century, Today's war geography
bulletin OF the National Geographic
Society tells OF the resources OF this
revolt-ridden region.
Crete and Corsica are practically
tied for the distinction of fourth
island of the Mediterranean, each
having an area somewhat in excess of
$500 square miles and being sur
passed in size by Sicily. Sardinia and
Cyprus. But while Corisca has sus-
tanned comparatively inconspicuous
role in world history. if one excerpts
the fact that it was the birthplace of
| Napoleon, Crete has played a stellar
part in human events for more than
1000 years.
lShnu * hugPeN.
"Oblong in shape. with 4 length OF
100 miles and a width varying from
six to thirty-five miles. the rugged
4 island lies equidistant from Europe.
/ Asia and Africa. Its northern coast
| is greatly indented. and while the
anchorage is too shallow for modern
steamers in all save one of It's ports.
in ancient times mauy Of OF its 100
| furnishing cities of which Homer
spoke We're regularly visited by the
/ light-draft vessels of the Phoeniciaus.
the Greeks and the Egyptians.
Crete today sustains population
of about 100000, more than nine
! tenths Of whom are Christians and
the remaining tenth largely Moham-
medan. Much Of its land Is bare and
stony and the forests of cypress which
We're once its glory have almost dis
appeared. Its rivers are scarcely
more than mountain torrents. which
rush down from snow-clad heights
towering more than 5000 feet above
the sea.
Many of the narrow valleys and
few plains are extremely fertile.
however. Fruits of many varieties,
especially the orange and lemon.
grow luxuriantly. and the olive is one
of the most valuable products of the
island. the oil being used extensively
in the manufacture of soap. The
vines OF Greet. which were noted in
the middle ages. have deteriorated
somewhat In modern times. Cur
rants are profitably grown. but little
grain is raised. The mineral re-
sources of the island may eventually
prove TO be considerable. but at the
present time gypsum, lime, slate and
milestone constitute the principal
output, which is meager.
Always Liars.
st. Paul, in his Eplstle to Titus,
perpetuated the indictment that the
CretRns are always liars so 1t Ia
not astonishing TO find in the legends
Of the island the claim that the SUI
preme god OF the Greek world, Zeus.
was a native and that he was nursed
by nynphs on the slopes OF the IA
nous Mt, Ida. He was even sup
posed to have been buried at Iukta,
near the ancient center of Minoan
civilization, Knossus, or Snossus, an
account Of whose astonishing culture
thousands of years ago has been
given in recent bulletin OF the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
The Cretans were the allies of
Mithradstes the Great in parth-
ian's negotiations with Rome, and a
few years later the islanders espoused
the cause OF 'CIlician pirates. as re-
suit Of which the Roman general,
Metellus, brought them under the
yoke OF the Eternal City In Sc B. c.
Captured by Pirates,
When the Roman empire was d.
yfded Crete was apportioned to the
eastern rulers and 1t remained under
the Byzantine emperors until sss