The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-10-11
CRETE LEADER IN HISTORY
FOR FORTY CEN RI ES
Present Revolt Comes Only -Four Year
After Annexation BY
Greece

WASHINGTON The present re
volt m Crete has occurred almost on
the fourth anniversary ut the announce
mcut ut the islands annexation To
Greece, made by the Greek premier ON
October H. 1912 tip to that time the
Crctans had been in an almost con
Ntant state OF revolt against Turkish
and Egyptian domination for the
greater part OF the nineteenth and the
first decade OF the twentieth century
A war geography bulletin OF the Ma
tional Geographic society tells of the
resources OF this rcvot-riven region.
Crete and Corsica are practically
tied ior the distinction oi fourth island
OF the Mediterranean, each having an
area somewhat is excess OF } 300 square
miles and being surpassed IN size by
Sicily. Sardinia and Cyprus But while
Corsica has sustained comparatively
lnconSpcuouS role in world history il
one excerpts the tact that It was the
birthplace OF Napoleon Crete has
played a stellar part IN human events
for more than 1000 years.
Flourished in Ancient Times.
/ "Oblong in shape, with a length OF
/ 100 miles and width VARYING from
10 to - miles the rugged island lies
cQuldi'lant from Europe, Asia. and Al.
! nca It's northern coast is greatly IN
dented. and while the anchorage is-tGo
/ shallow for modern steamers in an save
/ one OF It's ports. IN ancient times many
/ of ITS lm iluuri,hing cities OF which
/ Homer spoke were regularly visited hy
/ the light draft vessels OF the Phucni-
clans, the Greeks, and the Egyptians.
Crete today sustanS population of
about 5SOWO more than nine tcnthS ui
whom are Christians and the remaining
tenth largely Mohammcdan Much OF
IT'S land is bare and stony and the for
c,ts Of cypress which were once its
glory have almost disappeared Its
rivers are scarcely more than noun
tam torrents. which rush down from
Snow-clad .beghtS towering more than
5000 fctt above the sea,
Many Valleys Fertile.
Many OF the narrow valleys and a
few plains are extremely fertile. how
ever Fruits of many varieties. cspc
cially the orange and lemon, grow lux
urlantly and the oIlYc i, one Of the
NOSE va luablc products OF the island
the oil being used extensively in the
manufacture of soap The vines OF
/ Crete, which were noted in the middle
ages, have deteriorated somewhat in
modern times. CurrantS are proitablv
grown, but little grain is raised The
mineral resources oi the island NAV
eventually prove To be considerable.
but at the present time gypsum lime
slate and milestone constitute the
principal outnut which is mcarcr.
st Paul N his epStle to 1i,u, per
nctuatcd the indictment that the Gre
'anS are always liars >u IT i, NOT a>
tonshing to lind in the legend, OF the
island the clalm that the supreme god
OF the Greek world Itus, was a ma
tive and that he was nurscd by nymphs
on the slopes OF the famous Mt. Ida
lie was even supposed TO have been
buried at lukta, near the ancient center
OF Mnoan civilization knosSuS, or
CnoSSuS
Allies of Mithradates.
The CrctanS were the allies OF
MlthradateS the Grea, in that Par
'hlan'S negotiations with Rome. and a
few years later the islanders cspouSed
the cause OF Cilician pirates As a re
suit OF which the Roman general Metcl.
luS brought them under the yoke of the
Eternal city in 90 b. {.
When the Roman empire was divid
ed Crete was apportioned to the East
crn rulers and it remained under the
byzantine cmpcrorS until S2j. when i,
was captured by piratical Saracen,
from AndaluSia who held sway over
the island for lao years. Then it wa.
redeemed by the Byzan,ineS. During
the fourth crusade the island was civer
to Rouiface de Mon,icrra, He imme.
d,atcly sold it to the Nene,ianS ClO4)
who ruled il for more than 400 wears
Zone OF the most prolonged block.
AIDES IN world history was that conduct.
ed by the Turks from l64s to loo
when the last por, of the island sur.
rendered to Ottoman arms, againSl
whose sway the Cretans were almoS
constantly in revolt until the final an
neNatlon TO Greece The islander,
"a l., IL .