Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-02
TIE WAR PRIMER
BY National Geographic Society

, The Aegean island of chios, once
tivity lin connection with the revo
lutionary movement which the Ven
izelists inaugurated to force Greece
into the European war on the side of
the Entente Allies is the subject of
a striking communication to the Ma
tional Geographic Society from Ern-
est Lloyd Harris, a part of which is
issued as the following war geog-
raphy bulletin:-
ssChios, which is separated from the
mainland of Asia Minor by the, Straits
of Chios, only four and a half miles
wide. has long been a bone of con-
tontion between Turk and Greek, and
during the earlier part of the 18th
century was the scene of some of the
bloodiest tragedies known to history
LAS early as 700 B. c. it was one
of the richest and most important
disputed with Smyrna the honor of
being the birthplace of Homer When
the Ionian cities rebelled against the
Persian yoke, Chios. manned and
equipped 100 ships and sent them to
the battle of Lade. This stands for
Grafton the fact that at that time,
namely 494 B. c., the population of
the island numbered only 10000 free
men and 100000 slaves.
Persian, Athenian. Roman, Italian,
Turkish; and finally, in 1913, after a
separation of nearly $500 years, 1t
was united once more to the parent
imagine. little island of s1s square
miles which has changed masters SO
many times necessarily must have
suffered much from the strife which
swept over 1t.
Twice has this island been visit
ed by terrible earthquakes. The first
was away back in IT A. D., and it
was only through the fostering care.
Of the Emperor Tiberius that the peo-
pie were able to make a fresh start.
The second was in 1881, when the
town of Kastro was practically laid
waste. Mosques. churches and dwell
ling houses disappeared into the bow
els of the earth, engulfing no less than
ed the whole island, and many beauti-
full and historic nonasteries, some of
which contained priceless objects of
art, valuable libraries and n1onu-
ments of antiquity, were completely
lost
But in spite of all these vicissi-
tudes Chios has also seen many hap
by days. Even in the old days of the
Iorian Union it was celebrated on ac-
count of it's commerce and industries,
for it's native wine and the
Of beds and sofas. I'm
der Rome the island was ruled as an
lnSular province, and enjoyed several
hundred years of almost unbroken
have always been sober and industri-
GUS and not only have they grown
opulent in the various fields of COM
merce but many have also succeed
err in literature and art as well.
Chios' real troubles virtually be-
gan with the Greek war of independ-
ence. Somewhat against the will of
the people the island became in
r@1r I'D y, sx- s-&x 80
ed by a massacre which appalled, hui
manity. In 1922 the Captain Pasha
appeared before Kastro with a pow
erful feet and landed an army of
Moslems who slaughtered, in the
space Of two months, less than
so, 900 Chians, while $4,000 were sold
into slavery. The entire island was
given over to pillage, and scarcely a
village, church, or convent was spared
the flames.
These acts of ferocity did not go
While the Moslems were
ravagfng Chios, the islanders of Psa-
ra and Hydra were planning an at
tempt on the Turkish fleet, which was
Just off the Genoese citadel. The
authors of this bold strike were Con-
stantine Canaris and George Pepines
They arranged two briggs as fire ships
and manned them with a chosen band
of desperate men.
1.-THE lights hanging at the masts
Of the Turkish ships were so dim that
the Chians were enabled completely to
the unsuspecting crew at
midnight. The brig commanded by |
Canaris Immediately grappled with |
the Captain Pasha's flagship and set |
Il on fire. Pepine was equally sue
-essful, and another battleship went |
ID in flames. With shuots of Victory |
to the Cross the oId-tirne war cry of |
Byzantium the islanders escaped in |
= launch which they had in tow, with |
put the loss of a single man. Prac- |
-ically the whole of the Captain |
Fasha's fleet was destroyed, and 1900 |
ives were lost.
There is an old Greek monastery /
about an hours ride from Kastro |
which is a gruesome monument of |
his period. Its walls and alcoves are /
laced with the skeletons of the Chi
ans massacred in this neighborhood
One of the chief products Of Chios |
s gum mastic, an astringent which is |
grown in the southern part Of the is /
and. 1t is used as a gum, and also /
distilled as a liquid which is used I
throughout the Levant as an appetizer
Immediately before meals. It is an |
ntoxicant if used in inmoderate
Quantities.
@One feature of the scenery of
1hios is the picturesque old wind |
Mills which crown the ridges and /
tlopes along the coast. The wheels
ire of very large dimensions and are
tilted with sails, which supply the
noive for grinding corn. Owing to l.
he possible visitation of earthquakes.
he houses are rear,y more than twol
he countryside are usually sur
ounded by olive or pepper trees
yhich add much to the beauty and
harm of the island"