The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-01-04
DESCRIPTION OF THE
ISLAND OF CHIOS
Long a Bone of Contention Be-
tween Turk and Greek.

hlOIS d news CSHISI OWiHR " It's activity
in connection with the revolutionary
movement which the Venizelists in
augursted to force Greece into the
European war on the side of the En-
tente Allies, is the subject of striking
communication to the National Geo
graphic Society from Ernest Lloyd
Harris, part of which is issued as the
following war geography bulletin;
''Chios, which is separated from the
mainland of Asia Minor by the Straits
of Chios, only four and a half miles
wide, has long been bone of conten-
ton between Turk and Greek, and dur
ing the earlier part of the 18th century
was the scene of some of the bloodiest
tragedies known to history.
GAS early as 700 B. C. it was one Of
the richest and most important members
of the Ionian Union. 1t has 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 something when we
take into consideration the fact that at
that time, namely 494 B. c., the popula-
tion of the island numbered only 10000
treemen and 100, 900 slaves.
'Chios has been, in turn, Ionian,
Persian, Athenian, Roman, Italian,
Turkish; and finally, in 1913, after a
separation of nearly 2300 years, it was
united once more to the parent coun-
try, Greece. AS one may well imagine,
little island of 3l8 square miles which
has changed masters so many times
necessarily must have suffered much
from the strife which swept over it.
Twice has this island been visited
by terrible earthquakes. The first was
away back in II A. D., and it was only
through the fostering care of the
Emperor Tiberius that the people were
able 70 make fresh start. The Sec
ond was in 1881, when the town of
Kastro was practically laid waste.
Mosques, churches and dwelling houses
disappeared into the bowels of theearth,
enguIfng no less than 5000 people. This
earthquake visited the whole island, and
many beautiful and historic monasteries.
some of which contained priceless
objects Of art, valuable libraries and
monuments of antiquity were complete
ly lost.
But in spite of all these vicissitudes
Chios has also seen many happy days.
Even in the old days of the Ionian
Union it was celebrated on account
of its commerce and Industries, es-
pecially for its native wine and the
manufacture Of beds and sofas. Under
Rome the island was ruled as an insu-
lar province, and enjoyed several hur-
dred years of almost unbroken peace
and prosperity. The people have al
ways been sober ard Industrious, and
not only have they grown oppulent in
the various fields of commerce, but
many have also succeeded in literature
and art as well.
'Chios' real troubles virtually began
with the Greek war of independence.
Somewhat against the will of the peo-
pie, the island became involved in this
struggle and was visited by massacre
which appalled, humanity. In 1922 the
Captain Pasha appeared before Kastro
with powerful fleet and landed an
army of Moslems who slaughtered, in
the space of two months, no less than
30, 600 Chians, while $4,000 were sold
into slavery. The entire land was
given over to pillage, and scarcely
village, church, or convent was spared
in the flames.
These acts of ferocity did not go
unavenged. While the Moslems were
ravaglng Chios the islanders of Psara
and Hydra were planning an attempt
on the Turkish feet, which was lying in
the outer harbor OF Kastro, Just off the
Geneoese citadel. The authors of this
bold strike were Constantine Canaris
and George Pepines. They arranged
two briggs as fires ships and manned
them with chosen band of desperate
men.
The lights hanging at the masts of
the Turkish ships were SO dim that the
Chians were enabled completely to
surprise the inspecting crew at mid
night. The brig commanded by Ca
naris Immediately grappled with the
Captain Pasha's flagship and set 1t on
fire. Pepine was equally successful
and another battleship went up in
flames. With shouts Of Victory to
Cress' the old-time war cry of Byzan-
tium, the islanders escaped in a launch
which they had in tow. without the loss
of single man. Practically the whole
the whole of the Captain Pasha's fleet
was destroyed, and 2300 lives were lost.
There is an old Greek monastery
about an hours ride from Kastro which
=, 6 i