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Page 3
Greece, in the mean while, has sent word to the Powers that she intends to
occupy Crete. She is sending troops there, and raising volunteers and
filling out her reserve force, to be ready for war, if war comes.
This defiance on the part of Greece is worrying the rest of the Powers.
She is too small and insignificant to attempt to brave the wrath of Europe
alone, and there is an uneasy feeling that some one of the great nations
must be secretly backing her.
As usual, when anything goes wrong in Europe, Russia is blamed. Russia has
so long been the naughty girl of Dame Europa's school, that the moment
mischief is in the air Russia is suspected.
If she is in this new trouble, she will have hard work to escape
punishment. She has been posing as the dear friend and protector of Turkey
for the last few weeks, and has put stumbling-blocks in the way of the
other Powers when they have attempted to force the Sultan of Turkey to do
as they wished.
If she has suddenly veered round, and is now encouraging Greece against
Turkey, her conduct will be hard to explain.
It will be interesting to watch what comes of this, for it seems that the
Bismarck revelations, about which you can read in No. 4 of THE GREAT
ROUND WORLD, have brought many strange things to light in European
politics.
You will remember that it was found that Germany had a secret
understanding with Russia, which quite undid her open agreement with
Austria and Italy--the Triple Alliance, as it was called.
Now it appears that nearly all the European nations have been playing the
same sly game.
It would seem that most of them have secret, underhand agreements to play
false to their best friends, whenever it suits their purpose.
Every one is sure that Greece has some strong country at her back to make
her so bold, and while all the diplomats are wondering which it can be, no
one dares to ask any questions. There is so much treachery and deceit
going on, that each ambassador is afraid that any inquiry on his part may
lead to the discovery of things about his country that would better be
kept in the dark.
This daring attitude of Greece may involve the whole of Europe in a vast
war, and it may be passed quietly over, and Greece be allowed to snatch
her prize from under Turkey's nose, and walk away unharmed with it,
because none of the other nations dare to call "police!" for fear of being
arrested themselves.
All sorts of rumors are flying around. One is that the Powers are not
really angry with Greece, and that if the bold little country can take
possession of Crete and hold it, the Powers will not let her be interfered
with.
It is also said that Turkey does not want Crete very badly, and will let
Greece take it and keep it, if she will only promise not to interfere with
Macedonia, which is another ancient Greek province, inhabited by
Christians, and now under the control of Turkey. Macedonia is on the
borders of modern Greece.
Outwardly, the Powers are very fierce over the whole matter, and have
warned Greece that if she does not withdraw her army from Crete in two
days, they will make war upon her.
Greece is, however, taking her own way very quietly and decidedly.
While the four combined fleets of Europe are keeping Prince George at bay
at Canea, fifteen hundred Greek soldiers under Colonel Vassos have been
safely landed in Crete, at Platania about sixty miles from Canea.
This battalion, which is made up of artillery, engineers, and infantry, is
called the "Corps of Occupation," and Greece went wild with joy when the
report of its safe arrival reached Athens.
The commander of the corps, Colonel Vassos, is reported to have issued a
proclamation to the Cretans, in which he says that the troubles in Crete
have been deeply felt by their brother Greeks. The Cretans are but one
nation with the Greeks, despite the fact that they are under a foreign
rule, and Greece can no longer allow a people of her race and religion to
be under the Turkish rule; she has therefore decided to occupy the island,
and add it to the country ruled by the King of Greece.
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