The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 25, April 29, 1897 by Various


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Page 1

England, France, and Italy, on the other hand, do not believe in the
saving of Turkey. They refuse to allow a brave Christian people to be
martyred for the sole purpose of shoring up an Empire that is a disgrace
to civilization, and had much better be pulled down, so that a new and
more creditable sovereignty may be built upon its ruins.

* * * * *

The work of the Powers has failed in every direction.

The Admirals of the Allied Fleets which are blockading Crete, received
orders from their governments to spread the news through the island that
the Powers offered Crete home rule under a European Prince, and to
assure the Cretans that the blockade would be removed the moment the
Greek troops were withdrawn from the island.

The Cretans would not listen to this. They sent replies, signed by
nearly forty thousand men, representing the entire Cretan population,
declaring that they wanted no such arrangement.

Not one of the signers approved of the idea of home rule. The Cretans
are determined to be reunited to Greece, their own mother-country, and
they intend to fight until they gain their point.

This action on the part of the Cretans turned every one's attention back
to the frontier of Greece and Turkey. It seems that the question of
Cretan liberty must be settled there.

The war fever is running very high in Greece, and King George is being
urged to declare war, and let the Greeks show the Powers they are able
to settle their own affairs for themselves.

The 6th of April was the anniversary of the first national rising in
Greece, when, in 1821, they determined to throw off the rule of Turkey,
under which they had suffered for so many long years.

This day is always celebrated in Greece as a holiday and f�te day.
Coming as it did this year in the midst of such angry feelings against
the Turks, it was feared that the soldiers on the frontier would lose
control of themselves, and that their officers would not be able to
prevent them from crossing the frontier and attacking the Turks.

The Crown Prince issued a General Order to the soldiers, commanding them
to preserve order, and, possibly in consequence of this, the day passed
without disturbance of any sort.

But it was not likely that the Greeks and Turks could remain long on the
frontier facing each other, without trouble of some sort arising.

Both countries have been massing their armies on their side of the border,
in readiness for the declaration of war, and in some places the opposing
forces are so near together that the block-houses are only thirty yards
apart.

It was only a question of time when the first blow would be struck.

On the 9th of April, three days after the great f�te had passed over, and
just as Europe was praising Greece for the behavior of her men, the
fighting broke out.

Great excitement prevailed when it was learned that a body of Greeks, one
thousand strong, had invaded Turkey, and was holding the Turkish army at
bay.

War had not been declared, so the news of the fighting surprised everybody
very much. But it was soon learned that the Greeks engaged in the fight
were not soldiers of the regular army, but were described as "brigands."

They were, however, a body of men who were armed by a powerful Greek
secret society, which is at the root of that enthusiastic demand for war
which is echoing from every quarter of Greece.

This society has been gathering men into its service for years, and making
them swear, on joining, that they will do all in their power to restore
to Greece her old possessions in Macedonia, Epirus, and Thrace, and that
they will bring these Greek peoples once more under the rule of Greece.

For years the Greeks have been in the habit of putting all the money they
could spare aside, for the use of this great League which was to free
them. Even the little children have devoted their banks and money-boxes to
the cause of liberty. In this way a large sum of money has been gathered
together, and this society, which is called Ethnike Hetairia, has been
able to arm men, and send them to the frontier to fight for their country.

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Books | Photos | Paul Mutton | Fri 29th Mar 2024, 5:07