The State of Crete.

Hastings Standard, Issue 284, 30 March 1897, Page 4

The State of Crete.

The following is from the Londo Times of February 19 :

The state of Crete when the Powers and the G rock Government landed : their respectives forces was becoming i worse and worse. At Heraklion and Retimo, for instance, the Mussulman population and refugees were attacking the Christians in the streets and looting their shops and houses. Several houses were destroyed with dynamite, and the Christians were reduced to despair. In the district of Sitia, on the other hand, thirteen Mahomedau villages were burnt, and the Christians are said to have killed over 800 Mahomedans.

An Italian officer who has been on a mission of inquiry to Kisamo Kasteli reports that 22 Mahomedans were killed on the 7th inst., while only a few Christians were murdered. The fugitives were pursued into the country, where two men and two women were wounded. Seven of the victims were beheaded, including three women and two little children. One man and one child were hanged. Fighting also occurred at the convent of Chrysopighi, near Canea. Six Christians were killed and wounded, among the latter being a priest, and ten Mahomedans have been killed.

The village of Halepa, the residence of the Consuls, was in a state of the greatest trepidation on Saturday owing to the approach of the insurgents. The Hellenic flag was displayed on the summit of an adjoining hill. All the families of the Consuls and other foreign residents were transferred to the warships in the bay. The insurgents advauced towards the isthmus connecting the peninsula with the mainland and engaged the Turkish artillery. The Mahomedan population were extremely excited, and special precautions were taken at the British j Consulate, the archives being packed ready for removal. Before dawn about 400 Bashi-Bozourka and a company of Regulars went out of the town and repulsed the Christians, whom they pursued into the interior of the peninsula. The soldiers returned on Sunday night, apparently satisfied with their success and probably too much fatigued to commit any disorders. Among the many strange occurrences of the last few days is the sudden disappearance of the Montenegrin company of gendarmes. The conduct of the late Vali in transferring them on board the Russian warships seems inexplicable, unless it be assumed that a previous understanding existed between him and the Russian Government. His Excellency had appropriated the Montenegrin corps—a remarkable fine set of men—as his bodyguard immediately on their arrival, apparently distrusting both the Turkish troops and the Cretan gendarmes. Up to the moment of his departure they were employed exclusively in guarding his residence at Halepa, which he rarely quitted after the outbreak of the disturbances. In reply to Colonel Bor's demand that the men should be sent ashore, the Russian Admiral stated that he had telegraphed to the Prince of Montenegro asking whether it was His Highness' pleasure that they should remain in Crete. For live days the men were detained on board, notwithstanding an order sent by Colonel Bor to their captain to bring them ashore immediately. On Thursday the Russian Ambassador in Constantinople telegraphed that they might be landed if they wished and if their services were desired. Nevertheless they were detained till late in the afternoon, when they were allowed to land. It appears that the authorities neglected to swear in the men on their arrival, so that technically they were not amendable to discipline. Our Constantinople correspondent says it is indubitable that the situation in' Crete was created by the intrigues of Mahmud Djelleleddin, who was furious at the rejection by the Powers of his plan of judicial organisation, and of Izzet, who had the Sultan's order to work up an agitation against the enlistment of foreigners in the Cretan gendarmerie. The Athens correspondent of the Paris Temps reports the existence of proof that the Sultan sent to Crete an aide-de-camp with the instructions directing the troops, in unison with the Mahomedans, to provoke massacres and fires as soon as the application of the reforms should begin. Georgi Pasha seems to have shown a lamentable want of courage during the recent troubles, but being without gendarmie or law Courts, opposed by his military subordinates, and thwarted in Constantinople, he was left without means of making his authority respected. Our St. Petersburg correspondent says there is no longer the least doubt that Russia is preparing for war. Everything is being got ready to meet any necessity for warlike action at or near Constantinople. These warlike preparations appear to he dictated ehietly bv a fear of Great Britain, and mistrust of her policy. Russians .say that England now has the formidable number of more than 10 battleships within easy reach of the Dardanelles, and Russia must be ready, not only to deal with any emergency that may arise in Turkey itself in the course of compelling the Sultan's Government to carry out the forthcoming reforms, but also to forestall, if possible, any sudden attempt of England to threaten the Turkish capital.