A GRAVE SITUATION.

Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8789, 12 February 1897, Page 2

A GRAVE SITUATION.

Some few months ago it was hoped that the difficulties in Crete had been put an end to, bot tbe position t3 day is bb critical as it waß in August laet, when the German Press was accusing England witb attempting to si*r np trouble with regard to Crete and Armenia, and tbe Austrian Press was blaming England for showing indisposit'on to join in coercive measures against Greeoe. The Porte at that time had drawn np a note enlarging npon the disastrous consequences likely to result from Hellenic connivance at revola'ionary projectß, though this note was never delivered owing no doubt to the energetio measures taken by tbe Greek Government to prevent support being sent to Crete, measureß that lessened the popularity of tbe Government bo great was the general sympathy with the Cretans. That each sympathy existed is mainly dne to the faot that virtually the whole population of Crete is Greek by race. The population of the island was stated a few months back to consist of 270,000 Christians of the Greek Church, and I 70 000 Mussulmans, but the latter axe almost]

without exception the descendants of renegade Greeks. During the last trouble, Greece was strong enough to hold back her people, though some of her officers elected to accept great risks and prepared to fight for their compatriots. Now that the Cretans are driven to the verge of despair, and a section of them have declared union with Greeco, it is not to be wondered at that an intense feeling has been aroused in favor of the Cretans amongst those ot th.ir own raoe. Tha King, in opposition to bis Prime Minister, M. Delyannis, bas despatohed Greoian war veasel3 for tbe protection of the Cretans, and has clearly bsen impelled by the popular voioe. It i* stated tbat the object of sending the torpedo boat, to Crete is to prevent tbe Unding of Turkish troops, whioh a previous message informed as had been despatohed to the Island, and it is very evident tbat tho forcible carrriog ont of tbis obiect will mean war. Possibly wise counsels may yet avert disaster, for it seems extraordinary that Greeoe, with its limited resources and its small effeotive navy of three ironolads, one oruiser, three smaller vessels, and Borne twenty torpedo boats, should, alone and unaided, if she really is alone, attempt in opposition to mosl of the Great Powers to stand against Turkey. That Turkish misrule oan continue indefinitely is, however, out -of the question, and if Greeoe shonld even now hold her hand, the prospeot of a continuance of peace is by no meaDs bright. The anxiety will be as to what Powers may be drawn into the confliot onoe it begins. — i