The Great Round World And What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1. No. 23, April 15, 1897 | Page 4

Paris states that the Sultan of Turkey
has sent word to the Powers that he is willing to let King George of
Greece occupy the island of Crete, and govern it, provided that he pays
tribute for it.
This is so exactly Mr. Gladstone's suggestion, that, if the report is true,
the Sultan would seem to have been influenced by him.
Mr. Gladstone in his letter showed clearly how such an arrangement
would be of benefit to all concerned, and spoke of the island of Cyprus
as an example. Cyprus was once under the rule of Turkey, but is now
governed by the Queen of England, and pays a tribute to Turkey.
It is to be hoped that this telegram is true, but we must remember that it
is only _news_, and not _history_, and therefore we must be quite
prepared to have it contradicted next week.
The blockade of Crete is now complete. No ships are allowed to enter
the ports that bring supplies to the Cretans or Greeks.
But the Greeks are not submitting tamely to the blockade.
There are two forts that guard the entrance to Canea, and both of them
are being vigorously besieged by the insurgents, with the intention of
establishing a blockade of Canea on the landward side, and so keeping
the troops of the Powers enclosed where they can do little harm.
A late despatch from Crete says that the Cretans have forced the Turks
to flee from Malaxa, and have killed the garrison.
During the fight over Malaxa, the Turkish warships in the Bay of Suda
opened fire on the Cretans, with the hope of dislodging them from the
heights around Malaxa. The Powers have had the grace to be very
much disturbed at this, and have sent word to the admirals in command
of the fleets at Crete, that they may use their own best judgment about
ordering the Turkish warships to leave Crete.
[Illustration: The Turkish Bastion in Canea with the flags of the six
Powers flying.]
The admirals decided that the forts of Malaxa and Keratide must be
kept out of the hands of the Cretans, and so they sent word to the
insurgents that the Powers forbade them to attack either fort.
The Cretans did not take the slightest notice of this order, but continued

the attack, and drove the Turks out. The allied warships in the Bay of
Suda at once opened fire on the Cretans, who withstood the fire
bravely.
The result of the whole matter has been that, though the insurgents
gained a decided victory over the Turks, the foreign Powers have
stepped in between them and their prize, and are occupying the town of
Malaxa.
The Cretans must heartily wish that the Powers would go away and
mind their own business, and leave them to settle their own affairs.
If it were not so sad and so serious, it would be amusing to watch the
double game that Turkey is playing with the Powers, and how she is
laughing in her sleeve at the whole of Europe.
After months of conferences, and diplomatic fussing over plans of
mighty reforms which the Sultan was to make for the unfortunate
Armenians, the "unspeakable Turk" has not made one single effort to
improve the condition of these unhappy people. He has waited until the
Powers of Europe have so tangled themselves up over him, that he
finds them befriending him, and firing on brother Christians for his
sweet sake, while he is still at liberty to have a few more Armenians
massacred without the fear of any consequences.
News has just come that there has been another slaughter of Armenians,
seven hundred of these unfortunate people having fallen victims to the
Turks. If the Powers have any conscience left, this news must have
made them thoroughly ashamed of their ridiculous position.
* * * * *
The week's news from Cuba is still of the same hopeful character for
the Cubans.
It is stated on the best authority that the Cubans are in absolute
possession of the eastern end of the island, the whole province of
Santiago de Cuba being in the hands of the insurgents.
[Illustration: Gen. Maximo Gomez]
It is stated that this province is really _Cuba Libre_, or "Free Cuba."
The government is being carried on there, and the peasants are able to
sow their fields and gather their crops in peace and safety.
The Cubans assert that if we would only recognize that they were
engaged in a real war, and give them the right to fit out a navy for
themselves, the war would be over in a very short time. They have now

no fear but that they will gain their liberty; they say, however, that with
the Spanish navy guarding the coast,