The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 19, March 18, 1897 | Page 3

faithful friends of Spain.
Despite the governor's proclamation, the Spaniards openly declare that
if an American man-of-war enters Havana harbor they will attack the
American Consulate, and declare war on the United States.
Meanwhile, people are wondering what turn Cuban affairs will take,
after they are in the hands of the new President.
The Spaniards declare that Major McKinley will follow in the footsteps
of Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Olney, and do nothing at all.
In Washington it is said that great changes will be made. While war
will not be declared on Spain, warships will be sent to Cuba to protect
our citizens there, and the United States Navy will no longer be kept
doing police work for Spain by preventing filibustering.
One thing, however, is sure. Dr. Ruiz's death will be closely inquired
into.
General Lee's prompt and manly action has been of some little help to
another poor American confined in a Cuban jail.
This second prisoner is a Mr. Charles Scott, who is accused of having
some postage stamps in his possession that were issued by the
insurgent government.
It is the custom of the Spaniards to keep important prisoners in solitary
confinement until they have been examined by the judge. Their law
says that a prisoner shall be shut up thus closely for seventy hours, and
during that time he shall be completely cut off from the rest of the

world, and therefore at the mercy of his jailers.
It was during this confinement, and while he was waiting for his
examination, that Dr. Ruiz was, if reports be true, beaten to death by
the Spaniards.
Mr. Scott was also waiting for his examination, but General Lee,
fearing that he, too, might "happen to die" in his prison, made such a
clamor for his release, that he has been put with the other prisoners, and
where his friends can see him.
* * * * *
Fighting still continues in Crete, and it seems as if the Powers were
really sincere in their wish to make Greece keep the peace.
Colonel Vassos has been doing some fine work as commander of the
Corps of Occupation. He has attacked fort after fort, and has won
several victories over the Turks.
Encouraged by his success, he decided to advance on Canea.
No sooner was word of his advance brought to the city, than the
admirals in command of the various fleets set out for the Greek camp,
and had a talk with Colonel Vassos.
They would not tell what had passed, but on their return to Canea they
sent to the commander of the Greek fleet, and asked him to call on
them.
When this gentleman met the admirals, they were all assembled
together, and had evidently been talking the situation over. They
informed him, as the result of their conference, that if Colonel Vassos
did attack the city, the allied fleets of the Powers would fire upon him
and drive him away.
The same message was sent to Colonel Vassos.
In spite of it, he advanced upon Canea, and the morning after the

warning had been received his troops began to fire upon the town.
Immediately, the admirals of the fleets in the harbor ordered the decks
of their ships to be cleared for action, and fired their guns upon the
Greeks.
After a short while, the Greeks, finding that they could not stand
against the terrible fire from the big guns, became disheartened, and
withdrew.
The moment the Greek flag was hauled down, the ships stopped firing.
A good deal of indignation has been felt that Christian Powers should
interfere to uphold the misrule of infidels, but the Great Powers say
they are acting for the best interests of Europe.
It seems quite sure that they do not mean to leave the Cretans under the
care of the Sultan of Turkey.
The latest news tells us that Greece has once more been ordered to
leave Crete, and that this time she has agreed to do so, provided that the
island be made independent.
Lord Salisbury, the Prime Minister of England, suggested that Crete
should be given home rule under the governorship of a Greek prince,
and thus far the rest of the Powers are willing to agree with him.
Nothing will be done until the Greek troops have been made to leave
Crete, and this may not be so easy to accomplish. Word comes from
Athens that the people are not at all pleased with the idea of home rule
for Crete. They want the island to be joined to Greece, and would rather
fight for it, than give it up. It is very natural that they should feel this
way.
If the people of some near-by country were almost all Americans and
relations of ours, and