Crete.

Manawatu Herald, 9 July 1896, Page 2

Crete.

+ — Turkey is getting into trouble in all its dependencies. We have bad news of the latest rising in Crete, and it is stated that the inhabitants threaten to join Greece. This is, however, held by the Powers not to be possible as yet, but when Turkey is properly and thoroughly dismembered Crete will become a part of the Greek Kingdom. Crete is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Greece, and helping to form a boundary between the former country and Asia Minor, apparently enclosing the very large cluster of islands in the Acegean Sea. It is 500 miles long and varies from 6 to 35 miles in width. There is a population of 300,000, the majority of whom belong to the Greek Church. It is a vilayet of Turkey. Greece has been a portion of Turkey in Europe, having become subject to that country in the 15th century, but, though unsuccessful, an attempt for independence was made in 1808. It was not till 1822 that the Greeks proclaimed their independence, which led to a series of sieges, battles, and massacres, in which it may be interesting to note that Lord Byron assisted on the side of the Greeks, and thi3 continued for years with varying success to either side till 1829, when the Porte acknowledged the independence of Greece. The lonian Isles, which lie on the west coast of Greece, became a portion of the Kingdom in 1864. In 1881 Thessaly was ceded by the Turks to Greece. The Cretans have had much trouble with the Turks, the Christians having been subjected to persecution in 1859. In .1866 the Crtean General Assembly proclaimed the abolition of Turkish authority but were unable to effect it. Austria, Prussia, Italy, and Sweden tried hard in 1867 to persuade Turkey to ■ give up Crete, but without success. Early in 1878 an insurrection broke out and proclaimed an union with Greece, but this was stifled by concession as to self government. Thus everything points to Greece enlarging her territories by the acquisition of Crete in the near future,