England, France, and Italy, on the other hand, do not believe in the saving of Turkey. They refuse to allow a brave Christian people to be martyred for the sole purpose of shoring up an Empire that is a disgrace to civilization, and had much better be pulled down, so that a new and more creditable sovereignty may be built upon its ruins.
The work of the Powers has failed in every direction.
The Admirals of the Allied Fleets which are blockading Crete, received orders from their governments to spread the news through the island that the Powers offered Crete home rule under a European Prince, and to assure the Cretans that the blockade would be removed the moment the Greek troops were withdrawn from the island.
The Cretans would not listen to this. They sent replies, signed by nearly forty thousand men, representing the entire Cretan population, declaring that they wanted no such arrangement.
Not one of the signers approved of the idea of home rule. The Cretans are determined to be reunited to Greece, their own mother-country, and they intend to fight until they gain their point.
This action on the part of the Cretans turned every one's attention back to the frontier of Greece and Turkey. It seems that the question of Cretan liberty must be settled there.
The war fever is running very high in Greece, and King George is being urged to declare war, and let the Greeks show the Powers they are able to settle their own affairs for themselves.
The 6th of April was the anniversary of the first national rising in Greece, when, in 1821, they determined to throw off the rule of Turkey, under which they had suffered for so many long years.
This day is always celebrated in Greece as a holiday and fête day. Coming as it did this year in the midst of such angry feelings against the Turks, it was feared that the soldiers on the frontier would lose control of themselves, and that their officers would not be able to prevent them from crossing the frontier and attacking the Turks.
The Crown Prince issued a General Order to the soldiers, commanding them to preserve order, and, possibly in consequence of this, the day passed without disturbance of any sort.
But it was not likely that the Greeks and Turks could remain long on the frontier facing each other, without trouble of some sort arising.
