This gentle advice not being followed, the German Emperor became highly insulted, threatened to withdraw from the alliance, declared himself no longer in sympathy with it, and had to be coaxed and flattered till he grew amiable again.
Russia is openly in favor of Turkey, and is indignant with Greece for her warlike attitude, and that she should refuse Home Rule for Crete unless it is under the guidance of a Greek prince.
It is quite certain that Greece knew all about these disagreements when she sent her reply, and was fully aware that her refusal would throw the Powers into the greatest confusion.
Little country though she is, Greece has the best of the argument.
If Europe decides to drive Greece out of Crete, she will have a great deal of trouble in doing so. Not only has Greece a large force of troops in Crete who are well provisioned, and able to remain some time without further supplies, but the whole Christian population of the island is on the side of Greece and will fight with her.
If the Powers attack her, and try to drive her out of Crete, she will at once attack Turkey on the mainland, and with the help of Servia, Bulgaria, and what are known as the Balkan States (from the Balkan Mountains which run through them) will try her best to destroy the disreputable Turkish monarchy in Europe.
The preparations for war are going steadily on. Greece has summoned all her army reserves, and ordered them to rejoin their regiments. All the men are answering willingly to the call.
The army reserve is that part of the military force of a country which is not made a portion of the regular standing army. For instance, our States Militia, or National Guard, is an army reserve. The men belonging to it can follow other professions, and need not be soldiers all the time; but they learn how to be soldiers, and can be called on by the government whenever soldiers are needed.
Our standing army is very small. We have only about thirty thousand men in it; but our National Guard, the reserves that would be called out in case of war, number over ten millions.
In Greece there is a penalty of $200 for any man belonging to the reserve who does not answer the call of the country, and, moreover, neither distance nor citizenship in another country excuses him. If he does not answer the call, he will be arrested and imprisoned whenever he sets foot again in Greece.