The Cretans are Greeks and Christians, and long to be under the rule of a Christian monarch.

In 1869 they made another struggle for freedom, and appealed to the powers of Europe to free them.

They asked to be allowed to join themselves to Greece, or else to be given liberty, under the protection of some Christian country.

But they got no help, and the Turks still ruled in Crete.

The present outbreak is but a renewal of the old feud.  The recent murders of Christians in Armenia have made the Christians in Crete restless, and they are determined to make one more effort for freedom.

The Greeks are anxious to aid the Cretans, and at the first word of the revolt in Crete sent war-ships to Canea, the port at which the fighting has taken place.

The revolt appears to have been well planned, for the main cities of the island were soon in the possession of the Cretans, who only waited a signal from Greece to declare a union with that country, and to overthrow the rule of Turkey.

The signal seems not to have been long in coming, for, if the news can be believed, the union of Crete and Greece has already been proclaimed.

This will probably mean a war between Greece and Turkey; indeed, it seems impossible that war can be prevented, for Turkey is not going to sit quietly down and allow her possessions to be taken from her.

There is a report that a Greek ship entered Canea, the port of Crete, and did not salute the Turkish flag.  This looks very like war.

It is the custom for every vessel on entering a foreign port to salute the flag of that port, and a failure to do so is considered a very grave insult.

The latest news seems very serious indeed, almost as if this Cretan matter were going to bring about the European war that has been so long feared.

Russia has suddenly become very indignant with England, declaring that she has stirred up this Cretan trouble, so that, in the confusion that will follow, she may be able to secure some important ports in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Russians have ranged themselves on the side of Turkey, and insist that the only way for peace to be restored in Crete is for Russian and French war-ships to occupy the ports, and force the people back into quiet.

England will not submit to anything of this sort, and if Russia and France take such action, war is bound to follow.

It must not be supposed that a war with Turkey is going to be an easy thing.

The Turkish soldiers are a fine, well-drilled body of men; indeed, the English Minister to Greece stated that the Turkish soldiers were the finest he had ever seen.

The Janizaries, the most famous regiment of soldiers in the world, are the body-guard of the Sultan of Turkey.

Not only are they well-drilled and powerful men, but they fight absolutely without fear.  A Turkish soldier will never run away—­he fights till he conquers or dies.  This is due to his religion, which teaches him that what is to be will be, and that if it is his fate to be killed he will be killed, whether he runs away or stays in the battle.