This state of affairs is particularly dreadful, because, at the time of the massacre of the Armenians by the Turks, not one of the European Powers fired a shot to prevent it.  All that was done was accomplished by talks and conferences with the Ambassadors.

Now, when Greece tries to free her Christian brothers from the grasp of the Turks, these same Powers train their guns on the Greeks, and lend the Turks their aid to force the Christians back under the control of the murdering Turks!

It is a monstrous situation, and one that makes every honest man hate the diplomacy and politics of nations that make such things possible and necessary.

When Greece sent her defiant answer to the Powers, they had a long conference, and after much talk, decided to send their Ultimatum to Greece.

An Ultimatum means a final condition, which, if refused, will break off all attempts at settling matters peaceably.

The Ultimatum of the Powers was written in two separate letters.

The first requested Greece to withdraw her ships and soldiers within six days.

This has been presented.

In case Greece refuses to withdraw, the second note will be given her.  This states that the Powers will immediately use force to make her do as they desire.  This of course means that war will be declared.

It is said that the Greeks are not likely to obey the wishes of the Powers, and that the King of Greece intends to refuse, and then to take his own course.

It is said that King George has declared himself quite ready for a war with Turkey, and that he does not intend to allow the Powers to tell him what he is to do.

Greece is making preparations for war, has called out her army reserves, and is massing her troops all along the Turkish frontier, expecting that the war will be on the mainland, and not on the island of Crete.  Greece expects that should war be declared Turkey will at once try to cross her borders and conquer her.  If Turkey does not attempt this, Greece will cross into Turkish territory, and endeavor to reconquer the various ancient Greek provinces which are now under the rule of Turkey.  The Servians, Bulgarians, and Montenegrins are also arming and rising, and will side with Greece in case the war breaks out.

If you look these little countries up on the map, you will find that they lie on the Northern side of European Turkey, while Greece is on the Southern side.  If these countries do really come to the aid of Greece, Turkey will find herself between two enemies, and will have a difficult war to fight.

[Illustration:  Types of Greek Fighters.]

It is not true that Russia is at the bottom of this Cretan trouble.

She has evidently been acting sincerely this time.  She has warned Greece to stop her quarrel with Turkey, has sent word to her that she very much disapproves of the way she is behaving, and as Greece has not listened to her protests, she has finally broken off all diplomatic relations with her.  This, you remember as in the case of Venezuela, means that Russia and Greece are no longer on speaking terms.