* * * * *
The settlement of the terms of peace between Turkey and Greece promises to
be a very long and tedious matter.
It has been announced that Turkey offers to conclude peace, provided
Greece pays her $15,000,000 to cover her war expenses, gives her certain
strategic points in Thessaly, and turns over to her the Greek fleet until
the war expenses are paid.
The Sultan has begun the negotiations by asking for everything he could
think of, but this was just what people expected he would do.
England regards Turkey's demands as unfair, and will oppose them. She
thinks that Greece should merely be made to withdraw her troops from
Crete, and give Turkey a reasonable sum of money as war indemnity.
It is a pity that England did not show some of this sympathy sooner,
instead of standing idly by until Turkey had brought Greece to her present
piteous plight.
That Greece should have been so easily beaten is still a cause of
wonderment.
If all accounts are true, the Crown Prince Constantine deserves a good
deal of the blame of the disaster. He was not experienced enough to take
command of an army in an important campaign, and should not have
undertaken so difficult a task unless he was sure of himself.
It is said by all the newspaper correspondents who were with the Greek
army, that the shameful flight from Larissa was the cause of the series of
defeats that followed it. These men declare that after Larissa the Greeks
lost confidence in their commanders, and had no hope of success.
It is claimed that if the Greeks had pushed forward instead of retreating,
the Turks must have been beaten.
Up to the evening of April 23d, when the retreat occurred, the Turks were
in a desperate condition. Edhem Pasha, the general in command of the
Turkish army, had decided that it was impossible to break through the
Greek lines, and had ordered a retreat to Elassona. That very night he
telegraphed the hopelessness of his situation to Constantinople, and a
special messenger left for Athens, bearing a message from the Sultan,
asking for peace.
The retreat on Larissa changed the whole fate of the war.
There are many rumors why this retreat was ordered, but no one seems to
understand the matter clearly.
One report says that the Turks were actually falling back on Elassona, and
one of the Greek generals, seeing the movement, mistook it for an attempt
to surround the Greeks and cut their army to pieces. He is said to have
galloped to the Crown Prince with this mis-information, and assured him
that unless he ordered a retreat they would all be sacrificed. The Crown
Prince did not attempt to assure himself of the accuracy of this
statement, but at once issued the fatal order.
If this account be true, the two armies must have been fleeing from each
other at the same moment.
Edhem Pasha, being a good general, soon discovered what had happened. He
at once saw his opportunity and took advantage of it.
The Greeks, unfortunately, had no general who knew thoroughly the art of
war, and so their mistake was not understood.
In reviewing the short Greek campaign, some interesting comparisons have
been made between the war in Greece and the war in Cuba. The conclusion
arrived at has been that good leaders are the essential for successful
warfare, and that without them the bravest soldiers are of little use.
The army sent by Spain against Cuba was about as large as that sent by
Turkey against Greece, but there were only one-fifth as many Cubans to
fight the Spanish army as there were Greeks to fight the Turks. The
Cubans, moreover, were badly armed, knew little of the trade of
soldiering, and were merely a band of sturdy patriots, fighting with a
determination to conquer or die, while the Greeks were finely equipped
soldiers.
One would have supposed that the Greeks would have given the Turks some
hard fighting, and have been able to make their own terms in the end, and
that the Cubans would have been subdued in very short order.
[Illustration: ATHENS: KING'S PALACE FROM THE GARDENS.]
How different the results have been.
Greece with her splendid army had no leaders worthy of the name, and has
been whipped and shamed in two short weeks of war.
Cuba, in spite of her motley, ill-armed bands of soldiers, is happy in the
possession of some great leaders. Cuba had her Maceo, and has yet her
Gomez and her Garcia.
What have these generals done for her?
For more than two years they have carried on the unequal war. Clever
enough to avoid meeting the Spaniards in any pitched battles, that, if
lost, would ruin their cause, they have succeeded in harassing their foe,
wasting Spain's money, wearing out her patience, and keeping her at bay
until time has made better soldiers of them, drawn more friends to their
cause, and rendered the conditions more equal.
The success of the Cubans can be looked forward to with confidence,
because they are well generaled. The failure of the Greeks was expected
with equal certainty, when it became evident that the Hellenic army had no
leaders.
Poor little Greece!
There is still some fighting going on.
The Turks are pressing on, and will continue to do so until the
negotiations for peace are actually begun. Every Greek town they can
capture, every mile they can advance into Greek territory before peace is
formally asked for, gives the Turk the right of demanding better terms
when the final arrangements are made.
In Thessaly the Sultan's army has occupied Volo and Pharsala, and there is
no doubt that it will soon gain possession of Domokho.
In Epirus the Turks routed the Greeks when they attempted to advance after
the retreat to Arta.
The army is said to be completely discouraged by the frequent defeats, and
sorrow and discontent reign throughout Greece.
* * * * *
The Greeks are a very excitable people, and it was only natural to suppose
that when the fortunes of war turned against them, they would seek to
throw the blame for their defeat on their rulers.
Every trouble that has befallen Greece has been laid at the door of King
George and his sons.
There have been wild rumors of making the King give up his throne, and it
was reported that a Russian vessel was moored off the Piræus to rescue the
Royal Family in case of need.
These stories have not been verified, and probably have little truth in
them. When Greece calms down a little she will learn that her King has
been doing the best he could for his country and his people, and their old
kindly feelings for him will return.
The Royal Family have kept themselves quietly in their palace during the
worries, the Queen and Princesses working unceasingly for the relief of
the sick and wounded.
* * * * *
Important news has reached us from Cuba.
Gomez is in Havana Province, and it is said that the Spaniards were
defeated in a battle at Guines, thirty miles from Havana.
The city of Havana is once more in a state of excitement. As usual, the
authorities deny that there are any insurgents in Havana Province, and as
usual the people do not believe a word of their proclamations, and are
terrified lest the city be bombarded by Gomez.
The first news of the nearness of the insurgents was brought by a few
Spaniards who formed part of a garrison at Bermeja, a small town on the
borders of Havana Province.
These men straggled into the city with the information that the Cubans had
seized the town and their little fort. They had all been captured, and had
been brought before the general in command, who proved to be Gomez
himself. All but ten of the prisoners were Cubans who had enlisted in the
Spanish service.
General Gomez freed the Spaniards, but ordered the Cubans to be hanged on
the spot, as traitors to their country.
The Spaniards reported that Gomez had a force of 2,000 men with him, and
that General Carillo was following him with another party of 3,000 more.
In Havana it is expected that an attempt to capture the city will be made
within a few days.
It is said that the Cubans have been concentrating their forces in and
around Havana Province for some time past, and that the troops who served
under General Rivera, some 7,000 men in all, are waiting in Pinar del Rio
until Gomez gives them the signal to join him.
Pinar del Rio is at the west of Havana Province. In Matanzas, at the east
of Havana, more insurgents are said to be gathered. It looks as if the
Cubans were really closing in on Havana for a definite purpose.
Spain is trying to raise a new loan to meet the cost of the wars in Cuba
and the Philippine Islands.
There is a report that the health of General Rivera is failing. It is said
that, for want of proper care, his wounds are not healing, and that he is
suffering a great deal from them.
Senator Morgan's bill for recognizing the belligerency of Cuba has been
debated in the Senate.
No progress has been made with it, however.
Some of the Senators spoke very warmly in its favor, and reminded the
Senate of the time when we, too, were struggling for our liberty, and
needed and obtained the support of other countries.
Other Senators tried to get rid of the bill by sending it to the Committee
on Foreign Relations, which would mean a long delay before it could be
brought to a vote.
The chances are that nothing definite will be done for the present, and
that the Cubans will not receive any help from the United States.
The Navy Department has refused to send any more vessels to patrol the
seas for filibusters.
There are now three ships detailed for that duty, and more have been asked
for.
Mr. Long, the Secretary of the Navy, says that he thinks three are plenty,
that the rainy season is at hand, and very little fighting will be done in
Cuba after it once sets in.
* * * * *
The death of the Duke d'Aumale has just been announced.
This gentleman was a personage of very great interest to Europeans.
He was the fourth son of Louis Philippe--the King of France who was
deposed in 1848. The Duke d'Aumale was trained to be a soldier. He loved
his profession, and made great progress in it, winning honors for himself
when but a lad of nineteen.
The French people idolized him, and declared that he would some day be to
France what Wellington was to England.
His father was then King, and the Duke induced the King to send him on
active service, and for six years he was in various campaigns, always
distinguishing himself for his bravery and soldierly qualities.
At the end of this time there was a revolution in France. The King was
deposed, a second republic declared, and the whole Orleans family exiled.
The King and the princes went to England, and purchased some fine property
near London, at a place called Twickenham. Here the Duke lived, devoting
himself to literature and study.
The ungrateful French Government, forgetting the services he had done for
his country, not content with banishing him with the rest of his family,
took from him a famous estate called Chantilly, which had belonged to his
ancestors for centuries.
Despite this treatment the Duke's love for his country never changed.
When the Franco-German war broke out in 1870 he instantly offered his
services to France.
Napoleon III., the same Napoleon who sent Maximilian to Mexico, was then
Emperor of France.
He declined the help of the Duke d'Aumale, fearing to allow any of the
princes of the royal blood to serve in the army, lest they might endeavor
to influence the soldiers to bring about a new revolution.
After the battle of Sedan, when Napoleon was taken prisoner, and France
once more became a republic, the Duke returned to France and took an
active part in the affairs of State, and Chantilly and the greater portion
of his lands were restored to him.
The other Orleans princes also returned to France, and remained there
until 1883, when the Minister of War, following the policy of Napoleon
III., declared it undesirable to have the princes serving in the army.
The Duke's name was struck off the army-roll by that General Boulanger who
made such a stir in France at that time. All the commissions held by the
Orleans princes were cancelled, and the whole family once more banished
from France.
A few weeks after the Duke had left France, the French people were
somewhat ashamed to learn that this man, whom they had twice hounded out
of the country, had returned good for evil, and made a present to the
nation, or rather to the Institute of France, of his beautiful chateau of
Chantilly.
The Institute laid the matter before the Government, and asked that the
decree of exile be revoked.
After some time this was done, and the Duke returned to France to live in
Chantilly, which, by the terms of his gift, he was at liberty to use
during his lifetime.
The Duke was seventy years of age. His death was caused by the news that
the Duchess d'Alençon, a favorite niece of his, had been burnt to death in
a dreadful fire which has just occurred in Paris.
Some charitable ladies organized a bazaar for the benefit of sick women
and children.
The great ladies of France were interested in it, and its opening was one
of the fashionable events in Paris.
One afternoon during the progress of the bazaar, when the place was full
of visitors, and many of the greatest ladies in French society were in the
building, buying and selling, a cry of fire was raised, and it was found
that one of the stalls was in flames.
Unhappily, there was but one exit to the building, and the fire spread so
rapidly that it was impossible for all to escape. A number of the ladies
were burned to death.
All Paris, indeed all Europe, is in mourning because of the disaster, for
there is hardly a noble family in Europe which was not represented at the
bazaar.
The Duchess d'Alençon, one of the unfortunate ladies who perished in the
flames, was not only the niece of the Duke d'Aumale, but the sister of the
Empress of Austria.
This same duchess came near being a queen herself, for at one time she was
betrothed to the King of Bavaria, the same King who first understood and
appreciated Richard Wagner, the famous composer, and encouraged him to
write the wonderful works which have changed the whole history of music.
* * * * *
Li Hung Chang has not forgotten us, though he is far away in his own
country.
His regard for General Grant was well known, and when he came to this
country he expressed a wish to visit the tomb of his dead friend.
While paying this visit he said that he would like to show his regard for
the great man in some permanent way.
It was suggested that he should plant a tree on the site of the old tomb,
and he seemed greatly pleased with the idea, but nothing further was said
on the subject at the time.
The other day Mr. Yang Yu received a letter from the Viceroy, asking him
to plant the tree before he left the country.
Mr. Yang Yu is the Chinese Minister who has just been recalled from
Washington, and sent on an important mission to St. Petersburg.
When the Minister received the order from the Viceroy, he sent word to the
Park Commissioners asking them if the matter could be arranged.
It was not possible for Li Hung to send a tree from China, but he wrote
Yang Yu that he would like him to select a tree that was a native of
China.
A tree was obtained which is a native of Japan and China. It is called the
Maidenhair tree, because its leaves resemble those of the Maidenhair fern.
Its botanical name is _Gingko Biloba_.
The tree was partly planted by the gardeners, and then the Chinese
Minister, accompanied by some members of the Grant family, proceeded to
the spot to perform the ceremony in the name of Li Hung Chang.
The Minister threw a few shovelfuls of earth on the roots of the tree, and
then read some words in Chinese from a scroll he carried.
The words were translated by the Secretary, and proved to be:
"This tree is planted at the side of the tomb of General U.S. Grant,
ex-President of the United States of America, for the purpose of
commemorating him, by Li Hung Chang, guardian of the Prince, Grand
Secretary of the State, and Earl of the first order.
"YANG YU,
"Vice-President of the Centre Board.
"Kwang Hsu, 23d year, fourth moon, seventh day."
This inscription is to be cut in marble, in Chinese and also in English,
and placed near the tomb.
The Mr. Yang Yu who performed the ceremony is the Minister whom the See
Yups came on from San Francisco to visit.
It does not seem as if he were going to be of much use to them, for
instead of returning to China he is to go to St. Petersburg, and he may
not see his Emperor for a very long time.
* * * * *
An amusing story comes from Victoria, British Columbia, about the Chinese
special envoy, who has just arrived in New York on his way to London.
When the Canadian Pacific steamer which brought him over from China
arrived in port, it was found that she had two cases of smallpox on board.
The authorities of Victoria at once ordered her to quarantine for
twenty-four days.
The steerage passengers, who were all Chinamen, were taken to the
quarantine station, where the usual process of fumigation and disinfection
took place.
There were, doubtless, many protests and wails from the unfortunate
Celestials, but nobody heeded them, and the work was carried through
without difficulty.
When, however, it came to the other passengers, there was a great
disturbance. The English were furious, threatening terrible things if any
one attempted to fumigate them. A special company of 200 armed men was
consequently detailed to guard the quarantine station, lest the passengers
should attempt to get away before the twenty-four days were over.
All this trouble was as nothing, however, to that which arose when it was
conveyed to His Excellency Chang, Special Envoy from the Emperor of China
to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, that he needed disinfecting!
Accompanying the Envoy was his suite, which was composed of a number of
Chinamen of high rank. None of these illustrious persons had the slightest
knowledge of Western ways, and they one and all protested that to fumigate
them, or their great Chang, was practically fumigating the Emperor of
China! In their eyes this seemed the most awful crime that mortal could
commit.
His Excellency Chang refused to submit to any such insulting treatment,
and appealed to the Canadian Government, the British Government, and the
Chinese Ministers in London to protect him.
He declared that, rather than submit, he would go back to China without
fulfilling his mission,--a proceeding fraught with considerable danger to
himself, as he stated that the Emperor, his master, might cut off his
head, and the heads of all his suite, for disobedience to his wishes. But
the noble Envoy preferred death to fumigation.
What he imagined fumigation was it is impossible to say, but he warned the
authorities that if they attempted it, the Emperor of China would declare
war on England.
The unfortunate officials did not know what to do, and waited in a great
state of anxiety for orders from the Government.
The story does not say how the matter was arranged, but as His Excellency
is now in New York, and war has not been declared by China, it is to be
supposed that he was not fumigated.
* * * * *
The Japanese are a very progressive people.
A generation ago the inhabitants of Japan were not allowed to leave their
country, nor were foreigners permitted to enter it.
Since the war with China Japan has taken a wonderful start; her commerce
and manufactures have greatly increased, and her people have begun to seek
a better market for their labors, and emigrate to foreign countries.
Japan is a densely populated land, and the inhabitants have not been slow
to see that an overcrowded country, where thousands of people are
constantly unemployed, is not a good place to make money in.
Since the Japanese have been permitted to seek their fortunes in other
lands, they have emigrated in vast numbers.
They are now to be found all over the world.
We have spoken about them in Hawaii, but the Sandwich Islanders are not
the only people to protest against them as colonists.
In British Columbia they have arrived in such hordes that the Government
has been considering laws to keep them out in future.
In California there is a strong opposition to them. They are not desired
in Australia, nor in the English colonies in the Pacific Ocean.
With all these countries making laws against them, and Hawaii sending them
back from her shores, it would seem that the thrifty Japanese would have
to stay in their own country. However, a haven has just been offered to
them in Mexico.
A Japanese syndicate has secured 300,000 acres in the Mexican State of
Chiapas, on which a Japanese colony is to be established. The land is to
be divided into lots of 20 acres, one lot to be assigned to each family.
The immigrants are to raise coffee, cotton, tobacco, and sugar, and to
introduce certain Japanese industries.
The first party of colonists are now on their way to Mexico, and it is
thought that thousands will follow them.
The Mexicans are said to be quite pleased with the prospect of the
Japanese settling among them. They need a great many laborers; these they
find it very difficult to obtain, and they expect the new immigrants to be
a great help to them.
It will be interesting to watch how the amiable, active Japanese get along
with the fiery, indolent Mexicans.
* * * * *
Hawaii is disturbed over the news that the Japanese cruiser _Naniwa_ is on
its way to Honolulu.
She brings with her a special Japanese Commissioner, who will investigate
the immigration matters, and claim from the Government of the Sandwich
Islands the sum of $100,000 damages for preventing her citizens from
landing.
It is reported that the _Naniwa_ has on board three of the emigrants who
were refused admission, and that she will try and land them, for the
purpose of making the Hawaiian Government prove in the courts its right to
forbid their entry.
The Japanese insist that Hawaii has violated the treaty existing between
Japan and the Sandwich Islands. The Honolulu lawyers have been studying
the treaty, and insist that the immigrants had no legal right to land, and
that the treaty has not been violated.
In the mean while, the Government of Hawaii is doing all in its power to
get white laborers employed instead of Japanese on all the sugar and
coffee plantations. And as it is feared that the United States will not
care to annex the islands if all the labor is done by Asiatics and there
is no room for white men, it is trying to get Americans to go over with
their families, and is promising them steady and paying employment.
An Immigration Bureau has been opened, and every effort will be made to
get first-class American laborers to go there.
* * * * *
The revolution in Honduras has been suppressed.
We mentioned this trouble in No. 26 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD, and said
that her sister republics had declined to interfere.
Matters became so threatening, and the revolution took on such a serious
aspect, that Nicaragua finally decided to help; but she did not move
until Dr. de Soto had been proclaimed President by the rebel party, and
had gained possession of the town of Puerto Cortez.
Finding that the revolution promised to be something more than the usual
South American affair, Great Britain and the United States both ordered
cruisers to Puerto Cortez to protect the interests of their citizens.
Nicaragua at the same time armed a steam-tug, and, loading her with
soldiers, sent her to the little town to recapture it from the insurgents.
This was evidently accomplished, and appears to have ended the revolution.
A telegram has been received in Washington from our American Consul in
Honduras, stating that the revolution is at an end.
There is, however, a very indignant feeling against Nicaragua, in
consequence of a story which has been brought in by the steamer _Rover_.
Captain Reed, of the _Rover_, which is a fruit steamer, declares that when
about four miles out of Puerto Cortez, his vessel, though flying the
American flag, was fired upon by the Nicaraguan gunboat _Lucy B._
The story as told by him is that he reached Puerto Cortez on May 6th, and
knowing the port to be in the hands of the insurgents, he decided not to
anchor, but to cruise about until the customs officers should board him,
and tell him whether it would be safe to land.
He could see that the town was in a state of ferment, and that the
inhabitants were running about from place to place.
After waiting a little while he thought it unsafe to land, and determined
to go to the town of Omoa, where he knew the government forces were in
possession.
He had travelled about four miles from Puerto Cortez when he sighted the
_Lucy B._
He decided to wait for her, and find out from her how matters stood in
Puerto Cortez.
Suddenly, when about half a mile away, the _Lucy B._ fired on the _Rover_.
Captain Reed instantly ordered the engines to be stopped, and brought the
vessel to a standstill; but before the sailors had time to carry out his
orders, another shot was fired at him.
Soon after the vessel was boarded by General Reyes, of the Nicaraguan
government, and six of his followers.
He examined the ship's papers, and though finding them in order, still had
the ship searched from end to end, declaring that the _Rover_ was carrying
arms and ammunition to the rebels in Puerto Cortez.
When his search was over, and nothing had been found, Captain Reed
vigorously protested against the treatment to which he had been subjected,
and pointed to the American flag which was flying at the mast-head.
General Reyes replied that he might protest all he pleased, but he ought
to consider himself lucky that the _Lucy B._ had not sunk his vessel.
The captain of the _Rover_ will enter a protest against the action of the
Nicaraguans.
We have spoken several times about the insignificant character of the
revolutions in South America. We think it may interest our readers if we
quote for them the statement on this subject, made by a gentleman who has
been a good many years in Honduras, and who has large interests there.
He says: "A revolution down there is really nothing but an election.
"At election times the candidate for the Presidency who controls the guns
wins the election. If the President doesn't suit after he is elected, some
man gathers a force together, and a revolution follows.
"As nobody pays much attention to an election, so nobody pays much
attention to a revolution, except those most nearly interested in its
success or failure.
"The present President, Señor Bonilla, came into office after he had
carried through a successful revolution against somebody else.
"He is a clever man, and absolutely honest, but his standard is too high
for Honduras."
Richard Harding Davis has written a story called "Soldiers of Fortune,"
which gives a very excellent account of one of these South American
revolutions.
* * * * *
The Massachusetts Assembly has made its annual appropriation for the
destruction of the Gipsy moth.
This is a moth whose larvæ (as the caterpillars are called) do so much
damage to foliage that the State has spent large sums of money in an
attempt to destroy the troublesome pest. The matter has now been brought
to the attention of Congress, and in the last Agricultural Appropriation
Bill a special provision was made for a careful investigation of the
matter.
The caterpillar of the Gipsy moth strips the trees of their leaves as
completely as if they had been swept by fire. Almost every variety of
tree, as well as of farm or garden crop, is attacked by these worms, and
the farmers in Eastern Massachusetts are terror-stricken over the army of
them which yearly attacks their crops.
The history of the introduction of the Gipsy moth into this country is a
somewhat curious one.
The moth is not a native of this country, but of Germany and Austria,
where vast sums of money have also been spent by the governments in a vain
endeavor to get rid of it.
In 1869 a French naturalist came over to this country and settled in
Medford, Mass.
He had brought some Gipsy moth eggs with him from Europe, and intended
making some experiments with them.
He had the eggs out on his table one morning when he was called away from
his work. He went out of the room, leaving the eggs lying near the window.
When he returned he found that a puff of wind had blown the whole paper of
eggs out of the window.
He ran down into the garden and searched everywhere for the lost eggs, but
in their flight through the air they had become scattered, and he was
unable to find them.
He well knew the dangerous character of the worm which hatches out of
these eggs, and he went all round the village, explaining to every one,
warning every one, and imploring every one to be on the look-out for the
caterpillars when they should appear.
The inhabitants of Medford thought he was a crazy Frenchman, and took no
notice of his warning.
It was twenty years after this before the people began to suffer from the
ravages of the caterpillar, though for several years the neighbors of the
old naturalist had been annoyed and puzzled at the way in which their
gardens were eaten up.
In 1889 the worms became so numerous, and did so much damage, that the
Legislature set aside a sum of money for their destruction, and appointed
a number of scientific men to undertake the work.
Every spring since then the Gipsy Moth Commission has been at work.
One summer, policemen were pressed into the service. They were stationed
on all the roads leading out of the infected districts to examine every
vehicle that drove through, to see that none of the caterpillars escaped
into the surrounding country by clinging to the wheels or the body of the
wagon.
That year there were such myriads of these caterpillars, that they would
fall by hundreds on the vehicles as they drove under the trees.
The moth policemen were both necessary and useful.
The Commission starts in, this year, with several new inventions for
destroying both caterpillars and eggs, and hopes to make good progress.
Thus far Massachusetts has spent nearly $1,000,000 in her effort to rid
herself of the Gipsy moth.