Crete
or CANDIA, an island belonging to Greece, the largest of the Mediterranean, except Sicily, lying S. of the Grecian Archipelago and the Ægean Sea. It is 150 miles long, and from 6 to 35 miles wide. Its area is 3,326 square miles. It commands the entrance to the Black Sea. The surface is mountainous, the highest peak being Mt. Ida, 8,061 feet in height; pop. about 350,000. Capital, Canea (pop. about 25,000). The island produces silk, wool, cotton, tobacco, lemons, oranges, grapes, olive oil, wines, and cereals. The population is mostly Hellenic. The Greek Church predominates, having eight bishops. The Mohammedan population is largely Greek. The history of Crete is very ancient, the island being in mythology regarded as the original seat of the human race.
It was fabled to have been ruled anciently submitted by Minos. Crete was conquered by the Turks in 1669, but never really submitted to Turkish authority.
There was a rebellion against Turkey in 1866, that was at length subdued. Another revolt broke out in 1897, during which many atrocities of the Turkish garrisons were reported. Feb. 14 it was announced that Greece had assumed responsibility of protecting the Christian inhabitants against the Sultan's forces. A Turkish transport, the "Fuad," on its way to re-enforce the Crete garrison, was fired upon by a Greek cruiser, and compelled to turn back. A regiment of Greek troops was dispatched to the island, and the army reserves of Greece called out.
The Sultan notified the leading powers of the warlike action of Greece, and requested them to restrain the latter power. In answer to this request the powers- Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Austria, France and Russia-warned Greece that she must not occupy or invade Crete, and CRETINISM when Greece, nevertheless, began to send troops and vessels to Crete, each of these powers landed a small force on the island, and took possession of several important stations, and the entire coast was patrolled by war vessels to prevent the Greeks from re-enforcing in the island.
The Cretans attacked some of the Turkish forts, and were shelled by cruisers of the blockading fleet. Both Greece and Turkey began preparing for war. Ultimately, Greece yielded to the demand of the Powers, and withdrew her troops from Crete, the Powers undertaking to set up autonomy under the nominal suzerainty of the Sultan, and to secure the withdrawal of the Turkish forces also.
The evacuation of the island by the Turkish troops was completed Nov. 6, 1898, CRIBBAGE rault. The department has an area of 2,163 square miles. Pop. about 266,000. the French department of Saone-et-Loire,