Outwardly, the Powers are very fierce over the whole matter, and have
warned Greece that if she does not withdraw her army from Crete in two
days, they will make war upon her.

Greece is, however, taking her own way very quietly and decidedly.

While the four combined fleets of Europe are keeping Prince George at bay
at Canea, fifteen hundred Greek soldiers under Colonel Vassos have been
safely landed in Crete, at Platania about sixty miles from Canea.

This battalion, which is made up of artillery, engineers, and infantry, is
called the "Corps of Occupation," and Greece went wild with joy when the
report of its safe arrival reached Athens.

The commander of the corps, Colonel Vassos, is reported to have issued a
proclamation to the Cretans, in which he says that the troubles in Crete
have been deeply felt by their brother Greeks. The Cretans are but one
nation with the Greeks, despite the fact that they are under a foreign
rule, and Greece can no longer allow a people of her race and religion to
be under the Turkish rule; she has therefore decided to occupy the island,
and add it to the country ruled by the King of Greece.

The proclamation goes on to say that Colonel Vassos, in the name of the
King of Greece, promises to protect the lives, honor, and property of the
inhabitants, and to bring peace and law to them.

He then demanded of the Turks that they surrender, and give up the island.

While this was going on, the combined Powers, through their ambassadors in
Greece, demanded that the Greek warships be withdrawn from Crete under