standing that his advice should be
followed. He suggested that the Powers should first blockade the Piraeus,
which is the great port of Greece, at the head of which lies the city of
Athens. Having arranged the blockade, the Powers were then to send a final
message to Greece, ordering her to withdraw from Crete, and if she
refused, were to proceed to bombard Athens.

This gentle advice not being followed, the German Emperor became highly
insulted, threatened to withdraw from the alliance, declared himself no
longer in sympathy with it, and had to be coaxed and flattered till he
grew amiable again.

Russia is openly in favor of Turkey, and is indignant with Greece for her
warlike attitude, and that she should refuse Home Rule for Crete unless it
is under the guidance of a Greek prince.

It is quite certain that Greece knew all about these disagreements when
she sent her reply, and was fully aware that her refusal would throw the
Powers into the greatest confusion.

Little country though she is, Greece has the best of the argument.

If Europe decides to drive Greece out of Crete, she will have a great deal
of trouble in doing so. Not only has Greece a large force of troops in
Crete who are well provisioned, and able to remain some time without
further supplies, but the whole Christian population of the island is on
the side of Greece and will fight with her.

If the Powers attack her, and try to drive her out of Crete, she will at
once attack Turkey on the mainland, and with the help of Servia, Bulgaria,
and what are known as the Balkan States (from the Balkan Mountains which
run through them) will try her best to destroy the disreputable Turkish
monarchy in Europe.

The preparations for war are going steadily on. Greece has summoned all
her army reserves, and ordered them to rejoin their regiments. All the men
are answering willingly to the call.

The army reserve is that part of the military force of a country which is
not made a portion of the regular standing army. For instance, our States
Militia, or National Guard, is an army reserve. The men belonging to it
can follow other professions, and need not be soldiers all the time; but
they learn how to be soldiers, and can be called on by the government
whenever soldiers are needed.

Our standing army is very small. We have only about thirty thousand men in
it; but our National Guard, the reserves that would be called out in case
of war, number over ten millions