Part 3: Billy on World Events - Troubles in Crete and Africa
Tuesday 12th January 1897
News received of a massacre in the Niger Coast Protectorate, or
rather of an expedition from there unarmed on a trading mission to
the King of Benin, whoever he may be. By all accounts he has a dark
suspicion of English traders. Anyway, he fell on this little band
and wiped out nearly all, about 300 including 9 English officers.
Very bad job no doubt. Many papers clamouring for revenge. The same
thing happened 12 months ago over the Jameson Raid but different
sentiments prevailed later on. Possibly a new light will be thrown
on this too.
Saturday 18th January 1897
Still terrible news from India both from the Plague and Famine
stricken districts. Mayor’s fund for the latter keeps swelling.
Amounts to nearly £100,000 I believe. Bombay I think must be also
in need of help, quite as much havoc is being caused by the Plague
as the Famine but not so widespread. An expedition is about to
start to “wipe-up: this King of Benin who is supposed to have
killed an unarmed body from the Niger Protectorate.
Monday 25th January 1897
Mr Cecil Rhodes arrive at Tilbury Docks on board “Dunvagan Castle”
from South Africa to give evidence before a Royal Commission on
late affairs in South Africa, the Jameson Raid etc. The same
afternoon, the Bluejackets and Marines selected for service on the
Benin expedition left Albert Docks on board the hired transport
“Malacca”. It is a very curious thing, but just now we are learning
a rare lot about the horrible cruelties etc. perpetrated by the
King of Benin. I’ve no doubt many hundreds had never heard of the
notorious individual or of his Benin City till a few days ago, but
now one can hear of any amount of yarns about Human Sacrifice,
Cannibalism, Tortures etc. Last, but far from least, it appears
that His Majesty has a dark suspicion of white traders and no
wonder.
Looting following the attack on
Benin City, 1897.
A terrible state of affairs still continues in India with the
Plague and Famine. The area affected by both increases hourly. The
Plague is causing no small alarm on the Continent. In many parts,
England is smartly criticised on her policy in India. In fact, it
seems to me, that an Anti-English feeling prevails
everywhere.
Wednesday 10th February 1897
This evening, Miss Colenso (daughter of late Bishop of Natal) gave
a lecture on our troubles in South Africa illustrated by lantern in
the Chapel. The place was packed thanks to the affair being
advertised. Very interesting lecture according to which our, that
is England’s, policy on S.A. has from the beginning been a disgrace
to civilisation with perhaps one exception. I was very much
interested having never heard of our origin at the Cape nor of the
events following. Shall “keep my eye” on that quarter in
future.
Monday 15th February 1897
Rather an alarming state of affairs now at Crete. The Cretans
having risen in revolt against the misrule of Turkey, the latter,
as a kind of “pacifier” to the Great Powers, promised to carry out
a series of reforms in Crete. These reforms were supposed to be put
into force and immediately the Greeks or Christians broke into open
revolt. So at least it has been alleged by the Imps of His Sultanic
(or Satanic) Majesty. Anyway, there has been fearful slaughter and
massacre on both sides. Last week matters came to a climax by
Prince George of Greece sailing from Athens with a fleet of
gunboats for Cretan waters with the avowed intention of staying the
slaughter of their fellow Greeks. Troops were landed, then there
was talk of Greece annexing Crete. Turkey then moved in about the
same way. The aforesaid Great powers have sent vessels and landed a
mixed force to keep order and at the same time having sent a
collective note to Greece to withdraw etc. which she does not
propose doing. Hence there is quite a little war scare on just now.
Daily Mail is frightening it’s little self very much over the state
of affairs. They are doubtless a bit lively.
Wednesday 17th February 1897
I see by today’s paper the South African Committee sat yesterday.
Cecil Rhodes was called, read a statement, more or less true I
suppose, and was stiffly cross-examined by Sir W. Harcourt. I have
yet a fairly open mind on the subject, still I feel that Jameson,
Rhodes etc. can be proved to be a set of frauds if not worse. I
believe Rhodes to be a “bouncing bleed’ar” with a not too sensitive
conscience. I’ve no better opinion of him than he of Little
Englanders.
Week ending 27th February 1897
There has been as string of exciting events at Crete this week.
Last Sunday the place was bombarded by the mixed fleet of the
Powers owing to an advance of the insurgents. This caused great
excitement in Athens (and various newspaper offices). I fancy the
end is near now. Greece, having consented to the agreement drawn up
by England and sanctioned by the other Powers by which Crete is to
remain nominally under Turkey being granted a rather liberal “Home
Rule”, both Turkish and Greek troops to be withdrawn.
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