New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-14


From Our SPECIAL Correspondent
CONsTANTINoPLE, Jan. 16, 1861
The question of war or peace is still in doubt, but
the Turks are fastening their preparations as though
they did not intend to leave it III doubt much longer
II is now the month of the great fast, RameZan ana
during thisi month war cannot be declared ac
corlng TO MOhamGedan notions. But 1t is generaIy
understood that this letters of recall of tho turkish
Minister at Athens have already been signed by the
Sultan and may be sent any day. This rupture Oh
Diplomatic relations would probably be followed as
soon a. possible by a declaration of war. levy of
10000 conscrpts has been ordered and is proceeding
with great rapidity. Hospitals are preparing at
SMYRNA and purchases of war material are going on
upon grand scale at COnstantinOple. The prices
paid are so large that there seems to be plenty OF
people who are willing TO give credit TO the TURKS
The Grand Vizer and Aal Pasha are still dong the
best TO stem this tide of and they are adopting
various plans to gain time in the hope that some
thing will turn up to save the country. AS yet no
renes have been received TO the note addressed to
the great powers complaining of Greece. 1t is inn
possible to orcsee exactly what these rephes Will be-
but it is certain that they cannot be identical unless
France changes her policy altogether lido BOT De-
lieve that they will delay the coming war single
week. If they should recommend CONCESSIONS INC
Porto shows no inclination to yield single iota, and
suaded TO give up anything without first trying his
hand at war. should not be surprised if he mani
tested an inclination to take command in the held
himself. He wishes to rival the old Sultans who
made Europe tremble. His army and navy have
been from the beginning of his reign his chlei DTlde
and upon them he has lavisbed tho millions which he
has ground out of bis poorfsubees IL was with great
difficulty that lie was persuaded not to 60 to Crete
In addition to this new fOrco of 10000 men the
Government is arming the Mussuman population OF
Tbessly and Eprus and strengthening all the from
tier fortresses If war breaks out the greatest want
of the TurksJw be good Officers. We found IN our
war that il was much easier to raise men than 10
make officers Tie difficulty in Turkey will bea
hundred fold greater, for there arc no educated
classes fromgwhCh officers can bo drawn.
During the month of December tho rebellion III
Crete langushed There were discussions among
tho officers. There was an inclination manifested IN
the Cretan General Assembly to encourage tcm-
porary submission until outbreaks elsewhere should
give them a better chance. Still the rebellion was
10 be kent alive in the remoteT districts until this
better day should arrive in the early Spring. The
march of Mustapha Pasha upon SelinOs. tlo hereto
fore undesolated part Of the island, seems to have
revived the revolution throughout tho island. lie
reached Selinos after a terrible march, through mud
and rain and hauasSed by bands OF CandiOtes. For
three days his troops were without food, and the
line OF his march was marked by dead bodies, the
Egyptian troops especially being unable to endure
the hardships Of the march. He met with no very
serious resistance aud arriving at SelnOs be rayaged
this beautiful district in such way as TO change 1t
from garden 10 a desert. But once there he found
it very different thing either TO stay or TO return.
At last accounts. unable 10 return by land, Ire was
waiting the arrival of his ships to take him round by
,vofnr Ia. reqr beinp hpmmed Inv strong banda of
insurgents.
At this moment the whole island seoms TO have
walked up to new life. Several of the Turkish out
posts were cut off In ono case. near Arcadi, the
garrison OF 800 men driven into the houses of
the village and burned to death or shot. no quarter
being now given either side. later report gives
an account of an attack upon Turkish detachment
near Selinos where the Turks lost some 1000 men,
bat cannot 80 fully voucl for tho. truth of this.
The mountain Businesses Of Sphala are again alive
with rebels and tho next effort of Mustapha PaSha
is to be against this part of the island. The Turks
seem 10 have q peculiar spite against the SphakOtes,
whose full submission they have reported over and
over again. and who have no national sympathy with
the Greeks. they descendants Of the original
CTetIns. Three separate armies arc now to attack
them at once. aud If they succeed, the 5000 women
and children there will be worse off than those
who blew themselves up at Arcadi. Aali PaSha says
10 the Russian ambassador here " Let them die {;
they constitute part OF the rebellion, and must
blOOded remark paper, he declined. SO says Gen.
Ignatieff. who proposes 10 send the Grand AdmiTGl
20 remove more OF the women and children.
There is good reason to believe that the French
helped tho first steps Of the instruction III Crete
with view to the annexation Of the island 10 Egypt.
II il certain that the VicerOy OF Egypt COunted upon
this as the final result when he sent his troops to
Crete, aud that he tried TO bride the American Con-
snl there 10 gave him his aid in the matter Since
been said of this project but there is good reason TO
believe that II has now been revived. The plan IS 20
annex the island to Egypt and then for Egypt TO al
low France to take Suday Bay az a naval station.
This is one of the finest BARRIERS in the Meditorra
mean, and sOppose Port Said the end Of tho famous
I.esseDs Canal It wou3d bo great acquisition for
France and would practically give her tic control OF
the eastern part Of the Mediterranean naval sta
ton at Port Said or at any other place the Eeyp-
tan Syrian coast il impractcabe, There being no
good harbOrs. Turkey is just now more under the
influence OF France than of any other European
power. The new French Embassadhf was received
here the other day no other ambassador has ever
been received since have been in ConstantinOple.
They evidently look upon France as their only pos
sbe allyn any complications which may arise with
Greece or Europe Tho Greeks, on the contrary, re-
gard the French their great encmiesand it is hardly
safe to speak French in Athens | doubt whether
France will effect her purpose IN this case but 1t Is
evident enough here IN COnstantnOple that she eX
poets 10 do 50. Her greatest chance will be in tho
settlement OF tho question without q war with
Greece.
The organ Of Aali Pasha in Constantinoplc has an
article almost every day to show that Europe must
not meddle any more IN the East that the only hope
of the East is in her being left todecido her own
destiny. The Greeks, singu1ary enough are
crying out for nOn-interventiOn as loudly as the
Turks Avery able pamphlet has lately been published
in Syria showing that this is the only hope of the
ventOn is reechOed from st, Petersburg itself and
declared by the official organs 10 DO TIE policy Of tho
Russian Government. The Russian ambassador
here processes to hold the same view, and am IN
cned TO think he is sincere.
Ifnon-mtevention were possible fully believe that
this is the best thing for the East Turkey wishes it
because she thinks That il left to herself she man
ago the Christian races as in years past, and hold
them under her sway. Greece wishes Jt because she
- Il. IL