New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-10
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT,
TURKEY.

TURKEY.
THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY OF ARKADI-NAvAL ACTION
OFF CRETE-THE PORTE REPRINIANDS THE RUS
SIAN AND AMERICAN EMBASsADORs-THE CYPRUS
DIFFIcULTY-THE AMERICAN COLONY AT JAFPA
AND THE TURKs-REMoyAL or THE GREEK PA.
TRLARCH.
From our Special Correspondent
CoNsrASrISoPLE, Dec. Is, 1853
have seen the official statements Of the American
Consul at Crete as to this terrible affair at ArkadL
His statements are based upon the affidavit OF
monk who was in the convent when it was blown up.
but who was one Of the few who escaped. Except
in what relates to the loss suffered by the Turks this
statement agrees substantially with the official res
port of Mustapha Pasha The monastery OF Arksdi
was the largest and most important establishment Oh
the kind in Crete. 1t has occupied this position for
ages having been erected i'll the days of the Emperor
Heracius more than 200 years ago 1t was built with
royal magnificence. and quite much for fortress
rs a monastery. Through all the wars and reyolu'
tons and conQuests of twelve centuries it has been
respected alike by friend and foe. It's library was
rich in manuscripts The building ITSELF constructed
in the most massive style, stood in the center OF
large court the walls Of which were strong enough for
fortress It's situation added to its strength This
monastery at the time of the attack, contained 1913
men, including three Greek volunteers and 81 monks
There were also in the building 373 women and chill
dren The place beingwithin a few hours of Rethym-
nos Turkish fortress it had been naturally place
of refuge for the CTetans and thorn in the side OK
Mustapha Pasha. So on the Goth ult. he moved down
with 6O0 TO take possession of the place. antict-
patng little or no resistance. His summons to sur
render was replied to by shower Of balls and be az
tempted to storm the place at All day long he
sought in vain TO batter the walls with fed-pieceS
and in the night he brought up two heavy rfed cam
non. With these the morning of the 2lst, he made
a breach which was soon entered by the Egyptian
and Turkish troops. The Cretans retired to the mon
astery and held out there until afternoon almost all
the Turkish troops by this time being within this
courtyard Finding that they could hold out no lon'
ger having lost threefourths Of their tghtingmen,
it was determined, by the common consent OF all
women rs well as men-to blow up the building Inc
Turks were allowed TO T1lsh in, while priest named
MANASSAS went into the vaults and put q candle
TO the magazine, which contained many barrels Of
powder. The immense structure rose q little and
then fell a mass of ruins upon all who inside.
and upon hundreds in the court yard. The loss o.
the Turks according TO the most careful estimates
made on the spot, about 1900 killed, although
the reports published by the Porte in Constantinops
acknowledge loss of only $50 OF the Greeks inside,
50 half burncd women and children and 43 wounded
men. who had taken refuge IN one OF the cellars es,
capped death. These Survivors are the remnants Oh
scattered families, children without parents, wives
without husbands and they are in the hands OF the
Turks. If anything wanting To prove that tho
Crotans not inclined To surrender, we have tho
evidence here. Men and women not only fight to the
last, but rather than surrender they blow them
selves and their conquerors into the air together
believe that this is the real spirit of the peope-ree-
dom or death.
The Revolutionary Government Of Crete has issued
another declaration 10 the Christian world declaring
again the intention of the people never To give up Ins
contest, and denying the lying reports OF the turks
The latest dates from Crete are TO Dec. TO- AT that
time Mustapha Pasha had Just marched with V,O9
men TO attack the Greeks and Cretans Selno, and
new arrang ements had been made to blockade the
island with four five fast steamers, lightly armed.
two or three of which belong TO tine Pasha OF Egypt
glaa. .frfNan haEn
confirmed.
The captain of a Turkish frgate on the blockade
came into port the other day, in great excitement
and reported that he had been attacked in the oven
ing by two Greek steamers. lie had fought battle
with them and lost two men killed, with several
wounded, but he did not know whether the GreeS
had been sunk by his fire or escaped IN the darkness
He knew that he was safe, and that was evidently
the most important thing in his mind IL Is sald ey
those who profess 10 know that the best corvette N
the Greek navy has been ordered, To cruise between
syria and Crete To protect the Panhellenon III WORSE
comes To worst IN the Turkish waters, she Will pun
down the Greek flag hoist the Cretan coors ana INC
Greek Government will declare that they have nSS
responsibility III the They dsown the act ana
In spite of all the Porte can do the story of Crete
cannot be kept quiet. Newspapers have been prose-
cuted in vain The pestilent Consus at Crete inslss
upon telling their stories and the Foreign Embsa.
doIs insist upon believing them and talking apous
them. Even the English Consul at Crete VINO nnaii
up TO this time reported only what the TURKS .o,8
him. has now been stirred up by Loru Lyons, iuiA
ordered to learn the truth for himself lie aoklow,
edges tnat he mas deem uScelNet, anu Sotoo -:
the American Consul for aid in getting intornaiion.
ball was given the other night by the huss si.
ambassador, nc which Ali Pasha heard some PLAN th
stories. Being little man. he was nnoDserSed III LIZ
room, where our Minister and the Russian Enip p
dor declared in conversation that they knew tno To
ports of the Porte To be utterly false from DeglIhs
10 end; that the rebellion in Crete was rather gam
ing than losing strength, &c. The little fasla
ready to burst with rage, but he held IN uhtl 10
day when he read the dragomans of the Amer'sss. -.
and Russian Legation tremendous lecture on s"'
impertinence and enmty of the Ministers. 80 IA
He was of course told In the most dlgniileh s h
courtly language possible that he had better nina LIE
own business aud content himself with muzzllhg .ns
press without attempting TO mu2zle the fotyg'sSs
Ministers, who certainly had right to express tno
personal opinions in private conversation .,,.
l think that except at the French Embassy, tns.
Is of inclination To take up the Cretan quu
ton than there has been heretofore. The Frenen IA
still mortally afraid Of il. II the Cretans can nS
out few months longer there will be no poss,ghs
solution of the question except the annexation oA W.
island to Greece. -
Our relations with the Turkish Government as
usually not only amicabe, but of the most hum ~
character. But what with the Cretan affair ana 'n
Cyprus difficulty and two or three ditcnlt cSS set
o1trages upon American citizens There Is not oxso
az agreeable feeling between qW Legation W." W.