Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-03-05
HLE " D UIsItE
WAR IN CRETE.

WI G3Se9 s 523 ~ Us
WAR in CRETE.
LONDON, Feb. e6.In the house Of
lords Lord Salisbury announced that
q telegram had been sent to the
British representative at the capital OF
each OF the combined European
powers, tho phraseology Of which was
rs follows:
accredited that her majesty's government
propose to mako the following declaration
Of the policy they intend to pursue. which
they believe to be In accordance with that
OF their allies: First, the establishment OF
administrative autonomy in Crete is neces.
sary to tho termination Of international
occupation Of that island. Second, that
subject to such system of administrative
autonomy, Crete ought to remain portion
government Of Greece ought to Uniformed
Of this resolution. Fourth, that If either
Turkey or Greece should persist in refusal
when required to withdraw her naval and
military forces from the island, the powers
should impose their decision by force
SAIoNICA, Feb. s7.--The massing OF
Turkish troops and munitions Of war
on the frontier is proceeding with
fcverish haste. All soldiers on a fur
Tough have been recalled. Eleven bat
teries of artillery, regiment of cav
airy and two battalions of infantry
have gone to Elassona. Two additional
battalions of infantry have reached
Katerina. Redifs from Smyrna, Brusa,
Trebizonde and elsewhere in Anatoiia
are on the way here and to the from
tier, where total of six divisions will
be formed, with headquarters at
Ellassona.
PARIS. March 1.-Reports are current
here and elsewhere in Europe that If
the powers insist on Greece cvacuating
Crete, King George will abdlcate in
favor of Crown Prince Constantine.
LONDON, March 2.-There has been
fierce fighting in Crete and strange to
say, the powers interfered in favor OF
the Cristian insurgents. The Turkish
battleship Faud had opened fire on the
Cretans, who disputed the march OF a
body of Mussulman troops to raise the
seicc of the blockhouse at Malata, but
the admirals, for some reason, thought
this desperate action was improper
and compelled the silence of the Turk
ish guns. The affair greatly puzzles
the diplomats here, who have been led
to believe that, for the present Mt
least, Turkey was to have its own way
OH the island. 1t is game of fast
und loose that complexities the situation.
The affair virtually ended in n victory
for the Christians, for the convoy
intended for the relief of Malata had
to return to Canea. Meanwhile, fight
ing between the Turks and Cretans is
going on ut Ketimo and elsewhere.
The villages of Trikalaria and Nero
kouro have been burned by bashi-
bazouks. Firing also continues out
side of Gambia, where the Christians
have repulsed the Turks.
ATHENS, March 3.--The identical note
which has been presented by the rep
resentatives of the powers to the Greek
government says the annexation OF
Crete is impossible and that they
decline to accept such a proposal The
note confcrs instead an absolutely
effective autonomy assurance to Crete
of separate government under the
suselninty Of the sultan: Thesc con-
ditions, however, not being realized
except by the withdrawal of the Greek
troops from the island and of the
Greek ships from Crctan waters or
from points where the powers arc in
the powers confidently
rely upon the wisdom of the Greek
government to cease to oppose the
efforts for the welfare of Crete and
the preservation of peace. Therefore,
Greece is solemnly warned that unless
the aforesaid withdrawal occurs within
six days the powers will not hesitate
to take any coercive steps necessary to
enforce it, and their decision is
irrcvocablc.
CoNsrANTINopLE, March 2.--Thc rep
resentatives of the powers have pre-.
sented a collective note to the Turk
ish government.
CANEA, March 4.-Thcrc was an en-
gagement lasting two hours between
the Greeks and Bashibazouks of the
villages of Naraloron and Chccatria.
LONDON, March At is no longer
possible to deny that the situation in
the east has become one of the utmost
gravity. 1t is now q matter of practi-
cal certainty and it is understood by
the powers themselves that Greece
will refuse to yield either to the re-
quest or threat. 1t is expected further
that in the event of any pressure what
ever from the powers it will declare
war against Turkey and within few
days begin a campaign in Macedonia
and Thessaly. 1t is virtually admit
ted that the powers are not prepared
for any such exigency, and it is scarce
ly hoped that they will be able to deal
with it in harmony; in fact, it is now
an open secret that they have been
able to reach the present point of
agreement only with the greatest diff
Guilty, and that the bonds which hold
them together at this moment arc of
the weakest descript ion.