Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-16
FIGHTING In CRETE.
CHRISTIANS AND TURKS ENGAGE
EACH OTHER FIERCELY.
POWERS CALL A HALT.
They Demand That Greece Shall
Land No Troops on the island
The Hellenic Kingdom Defiant,
and Lands Troops Galore.


CANEA, CRETE, February l5.-The
Greek fiotilla is lying at anchor outside
the Gordon which has been formed by the
warships Of the Powers, and will not be
permitted TO come any nearer. The for
eign warships are practically blockading
Retimo and Canea.
The report that the Greek fiotilla had
landed large quantities of arms, ammuni-
tion, etc. intended for the use of the in
surgents during the night OF February
18th. or at any subsequent time, is aDso-
lutely untrue
The number Of insurgents gathered
around Canea is estimated at 1900 They
have only one fieldgun.
The Turks, under cover of four OF the
guns Of the fortress. made a sortie Satur-
day upon the Halepa quarter of the town.
where a hot fight ensued resulting in the
Turks being driven back by the Chris
tians and compelled to retire to the for
tress. After nightfall force Of LOO Mos
lens, regulars and volunteers, made an
other sortie. which was stoutly opposed
by the Christians The fighting which
ensued was of the most desperate charac-
ter and the losses on both sides were
heavy. The Moslems finally returned TO
the fortress.
1t is thought that despite the vigilance
of the warships of the Powers, Greek
transport ships may succeed in landing
an expedition in the Bay of Kissamo.
PROTEST OF THE POWERS.
ATHENS, February 15-The representa-
| tives Of the Powers accredited to Greece
held two meetings yesterday, their con-
| ferences taking place at the French lega-
tion. AT the second meeting, which was
held in the evening. it was agreed that
| the Powers, through their ministers at
Athens, should protest against Greek IN
| tervention in Crete, and as a result Of this
| decision the French Minister, III. Bouree,
waited upon NJ. Delyannis the Greek Pre-
mier and intmated to him that the Pow
| ers had determined to take decisive steps,
| even resorting to arms, TO prevent Greece
| from taking further hostile action in
Crete NJ Bouree. as spokesman of the
representatives Of the Powers, ADVISED
the immediate recall Of the Greek fotilla
from Crete. and at the same time promis-
ed that the Powers would take into con-
| sideration the claims of Greece in Crete
and the question of the union Of crete
with Greece. Premier Delyannis asked 10
be allowed time in which to reply to the
representations made by NJ. Bouree, which
request was granted.
The military reserve forces are respond
ing with great unanimity to the govern
ment's summons. and are fiocking to the
military depots in large numbers.
GREECE DEFIANT.
BERLIN, February I'm. Delyannis
| to-day communicated to the diplomatic
| representatives of the Powers his answer
to their protest. The Greek Premier de-
clares without qualification that 1t is the
purpose of Greece to occupy Crete. IN
view of this defiant attitude of the Hell
lenic kingdom, the German Government
viii instruct the commander of the Ger
man warship, Kaiserin Augusta, to pro-
ceed to Canea and join the associated
fleets off the Cretan coast in preventing
| hostile action on the part Of Greece ana
cooperate with them in restoring order in
the island.
POWERS COOPERATING.
LONDON, February 15.-George II. Cur
zon. Parliamentary Secretary of the For
| eign Office, announced in the House OF
Commons to-day in reply TO questions re-
| garding the exact situation In Crete, that
the Powers were taking every step possi-
BILE for them TO take advantage of to the
| end of checking the disorders in that
| island. All the foreign consuls in Crete
he added. were under instructions to CO.
| operate In the direction Of restoring order.
Mr. Curzon, answering further questions
said that the government had absolutely
no information that Mussulmans I'm crete
were exposed to massacre at the hands
of Christians
Replying to requests for information as
TO the course to be taken by the British
naval vessels i'm Cretan waters, Mr.. Cur
zon said that the British naval Officers
had been instructed to take no Isolated
| action in Crete under any circumstances.
Mr. Curzon declined TO make any state
ment as to the nature or purport OF the
| correspondence which had passed between
the Powers concerning the Cretan situa-
ton and the position of the Powers in re-
gard thereto.
FRENCH ADMIRAL COMMANDS.
VIENNA, February 15.-lt is stated
here upon semi-oiiicial authority, that
the admiral in command of the French
SQUADRON, as the senior flag officer in
Cretan waters. will take command Of
the United fleets of the Powers. and
that every movement Of the warships
will be made under his direction. IL Is
further stated that all arrangements for
definite action on the part OF the COM
bined fleets of the Powers have been
completed
PRINCE GEORGE GIVEN PAUSE
CANEA. CRETE, February 15.-The
commanders of the British and other
foreign warships stationed here have in
formed Prince George. commanding the
Greek torpedo fotilla, that they have
received orders TO prevent the occupation
Of the Island of Crete by Greece. and If
necessary, TO use force TO carry out
these instructions.
STOCK MARKETS PANICKY.
LONDON, February 15.-The Stock Ex-
change was disorganiZed throughout the
day, and closed heavy, though prices
were generally above the lowest figures
of the day Consols showed a decline on
the day of SIS and Turkish securities
fell l1-2 to 2; Italians. rs, and Ottoman
Bank shares. l-2.
Advices from Paris, Berlin, and Vienna,
show that semi-panic prevailed on the
bourses in those cities.
POWERS TO OCCUPY.
VIENNA, February 15.-The Fremden-
blatt. semi-ofical organ, says the
Powers have agreed upon the occupation
of the Cretan towns of Canea, Retimo,
and Gambia by their warships and other
forces. and have also agreed 70 insist
upon the withdrawal If lbe Greek tor
pedo flotilla from Cretan waters. The
Government of Greece, the paper ADDS,
has been notified OF the decision or the
Powers.
GREEK TROOPS LAND.