The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-30
Greeks Attack Turkish
Force in Macedonia.
German Officer in Command
OF the Turks Wounded.
Difficult to See How War Can Now
Be Averted- Force on Border.

Constantinoplc, March 80. If the re-
ports just received here from the Turkish
headquarters at Elasson are correct fight
ing has already occurred on the Turkish
side Of the frontier, of Macedonia.
IL is said that "A Greek chieftain Alexis
Taxi a brother of the famous chieftain or
that name, crossed the frontier into Mace
donia on Sunday last, accompanied by
about ~ of his followers. Near Grevena,
the Greeks met and engaged an advance
post of Turkish troops, commanded by
German officer In the fighting which fol-
lowed the Turks lost twelve men killed
and had 20 men wounded, including the
German officer The loss of the Greeks Is
not known. The latter subsequently re-
turned across the border into Greek terri
tory.
. The situation is about rs critical as 1t
can be and it is difficult TO see how war
between Greece and Turkey can be
aycrted. Strong efforts TO avoid hostilities
are still being made but IL is rumored in
diplomatic circles here that King George
has sent a message 20 the Car saying 1t
was impossible for Greece To yield To the
powers and that it is equally impossible
TO recall the Greek troops from Thessally
In view of the excited state Of the public
mind. It is believed that even the annexa-
tion of Crete would fail To satisfy the
Greeks /; they are so imbuod with the war
letting will cure them.
The Greeks, IL is further believed,
greatly underestimate the strength of the
Turkish forces i'm Macedonia and Epirus.
Edhum Pasha, the Turkish commander
in-chief, now has at his disposal about
$50. 900 fighting men and 300 krupp guns.
He also has AN ample supply of anfnu-
milton, fair cominissariat, as Turkish
cOmmissariats go, and his medical stall
and hospital corps are in satisfying con
dition. All the strategic points on the
frontier are defended by newly thrown
up earth works and other defenses and
are supplied with powerful batteries OF
artillery. To attack this line of defense
IL is understood the Greeks cannot muster
more than 90, 600 men, mostly irregulars,
although some estimates here have IL that
the Greek may be able 10 muster 80, Ot0
In ALL counting the hastily armed peas
antry and the recruits and rough reserves,
which have been pushing toward the
frontier for "A month past. This force is
known 20 be weak in cavalry and espec-
tally weak in artillery, in which arms the
Turks are overwhelmingly strong. Ii is
true that the Greeks are animated by "a
war-liko enthusiasm rarely before wit
messed, but war-like enthusiasm, according
10 the military experts here, can hardly
prevail against big battaions and heavy
IL is that the Turkish authorities are
calmly awaiting the outbreak of war, if
war is to come, confident that every step
possible has been taken to meet the
emergency
As to the Cretan situation proper it is
understood that the admirals in command
of the foreign fleet in Cretan waters are
of the opinion that as Greece has virtually
completed her war preparations on the
frontier Of Thessally blockade of the
principal Greek ports would be useless,
thus bearing out the forecasts previously
made In these dispatches that the refusal
of Great Britain TO take active part in
the blockade of Greece might lead TO the
collapse OF that scheme. Any further at
tempt To coerco Greece would beyond
doubt tend To further incense and excite
the Greek populace and absolutely moth
ing else but war would satisfy them.
Under these circumstances, all of the
efforts of the Ambassadors of the powers
here are now being directed toward pre-
vailing upon the Turkish government TO
advise the Sultan TO consent TO the with
drawal of the Turkish troops from Crete
as another sop to Greece and as another
attempt 10 prevent war And i'm addition
the ambassadors are cndeavoring TO pre-
vail upon both Greece and Turkey To
agree To the establishment of "a neutral
zone by the opposing Turks and Greeks
on the two frontiers
The am hassadors have made strong repre-
scntations TO the Porte in favor of permit
ting the immediate departure of those
Mussulmans in Crete who have expressed
the desire Co emigrate. This will probably
be agreed to- But the Withdrawal of the
Turkish troops is another matter and one
to which the sultan has not yet shown
any disposition TO submit To. However
war may yet be Hverted although IT must
be admitted that the situation Is very
delicate one and Ii will require great tact
TO attempt 10 solve the problem without
bloOdshed.
The Austrian government upon the
presentations OF the Porte, has prohibited
the expectation from Trieste OF Z million
cartridges which were in course of ship
ment to Greece The representatives of
Greece have protested against this action
on the part of the Austrian government
claiming it is illegal and is arbitrary as no
state Of war exists Ii IL not likely that
the protest will have any effect. The work
of preparing for the defense Of Salonica.
l. now said To have been completed and
all danger OF an attack upon this Turkish
base of supplies Is believed To have passed
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