The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-12
WAR NOW INEVITABLE.
Formal Declaration Of War Expect
cd at any Hour.
GREEKS INVASION OF TURKEY,

AlProminent Greek Declares That His
Country Is Determined Upon secur.
ELng Independence for the Subjugated
Population of Asia Minor.
Athens, April 12.-Accounts are very
conflicting as to what really happened
last Friday when the frontier was
crossed by the insurgents. A. special
correspondent of the Associated Press
went to Larissa Saturday evening and
asceFtains that the invaders numbered
upward of 5000. Among them were
Ahilcare Ceipriani and his Italian vol
unteers. The entire force was under
the command of three ex-officers of
the Greek army, KapsalopoulaS My
lanos and Ziepetros, and four Mace
DOMAIN chiefs, Zermas. Davelis, Vrakas
and Vrantio.
| The redezvouS was at Koniskos, a
Village near Kalabakas. The men were
| all fully armed and wore the national
costume, their black fur caps bearing
the badge and initials of the Ethnke
Hetaira embroidered in blue and white,
with the words En- Tonic Nika" cross
ing the initials in black
| On Friday monk from Mount Athos
assisted by his abbot and two deacons
held a religious service at Koniskas, at
which all members of the invading
body partook of the sacrament and reg
istered the oath of the order Liberty
or Death"
During Friday night, following the
service, the frontier was crossed, the
force moving in the direction of Sciluik.
While this movement was in progress
a second band, the number of which
is as yet unknown, had a rendezvous
at Nezeros, about 35 kilometers north
of Larissa and near the coast. This
band was similarly equipped, had a
similar mission, and took the same
oath. 1t was commanded by the Mace
donian chief, Sinsinikos. 1t crossed the
frontier on Thursday night, marching
on Karya.
As everywhere in the vale of Tempe.
In this portion of the frontier the roads
and bridges are in condition of thor
ough repair Yesterday the roar of mil
itary could be plainly heard at Lar
issa from the din of Karya, where
Sinsinikos is evidently forcing matters.
General Maliris and his staff, with
some knowledge of the movements
afoot which they We're unwilling to
impart, left Saturday for Tyrnavos the
most important Greek position near
Elassona. Four batteries of reinforce
ments followed yesterday for the same
point. At headquarters they declare
that nothing is known as to the raid
and will say nothing as to the prob
able character of the raiders. However,
some additional light has been thrown
on the subject by an interview between
the representative of the Associated
Press and prominent Greek, who Is
evidently in close touch with the league
and its plans. The Greek said:
'The movement of these bands Is all
in accordance with clearly defined
program. Fer years thousands of
Greeks, even little children, on receiv-
ing a shilling have been in the habit
Of putting half of it into a national
box in the cause of Pan Helenism. For
many months it has been the plan of
the league to stir up all the Pan
Hellenic Deaole by means of armed
bands Now that a great moment has
come in Greek history, we have seized
upon 1t. Our aim at present is to get
behind the Turkish lines and to stir
up all our brethren.
Whether. or not Europe insists on
the integrity of Turkey, Greece is not
animated by selfish views, or with any
desire for annexing territory to the
kingdom. She demands not only true
and complete independence of heroic
Crete, but the same independence for
Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace. She de-
ta1n Il. ipin Ia, fHp oil ha ,l,tt
gated population of Asia Minor. There
fore, Greece will face any danger in |
order to reach that end"
Stringent orders have been issued
against Irregular fighting, and the pen
atty of death will be imposed for any
infractiOn. The general impression here
is that war viii be proclaimed today or
tomorrow. The position of affairs is
now extremely critical Although the
Turkish army has not yet assumed the
offensive orders to that effect from the
sultan are expected at any moment.
All classes of the troops are full of
war enthusiasm.
The Athens newspapers reflect the
popular enthusiasm, and contain high
ly oDtinlistic forecasts of the progress
of the band in Macedonia. where it's
is expected TO exert a magical
influence on the Christian population
and to be Il signal for a general GD-
rising Tho former exploits of the fG-
NOUS insurgent leaders accompanying
the expedition afford, it is. believed a
guaranty of splendid success in the
future. One newspaper says that the
die Is now cast. that successful be-
ginning has been made. that II is all |
over with diplomacy, negotiations and
identical notes or blockades. and that
the eloquent voice of the rifle has
spoken at last. A telegram from Arta
says that Greek bands are crossing the
frontier at various points, and that
var seems inevitable.