Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-22
Only Austria Accepts Kaiser's Proposal to
Blockade Piraeus.
.oDHESS PRESENTED TO KING GEORGE
Enthusiastic Demonstration of Forty Thou
sand Greeks in Athens.
PROCLAIM THEIR FRIENDSHIP TO CRETE
Prince on the Turkish
Frontier - Greek Soldiers Land
Near Kissoto-Turkish Troops
EnrOutc to Cnncn.

CANEA, Island of Crete, Feb. PA fusil-
Jade having continued since morning, despite
the warnings Of the foreign admirals, the
united squadrons this evening bombarded
the insurgent camp outside of Canea.
The foreign admirals this afternoon warned
Colonel Vassos, commander OF the Greek
forces on the island of Crete, of their inten-
tion to attack his troops with four men-ot-
war anchored off his camp, Aghaio Theodoroi'
should he attempt to advance to the interior
of the island.
British torpedo boats have captured and
brought to this port the small Greek steamer
LAUREN, which was carrying victuals am
tents for the insurgents. The forts fired two
rounds of blank cartridges yesterday at the
Greek gunboat Peneus. A Turkish frigate
also discharged blank shots at the Greeks.
The Greek gunboat Peneus quickly replied
to the blank shots fired by the Turkish
frigate. The frigate then withdrew from
the scene of operations.
The German flag was hoisted on the ram
parts here on the arrival of the cruiser
Kaiserin Augusta.
An engagement occurred this evening just
above the village of Mournies, between the
insurgents and a Turkish band. AT 4:45
". III. III lloul StIl At hhipAA7At - ''S -
tackled the Turkish garrison at Haleppa, the
Joint fleet bombarded the Cretans for twenty
five minutes. The insurgents fled, taking
their flag with them.
LONDON, Feb. 21.-A dispatch to the
Times from Canea says: King George or
dered Colonel Vassos to offer safe conduct
to Canea for all Turkish garrisons besieged
by Christians. Colonel Vassos made the
offer to Vourklies garrison. The troops
at the garrison refused to leave without
arms. and the fertilization, therefore, was
bombarded. But for the large supplies Of
provisions which the powers allowed to be
landed for the. Greeks and the insurgents at
Platania and Akrotisi, their position would
have been desperate. They can now afford
to ignore the threat of the foreign admirals
to stop further supplies If hostilities are
resumed.
dispatch to the Daily Mail from Berlin
says: The queen of Greece recently seat q
message to the car requesting his support
for the national cause of Greece. The king
also wired the car. stating that he would
declare war on Turkey and himself lead the
army before he would yield to European
coercion. Princess Marie of Greece also tele-
graphed her fance, Grand Duke George of
Russia, that the action of the powers against
Greece was Infamous.
Another dispatch says: The Norddeutsche.
Allgemelne Zeitung asserts that the Turkish
cabinet last week decided to declare war on
Greece. but the sultan vetoed the decision on
account Of the finances of Turkey.
A dispatch to the Times from Athens says:
The Greek government has decided to send
a part of the fleet on Il cruise along the
Sporades islands, while another portion of
the fleet will proceed ~ AmbraCia to pre-
vent the Turks attacking the Greek frontier
from Prevesa. Troops from all parts Of
Greece are h%urrying to the Turkish frontier.
The call for naval volunteers has been more
than amply answered. The policy of Greece
viii be defensive by land, but aggressive by
sea.
A dispatch to the Chronicle from Athens
says: The night that Fort VOudies fell
Colonel Vassos learned that the Turkish gar
rison from Canea was advancing to succor
tho defeated Turks. He dispatched n body
Of insurgents to meet them and speedily
followed himself with his troops. In the
plain off Livadin 1900 Turks and
$500 Turkish Cretans engaged in
battle. The Cretan insurgents and Greeks
deployed and after ninety minutes fighting
swept the plain, forcing the Turks to take
refuge in Canea. Colonel Vassos burned
the fortified barracks at Livadia and the
Aghalo block house. The Insurgents lost four
lieutenants killed and twenty officers and
p men wounded. The Turkish losses are UNI
known. In obedience to the orders of the
king OF Greece Colonel Vassos recalled the
troops to Platania.
DESCRIPTION OF BATTLE.
A dispatch to the Daily News from Canea,
dated Sunday, says: Smart firing was
heard today in the hills to the eastward.
The reply Of the Turks was feeble and 1t
was obvious that they must abandon their
A9ANl ~ INV VI NhNAAAN "
the outer lines was ludicrous. The chief
Cretan position was a hamlet on a ridge
OF hills, 1000 yards from the flagship. At
4:3O o'clock this afternoon signals were
made to her majesty's steamship Dryad,
her majesty's steamship Courier and her
majesty's steamship Revenge, together with
one Italian, one German and one Russian
ship, to open fire on the Cretan position,
where the Greek flag was hoisted some days
ago. The British ships fired forty and the
foreign ships thirty shells at the village
and ruined the house held by the Cretans.
The flag was soon lowered and the order
Cease fire. sounded after ten minutes.
Thereupon the flag was rehoisted. The rocks
around were crowded with Cretans. The
Turks, encouraged by the fleet, now opened
a lively fusillade while the Cretans were
removing the wounded. The Cretans had
not replied during the whole performance.
1t was a somewhat melancholy and degrad-
ing speCtacia.
Describing the fighting at Fort Youklies.
the Canea correspondent Of the Daily Mail
says: The Cretans suffered heavily by their
own fault. They diaregarded an order to
withhold musketry fire until the work of the
artillery had been completed. They wasted
10000 cartridges and lost thirty men, main
tanning a furious and foolish fire, advancing
to within 100 yards Of THE redoubts. while
the Turks fire splendidly, wasting few bullets.
The Cretaps were Obliged to send to Platania
for more ammunition. which arrived on
Thursday night with four guns, The Cretans
at this time surrounding the fort disobeyed
orders and dispersed in search of food, the
Turks p~rohting by the position evacuated by
the Cretans. On Friday morning when the
guns had been placed In position and they
were about to resume bomharding, the troops
were surprised to see the Cretans plant a flag
upon the deserted fort. Thirty-two dead
Turks were found inside the Notifications,
which were blown up by dynamite. The
Greek troops were all young men. Never
before had they been under fire. and they
displayed GOODNESS and courage, The Greeks
took ten Turkish soldiers prisoners.
BERLIN, Feb. 2l.-NOna of the powers
except Austria has accepted the proposal
OF Emperor William to blockade Piraeus.
ATHENS. Feb, 2l.-Over "a, 1000 persons
Participated In a demonstration this after
noon In University square in favor Of the
union Of Crete with Greece. The greatest