The record-union., 1897-02-13
A Clash Of Arms Soon Sure to Occur
Between Greece and Turkey,
Unless the Powers Intervene, Which is
Not Likely.
Belief That Greece Will be Given a
Free Hand i'm Crete, and That If
She Succeeds in Annexing That
Island Her Right to Do So Will Not
be Questioned by the Rest of
Europe.

| De questioned Dy the KeSt Ol
Europe.
! ATHENS, Feb. II copyrighted, 1897
by the Associated Press).-The warlike
excitement has increased with the de-
| parture Of troops for the frontier ano
the equipment of additional war ves-
| sells for service in Cretan waters. No
! body seems to doubt that a clash al
| arms Will occur between Greece and
| Turkey unless the Powers intervene
| but it is believed here that Greece viii
! be given free hand in Crete, and that
if she succeeds in annexing that island
| her right to do so will not be questioned
| by the rest of Europe.
| 1t is quite certain that King George
| has not insisted, without consulting
his friends, in sending a torpedo flotilla
into Cretan waters, with instructions
to prevent at all hazards the landing OF
Turkish troops in Crete.
The Porte is understood to have sub
mitted to the Powers to restrain
Greece in this emergency, but nothing
further is known of the policy Turkey
is adopting, though it is reported that a
| large force of Turkish troops is assem-
! bling at Salonika for embarkation to
| Crete; that there is great activity in
military circles on the Turkish from
tier, and that a portion of the Turkish
| fleet is being prepared for active serv
| ice
Advices received here from Canea say
| that Gorgi Berovitch Pasha, the Turk
| iSh Governor of Crete, sought refuge
last night in the Greek Consulate at
| Canea, fearing the anger OF Mussul-
mans and dreading arrest. 1t is under
stood that Berovhch Pasha had previ-
ously rendered his resignation, and that
the Sultan had refused to accept it.
In reply to the request from the
Turkish Minister here, Assim Bey,
made yesterday for an explanation of
the departure of the Greek fiotilla for
Crete, and the issuing of a note to the
Powers stating, in brief, that Greece
cannot remain inactive in view of the
present outr ages upon Christians in
Crete, the Government Of Greece says
that the measures taken are due to a
desire not to discourage the Christians
from occupying Halepa at a moment
when an attack upon that town is
threatened.
The town of Canea is now said to be
tolerably quiet, but from 1000 to 5000
insurgents are near there awaiting re-
Inducements. When the reinforce
ments arrive. it is stated, the insur-
gents Will attack Canea in force
1t is known here that the Turkish Off
Gals in Crete have reported to the
Porte that it is absolutely impossible to
pacify the island without a very large
force of troops. and the occupation of
every town, village and mountain
stronghold in the country The hatred
which has always existed between the
Mussulmans and Christians has been
famed into fever heat by the recent
collisions between the insurgents and
the Turks, and this feeling has been
still further intensified by the procla-
nation Of the independence of Crete
from Turkish rule and its union with
the kingdom of Greece.
Conflicts Of more or less serious ma
ture are reported from many parts of
the island, and Heraklion is said to
have been set on fire ait a number of
points. The foreign fleets have left
Canea for Heraklion, which seems to
confirm the report that il is now the
center of disturbance. Other reports
say that the situation at Retimo is
almost as serious as at Heraklion The
Turks at Retimo refuse to allow the
CHRISTIANS 10 leave the place until a
detachment of 100 Turkish soldiers and
~ Mussulmans, who are held at Amari
as hostages, are released.
The opinion expressed in official cir
cles here is that nothing short of a
landing Of blue jackets and marines
from the foreign fleets will subdue the
insurrection, and it is not believed that
the powers can agree to take this step.
The report that Great Britain will.
If necessary, take the initiative in pre-
venting the Greek war vessels from
actively interfering in Crete is not be-
leVed mere 1t is thought that any ac-
ton which may be taken will be by
Great Britain. Russia and France in
common, but II is confidently reported
tilal THESE powers have decided to al
low greece TO have her own way in
the matter.
The insurgents of Crete, acting in
concert with the foreign Consuls. have
declared Halepa to be neutral territory,
which must not be infringed upon with
out twenty-four hours notice. The
commanders Of the foreign warships
have obtained the promise of the Greek
Admiral that he will give forty hours
notice OF any attack which he may de-
termine to make upon Canea.
WARNING TO GREECE.
NEW YORK. Feb. PA special to
the Herald" from Vienna says:
The Vienna Cabinet has addressed a
most serious warning to Greece 1t is
further learned from exclusive sources
that the powers have informed Turkey
that they cannot force Greece to with
draw her fleet, but will leave Turkey a
free hand.
Anarchy Is reigning in Athens. The
Ministry is only temporarily saved by
embarking in mad enterprise Eng
land is accused of secretly backing
Greece. to force Russia's hand.
All the evening papers condemn in
the strongest terms Greece's action.
Even the ultra-liberal 'Tageblatt"
says:
If King George is deaf to earnest
remonstrances, his impotency must be
drastically brought home to him.
The "Neue F'reie Presse' warns
Greece that, if provoked, Turkey would