The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-05
.FETB DAY OF HELLAS
Great Preparations to Cele-..
bTate Grecian Indepen-
denCe Tomorrow.
CAN THEY WHIP THE TURKS2
Sultan's Troops Well Disciplined
and Commanded Powers in q
Tangle Again.
[By cable to the Associated Press. j

ations fer the celebration tomorrow OF
tho anniversary of the declaration of
Greek independence in 1872 have been
completed.
An important public meeting will be
held here to protest against the action
of the powers towards Greece and pledg-
ing support to the Greek Government IN
any action it may think fit to take IN
the premises.
In this connection there has been a be-
lief that the celebration of tomorrow
would be followed by a declaration of war
against Turkey. This feeling, however,
is not general.
Tuesday in Greece is regarded as an
great Importance and for this more than
for other reasons, political or military,
it is hoped that the independence cele-
bration will pass off without the frontier
Incidents which are likely to precipitate
the struggle for which Greece has been
preparing for the past two months.
Then again, although this week is heli
to be a fateful one for Greece, the orders
OF Prince Constantine, the Crown Prince
forces in Thessaly, are most strict, that
anything in the shape OF demonstration
in the direction of the Turkish frontier
is not to be s. ared.
The soldiers and armed PEASANTS how>
ever, are in no mood to be disturbed, and
nobody would be astonished to hear OF
an aggressive movement at least upon
the part of the Greek irreguaars.
The Turkish Commander -in-C Chief, Ed
hem Pasha, Is fully alive to the difficulty
and dangers of the situation, and has
already strengthened the frontier outposts
besides taking other means to meet any
contingency which may arise. In short,
if an outbreak occurs, the Turks will be
found fully prepared to meet it.
Fifty Thousand Turkish troops at a few
hours notice can be sent across the
Greek frontier, and, according to un-
biassed military experts, the Turkish flag
might be flying over Larissa few days
later
The Greeks, while animated by fierce
enthusiasm and desire for war, are not
nearly so we'll disciplined as the Turkish
troops and the German officers assisting
Edham Passha in the campaign prepara.-
tons anticipate little difficulty in winning
the first battle.
It is stated today that the Queen Cd
Greece has decided to start Immediately
fer Thessaly in order to superintend, with
her daug ghter-in-law, the Crown Princess
Sophia, the field nurses attached to the
Greek ambulance corps.
The next actual step anticipated in the
Eastern game is the proclamation by the
Adnirals of the foreign fleets of the
blockade of the Gulf of Athens.
This was to have occurred today; but
I'D to this morning there was no signs
warships of the Powers, and rr1nor has
it that hitch has occurred at the last
moment. +
This mitch may also have influence in
delaying the outbreak of hostilities, for
nobody here seems to doubt that the
blockade of the Gulf of Athens would be
followed if not preceded by a declaration
of war against Turkey.
1t is held that when 1t becomes defin-
ftely known that the blockade is to be an
actuality, and not the empty threat it
has turned out to be up. to the present,
Greece has no choice but to declare war;
Which. 1t is calculated, would checkmats
the blockade or openly side with Tur-
key in a war against Greece. IN this, it
is understood, the governments of Great
Britain, France and Italy at least would
not be supported by the people Of those
countries and further complications would
enSue.
AS TO the direct negotiations between
Greco and Turkey looking to a settlement
of the Cretan difficulty, they are not
likely to amount to much, as at least one
powers Is opposed to such an understand
sent by the Turkish Government to the
Government of Greece, demanding the
withdrawal Of the Greek troops from the
island of Crete and holding Greece re-
sponsible for the consequences of her
refusal to do so is in the nature of an
ultimatum and clearly indicates that the
direct negotiations referred to. if they
ever existed, are not making any pro-
gress.
The main question to be solved is, where
docs Russia stand? According to one lept
of political experts, the sending of the
Turkish note, or ultinlatum to Greece
shows that Turkey has the support tri
Russia in this crisis. But, another view
of the situation is that Russia, while pre-
tending to be the friend of Turkey fs
really only posing as such in order sress te ,r
plunge Turkey into war which may lead
to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Ottoman
Empira Russian occupation of CONSTANT
nople, the dream of the Czars since Peter
large slices Of Atsatic Turkey to Russia
with corresponding increases of the terri
tory at the expense of the powers cst
Europe
Be that as it may, the only reply that
Greece can make TO the Turkish note is
to refuse to withdraw her troops from
Crete. Then Turkey and not Greece.
might be compelled to declare war.
Thus examining the situation from
either point of view, it is difficult to sea
how war can now be avoided, although
the strongest efforts are still being made
in certain circles to prevent an outbreak
of hostilities, or to delay them long
enough to reduce Greece to a state n
financial weakness which will make her
succuTlb. against her wishes. to the viii
of the Powers, who really wish to Dre,-
vent a confiagration.
Numbers of correspondents of English
newspapers have arrived here and AT
Salonica and others are at Larissa. or n
Elassona. These men are the tried and
trusted war correspondents whose al
vent on any scene usually means that ain
outbreak of war is regarded as almost
certain The English correspondents Who
landed at saionica We're provided with
letters from the Marquis of Salisburyis
secretary: but, while they have been at.-
corded every facility they have not been
allowed to inspect the Turkish fortincss-
tions.
a despatch from the representative c,f
the Associated Press at Elassona, the
Turkish headquarters, says that the rts-
port that the Greeks intended to mount
twenty cannon On an unoccupied podnt St
three miles distant from Elassona led
H,dhefn Pasha to order the Turkish Off
GERS in that vicinity to fire upon the
Greeks at the first sign Of such an all
tempt. Nothing happened; but the iri-
cident shows the infiannlable condition t5
/ i ,tsf,s- aaE