The herald., 1897-03-26

with dynamite. The whole structure
Is now in flames and the Turkish war
ships are bombarding the insurgents.
The fleets fred ninety shells upon the
insurgents around Malaxa, and some Of
these fell inside the block house. OF the
Turkish garrison, numbering sixty-four,
one escaped to Nerakhourou and 1S
others to Suda. 1t is believed that the
others perished.
A GREAT EVENT
ATHENS, March 25-The news of the
dynamiting of the Malaxa block house
at o'clock tonight, as the elimination
of day of fierce fighting and pro-
longed siege, has made a tremendous
sensation here. 1t is regarded as an
event of far-reaching Importance, both
in its effect upon the Insurgents them
selves and upon the Greek ministers al
this stage of the crisis. 1t is generally
believed in official circles, as well as by
the people at large that the Christians
in Crete are not in the least deferred by
the blockade and not in the least be-
guiled by the appeals of the admirals or
the implied arguments of the autonomy
proclama tions. Advices from Canea as
to the details of the days fighting, show
that the insurgents displayed the most
desperate valor and left the Turkish gar
flight. Evacuation by the Moslems was
followed Immediately by occupation by
the insurgents, who were close upon the
heels of the flying foe. To hold the block
house in the face of rain of shells from
the Turkish warships in Suda bay was
impossible. The commander Of the in
surgents having resolved not to do it,
determined the Moslems should not
and blew the whole structure into frag-
ments with successive heavy charges of
dynamite. At o'clock tonight the long
fought for block house is a mass of burn
ing debris and the flames light up the
blockaded waters Of the bay.
Immediately on receipt of the news.
Delyannis and the minister Of war drove
rapidly together to the royal palace,
where they had an audience with the
king. What happened there can only
be guessed at but one thing is significant
King George and the cabinet have given
| their consent they had withheld for the
last four days to the formal gazetting of
| Crown Prince Constantine as command
erin -chief Of the Greek army in Thes-
| sally and the decree will be published to-
| morrow.
It is understood the crown prince will
not wait for the actual appearance Of
| his commission in print, but will start
for the frontier at o'clock tomorrow
morning.
The departure of the crown prince
with the full approval Of the king and
| the cabinet can have but one meaning.
The Greek government is determined not
to accept the terms offered by the powers
for a peaceful settlement of the Cretan
dif1culties. His presence among the
| troops Is certain to have the most ex-
| hilarating effect upon them, and 1t is
notice to Turkey that If conflict comes
the Greek troops will enter it under the
leadership of their own choice. The step
| thus taken is momentous
| The official prioa denies that the gov
ernment has made any proposal to the
powers respecting Crete beyond its ORR
ginal reply to the identical notes of the
powers. The military preparations go
on increasingly upon large scale. Con-
tracts are being placed abroad for
as other equipments.
The Greek newspapers continue with
, one voice to denounce the proposal that
Prince George should become governor
Of Crete, and it is generally felt that the
temper of the powers is such that this
solution could not now be accepted by
| the government even If the powers
were willing to accept 1t.
The news Of Lord Salisbury's expected
interview with H. Hanotaux has made
a great sensation, and 1t Is regarded as
| the only possible chance of arriving at
a settlement which will avert war.
| Already an agitation has begun for
| the return of the czar's donation for the
benefit of the Cretan refugees. More
| than this, the people now demand that
the clergy shall cease to pray for the
czar. Thousands Of signatures are ap-
pended to a protest by Cretans against
| the blockade.
In THE COMMONS.
| LONDON, March 25;-In the house Of
commons today the parliamentary sec
retary Of foreign affairs, George N. Cur
zon, replying to a question on the SUBJ
| ject Of the Cretan blockade as appli-
cable to British and American vessels
said that both British and American
ships carrying cargoes belonging to
Englishmen and Americans or destined
| for the interior of the island Of Crete
| were Mable to be visited. searched and
the delivery of the cargo prohibited IT,,
| in the opinion of the admirals. such de-
livery was calculated to prolong the dis
orders in Crete.
Mr.. Curzon added that the sanction
under which the admirals were thus act
ing was that of the powers.
Mr.. Davies. conservative, asked If the
United States had consented to have
their ships searched in Cretan waters.
Speaker Gully declined to allow the
question without notice.
Replying to question as to the possi-
BILE withdrawal Of the Turkish troops
from Crete, Mr.. Curzon said that the
British ambassador at Constantinople,
Sir Philip Currie, had been instructed
to lose. no opportunity Of asking the
| withdrawal of Turkish troops from
| Crete, (which, however" Mr.. Curzon ad-
ded, would be greatly facilitated by the
| withdrawal of the Greek forces"
The ma rouis of Salisbury started to-