The record-union., 1897-02-25
Bengari Arabs Threaten to Burn the
the Whole City.
Great Indignation Among the rlasses
in Great Britain at the Action of
the Government in the Cretan Sit
uatiOn-Denounce the DishonOr to
the Flag by Association With the
Sultan and the Coercion of Greece.

CANEA Qsland of Crete), Feb. "a
The Governors palace, with all its ar
chives, was burned to-day. AS fires
broke out elsewhere in the town at the
same time, it is suspected that incendia-
ries have been at work.
The situation is most grave. Armed
and excited Mussulmans are parading
the streets, and are full of Indignation
at the news from Selinos, where the
Musulmans are beseiged. The Beng
hazi Arabs threaten to burn the whole
of Canea.
While the palace was burning a
strong box containing tt 900 fell into
the ruins and broke open, whereup0n
there was a wild rush of Turkish SOL
diers and Mussulmans ITO secure the
treasure. The foreign marines were
obliged to fire blank cartridges to re-
strain them, and for time a serious
conflict between the Turks and Euro
peans was threatened.
The Admirals are about to issue a
proclamation to all towns and villages
explaining the reason for the presence
Of the foreign fleets in Cretan waters
anu llIlS
The population is so divided in invet-
crate hatred that schemes for reforms
are futile. The best plan, il is argued,
is to permit the Greek troops to occupy
the country and escort the besieged
Mussulmans abroad, for the Mussul-
mans cannot remain in Crete.
The suggestion of the Consuls that a
foreign force be landed at SelinoS to
cover the retreat of the beleaguered
Mussulmans has not been adopted, the
available number of marines being in
sufficient
In view of the large force of insur-
gents, the AdmIrals have decided to
confine their action to the dispatch Of
warships to Selinos.
The attacks of the insurgents con-
tinue at various points. The insurgents
have descended into the plains behind
Convent Chryophigi and set fire to
Musulman houses.
A HARD BLOW TO TURKEY.
LONDON, Feb. PA dispatch to
the Daily News from Canea says:
1t is believed the fire in the palace
was an accident. In any event the
Italians are responsible. The Italian
officer commanding the town since the
naval occupation resided there, with
an ample guard of Italian sailors. No
natives and no gendarmes were there,
SO that the natives, either Christian or
Moslem, cannot be taxed with the dis
aster.
The fire was discovered at o'clock
in the morning in a room in the central
building, next to the bedroom of the
Italian commander. So fierce were the
flames that the commandant was un-
able to dress and was forced to escape
in a blanket Owing to lack of ap-
pliances, it was impossible to extin-
guish the flames. The British marines
We're in the greatest danger, as a fresh
breeze was blowing while they pulled
down buildings in the vicinity. This
occupied three hours, and was a hard
fight against time, but it saved the
town from appalling disaster.
The burning of the palace destroyed
the last vestige of the machinery Of
the Turkish Government. Whatever
may be the future Government, pro-
cess akin to the sponging off a slate
and starting afresh must be resorted
to.
A dispatch to the Daily News"
from Vienna says 1T is reported that
Queen Olga, who was an honorary
Admiral of the Russian fleet, has sent
the insignia back to ST. Petersburg,
declaring she cannot hold rank in a
fleet that fired upon the Greeks.
A dispatch to the Standard" says:
The Cabinet has decided to prepare for
a naI rob Shn
Greece decline to comply with the
Porte's demand and evacuate Crete. A
note to this effect will be sent to
Greece in the near future. The mill
itary preparations have already been
set on foot. 1t is expected the Minister
Of Marine has prepared himself to have
thirteen ships ready in a week from
now.
The Athens correspondent of the
Standard says that he has learned
from a reliable source that Greece will
reject these demands.
Discomfort IN ENGLAND.
LONDON, Feb. 24.-Discontent is
rapidly growing among the masses in
respect to the policy of the Govern
ment toward Crete. The Liberals are
furious and their newspapers are
making violent appeals to the pas
sions of the people.
The Daily hrcnicle" strongly urges
the masses to agitate at all lengths
against the Government, and Jerome
x. Jeromes paper to-day says that
the Marquis of Sa isbury is no English
man; that he is doing the bidding of
that 'pompous blackguard,'' Emperor
William, and accused the Conservative
papers of being owned body and soul'
by capitalists, and indulges in other
language toward them which is al
most unprintable. showing that some
English papers can sin in this respect
more deeply than the American news
papers they so frequently taunt with
this offense. Concluding sentences of
the articles in to-day are:
IF the comfort of Europe must be
broken up to nave done with this dew
lis work, in the name of God let it go
go down and be drowned in its own
blood. Better war from the Rhine to
the Urals than this imfamy should
continue. There has been a concert
of nothing but shrieks of the dying and
tortured
AUSTRIA PREPARING FOR WAR