The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-19

frontier are regarded in the light Of pre-
liminary movements, designed to secure
strategic position, but not constituting
war as contemplated by a formal declara-
tlon OF war Until this declaration is
made the United States Government is
not likely to give official recognition to
the existing state of affairs by an an
nouheement of neutrality or such other
step as the authorities may regard as
ests.
The conflict continues to be the alb
sorbing topic in official and dipiomatic
quarters here. 1t is the strong belief
asfncng diplomatics that the actual col
ns1ons which have begun on the border
vii VII compel the European powers to re-
new with greater energy the effort to
avert long and bloody contest, This
move OF the powers is being awaited with
eager interest by those most concerned,
as II Is felt to be the key of the final
outcome. Up to the present time, how
ever, no word has reached officials here
OF any action by the European concert
=, another and belated dispatch from Mr.
Department 1t bears date of Saturday
form Pera, the diplomatic suburb of Con-
stantlnople, and in it Mr.. Terrell con-
nrms the press reports of the initial
Stages OF the breaking out of the hos
tilltles. He says that several parties of
troops from Greece had invaded the Turk
ish province of Macedonia Responsible
lty .; Ior r. tnls movement, however, was de-
tinople, Meanwhile an advance on La
rissa, the Greek headquarters in north
e east GREECE, had been ordered by the
Turkish Government which had recalled
its Minister from Athens.
Inc Greek Minister at Constantinople
w was expecting every hour to be recalled
at at the Tnn tine MI Mr; Terrell's dispatch was
pared to DO all that is necessary for pro-
lection OF American interests, though it
IS not expected that that will be a very
Col NJ ~
mander OF the European squadron con-
slstlng at present of four warships all
IN tne eastern Mediterranean, has been
expecting an outbreak of hostilities and
from time to time has advised the navy
department of the outlook. He is now
under general instructions to look after
a1ter American interests and no ATTEMPT
mas been made or is likely in the immed-
late future to give him precise directions
as to his conduct
The movements of the vessls of the
squadron will be left entirely to his dis
cretion, the department believing that as
ne is at the seat of war; he is better
prepared than anyone here to act to the
best advantage. The first sign that the
Admiral has begun the disposition of his
little squadron to meet the war epoch is
the receipt of a cablegram at the Navy
department o today announcing the arrival
OF the United States cruiser Minneapolis
at Syra. This is an island in the Greek
Archipelago, lying at the foot of the
aegean Sea and at a point almost equally
uis tdiit 1IOiii CIete lWnere war has been
actually going on for weeks, Athens and
the entrance to the Dardanelles. SO that
1t is admirably selected in the judgment
OF the Department officials as place of
observation and a base of action in either
direction where an American warship
may be needed
The officials of both the State and
Navy Departments, however, have little
apprehension of the ill-treatnent of Am
erican citizens in either Turkey or Greece
which is regarded as about the only pos
s1pie cause OF friction now. Possibly at
a later stage in the war, in the event
that the Turks are defeated, there may
be rioting at Constantinople or some of
the larger Turkish cities, but that is
not feared at present.