The herald., 1897-05-19


Athens says: 1t is officia.iy stated tLa
Germany has instructed her ambakss
dor at Cons;antinople to request tn
Porte to grant fortnight's armistic,
which. it is understood. was signed at
o'clock this (Tuesday) evening
A TRUCE BEGINS
/ ATHENS, May 19.--Q a. m.) The com
munication from the Turkish leader tt
the Greek commander at Arta, which
followed the raising of flag of trucs
by the former, ran as follows
"On condition that no Greek soldier
belonging to any arm of the service re-
mains on territory of the Ottoman em-
pire, we have orders that an armistice
shall be concluded on sea and land with
view of arriving at an understanding
(Signed) YUSSUF, Chief of Staff"
The Greek commander telegraphed to
Athens for Instructions and the govern
ment replied: 1--WE authorize you to sus-
pend hostilities in order to discuss the
conditions of an armstlce."
The government in notifying the en-
voys of the powers as to this proposal.
said that as Greece had entrusted her
interests to the powers it was for them
to negotiate the conditions of the un-
derstanding.
A dispatch from Lama tonight says
that during the retreat the vanguard,
including the foreign legion, came into
contact with the Turks, and the Greek
officer, Major Varatassi, commanding
the legion. was mortally wounded.
An Italian officer with the Greeks puts
their killed and wounded at 1000, but this
is probably exaggerated, as the Greek
positions were well protected and the re-
treat began as soon as they became un-
tenable.
1t is believed Edhem Pasha will insist
upon the surrender to him of the passes
over the Othrys mountains before he
consents to an armistice, but save for
small force of Turkish cavalry follow
ing the retreating Greeks at distance
Of 1000 yards the Turks have not at
tempted to attack the Greek rear guard.
The war is virtually ended. The crown
prince headed the retreat and his head
quarters are now established close TO
Devenfourka pass. very narrow gorge
through the Othrys range, about l2O
miles from Lania.
The greatest depression exists at
Athens. There is a complete collapse
Of the high hopes raised by the optimis-
tic dispatches OF Constantine, but as yet
there are no,disorders.
After hosting the flag of truce at Arta
this afternoon deputation of Turkish
officers appeared on the frontier at the
bridge over the river Arta (Arachthos)
to negotiate with Colonel Manos for an
armistice.
SALISBURY TALKS
LONDON, May 1S.-Speaking tonight
at the Junior Constitutional club, Lord
Salisbury touched briefly on the compli-
cations in Southeastern Europe.
The premier said he regretted that po-
litical reasons precluded his saying
much on the subject of foreign affairs.
The armistice which had been declared
was due to pressure exerted by six pow
ers, especially Russia, was an important
step, giving time for reflection and ne
gotiation, but it did not seriously dimin-
sh the difficulties which had to be faced
Neither Turkey nor Greece ought to be
under an illusion as to the state of
feeling in the United Kingdom. He had
mentioned both countries, he said, be-
cause in the dim future no one could
know to which of the two 1t might be-
come necessary to appeal for solu-
ton of calculations generated in the
minds Of those they affected to support.
THE popularity of this strange crisis"
said Lord Salisbury, ''is that the war
cannot be left to work out its natural
results. 1t is impossible that Europe
should allow Christian communities to
fall under the sultan's government. But
it must not be supposed that because
this doctrine throws it's aegis over
Greece, she is therefore to be free from
all penalties attaching to unwise or un-
righteous action.
And in this connection may say that
he sending of an address such as wen:
to Greece by hundred members of the
house of commons ought, in its thought
fulness, to be recorded as disgrace to
the commons. They are guilty of the
blood which has been shed in conse-
luence of the false calculations genera
ted in the minds they affected to sup
port"
Continuing, his lordship referred to the
sympathies of England for Greece as
founded upon classic association liber-
alism in politics and community of re-
ligious conviction as we'll as upon other
but such charges as these,
he said. could not be suffered to guide
the policies of nations, for their policy is
to maintain peace by the strict observ-
ance of information engaPements