Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-14
PREPARING FOR WAR,
GREAT BRITAIN ALLEGED TO HAVE:
BEGUN TRAINING.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY SHOWN.
BELIEF SPREADING THAT THERE.
WILL BE NO CONFLICT.
Sympathy for Greece Cooling Off
Blockade of Greece by the Pow
crs Expected to Begin To-
morrOw-Turks PilIag-
ing in Crete.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY SHOWN

London, March H.-I.loyd's says that for
some days past there has been a belief in
well informed high official circles tina,
secret and rapid detailed preparations are
being made by Great Britain for a sudden
declaration of hostilities. At the horse
guards for some days past the officials
have been engaged in preparing the details
of every battalion which could be called
upon at moments notice for active for
eign service. While the subordinates pro-
fess ignorance to the reasons for this.
it is undoubtedly true that the chiefs yes
terday had tables prepared showing the
exact number of men available for foreign
service within twenty-four hours. In
quiry at Aldershot showed there has been
unsual activity. AT Connaught, many Sc
cret consultations of chief officers have
beer held from early in the morning until
late at night. From Colchester. similar
statements have been received. At the
horse guards. the arrangements for the
Easter volunteer maneuvers usually COM
pleted now, have been practically ignored.
English Look for No War.
The Cretan question is still absorbing the
attention of Europe and the newspapers
here are full of speculation from all the
capitals as TO the next move of the pow
ers All kinds of so-ca!led semi-official
statements are afioat, and many of them
are undoubtedly ballons dessal, launched
by the various governments in order to
test tho drift of popular and ministerial
feeling in the matter. One idea, however.
is gaining ground-that there will be no
war and that Greece must climb down.
An indication of this is shown in state
ment of NJ. Zaim, president of the Greek
chamber. teleSraphed here to-day, in which
he SAYS he is personally disposed to accept
the proposal of autonomy for the Island of
Crete as a step toward its annexation to
Greece.
The fact is that in Europe. even among
the people who at first supported the
Greeks when they thought their object was
the freedom of the Cretans, is now tiring.
as it is seen that the sole aim of the
Greeks, apparently, is annexation. The
news of Commodore Reincks periidy in not
communicating to the insurgents the re-
monstrances and demands of the powers,
as well as their proposition to grant auto
nomy to the island, has been Il severe
blow at the cause of Greece, while Il letter
from w. ]. Stillman, formerly United
States consul at Canea. to the Times. has
thrown further unpleasant light upon the
Greek methods
Ex-ConsuI Stirmnn's story.
Mr. Stillman says that at the end of the
long revolt of 1S66-ee, the Cretans obtained
concessions which afforded most substan-
tial satisfaction. including complete au-
tonomy. Mr.. Stillman, as United States
consul at Canea, was the intermediary be-
tween the insurgents and the grand viz
iers At that moment the Greek govern
ment stopped the supplies of food and pow
der, which largely came from the foreign
Cretan committees, and ostentatiously
sent to Crete band of volunteers. COM
manded by Chief Petropoulakis, friend of
the then Greek premier. This chief. un-
opposed by the Turks took command of all
the insurgent forces and. without firing n
shot, yielded the inland to the Turks. not
even stipulating that amnesty should be
granted to the chiefs. and the revolt was
suppressed iii the moment of its supreme
triumph by its Athenian friends.
Mr. Stillman adds that he can give all
the details of this infamous transaction
from personal participation in every phase
thereof.
The foregoing shows it is the policy of
the king of Greece and of large part OF
the Atherian statesmen to refuse any set
tlement of the Cretan question except an
nexation to Greece.
Greek Enthusiasm Overdrawn.
The story cabled here from New York of
the Greeks drawing back from sailing on
the Sarnia has been widely printed here
and, coupled with the news from Athens
that thousands of reservists who were sup
posed to be crazy to meet the Turks have
failed to respond TO the call to arms, has
created an unfavorable impression. In ad-
dition the tales of tremendous enthusiasm
elsewhere in Greece are said to have been
grossly exaggerated. There is plenty of
noise in the streets, chiefly from the for
eign volunteers; but the government is
meeting with veyy serious difficulty in the
mobilization of the Greek recruits. The
foreign volunteers are Il motley crew. every
province being represented by different
dress. Walking in the streets of Athens
are seen Albanians and Macedonians in
kits, TheSsalian peasants and Aegean
islanders in baggy Turkish trousers, and
Cretans in sort of brigand costume. with
tawny. naked legs thrust into tight-ftting
sea boots. Most of them are sent to the
frontier as they are, owing to the lack of
uniforms.
There is little doubt that Greece is dis
appointed at the attitude of the Balkan
states, which have apparently decided to
sit on the fence for 4 while.
According to one authority. Russian in
fuence has been brought to bear on Sofia