The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-03-09
WAR PREPARATIONS
In Greece Continue, and the Greek Re-
serves, Numbering e56,bOO Men, Will
BE Modified.


here show that the force of Christians
are investing Heraklion number $4,000
men. The insurgents have stopped all
communication with the town by land,
and it is certain that unless the foreign
warships actively interfere in behalf
of the Moslems the town will shortly
be compelled to surrender.
| The small detachments of sailors
and marines landed from the various
warships still occupy the town, but
without the aid of the fleets they could
make but feeble defense against the
overwhelming numbers in the insurg-
ents The greatest activity is being
displayed in Athens in making prepa.
rations to give battle to the
Turks should they cross the
Greek frontier. The ministry of war
presents most animated scene. Off.
GERS in uniform throng the corridors
and orderlies are constantly being dis
patched in every direction with orders
to different commanders. The tele.
graph wires are constantly busy with
dispatches TO officers in distant places.
The most energetic measures are being
taken for the mobilization Of forces
There is a similar scene of activity
in the ministry of marine where
everything possible is being done to
place the fleet in readiness for any
contingency.
There is no sign any where of the
king or government receding from the
I position they have taken and it is
ominous that in the face of the threat
| of combined Europe the warlike
preparations are being carried on with
feverish activity. The most intense
enthusiasm is everywhere displayed
and the people evince no fear of the
result Of an appeal to arms They
know full well that the Greek army by
itself is no match for the numerically
superior Turkish forces, but they also
know that in the event of war the
whole of southern Europe would
De set on fire. 1t is this that
the powers wish to prevent if
they attempt to use force to compel
Greece to accede to their demands.
There is very strong proba bility that
Greece will apply torch that will
start confiagration, the result of
which no one can foretell. 1t is be-
lieved here that the powers, seeing the
chance of their becoming involved in a
general war, will, owing to their con-
fiicting interests, make haste slowly in
attempting to force the Greeks to with.
draw their support from the Cretan
Christians.
J 1t has been decided that there shall
be a general mobilization of Greeks,
and to this end the two classes of re-
serves that had not been summoned
previously have been called.
The reserve forces alone give total
of 1O4, 500 men, and behind this is what
is called the territorial army, which
numbers upward of 146, 600 men, not
" by any means an insignificant force.
The standing army numbers about 25,-
900 men of all arms.
Ammunition and supplies for the
troops are being supplied as rapidly as
possible, and in few days the whole
available war strength of the nation
will have been prepared for any
eventuality that may occur.
VIENNA March cit is stated here
upon authority that the porte has &C.
copied the settlement of the Cretan
difficulties agreed upon by the powers,
which contemplates the establishment
of an autonomous administration in
Crete the withdrawal of the Greek
troops and feet from the island, and
the subsequent withdrawal of the
Turkish troops, etc.
The same authority states that the
admirals of the foreign war ships are
preparing plans to coerce Greece into
compliance with their demands for her
evacuation of the island in the event
of her failure to do so within the six
days prescribed.
PARIS, March 6.-The Figaro pub.
fishes a report of an interview with M.
Delyannis, prime minister of Greece,
had by the correspondent of the paper
in Athens The Greek premier is quot
ed as saying that the Greek troops
would not, under any circumstances,
be withdrawn from Crete.
. Greece, M. Delyannis said, merely
asked for plebiscite te show that the
inhabitants of the island of Crete are
overwhelmingly in favor of union
with the Greek kingdom. Anyway, he
declared, Greece would prefer to dis
appear from the map of Europe rather
than draw back from the position she
has taken.
ATHENS, March 6.-The cabinet coun-
Gil, which met Thursday evening after
Premier Delyannis' interview with
King George, sat until 1 o'clock Friday
morning. 1t is reported that as re-
suit of the deliberations of the minis.
tiers several important decisions
were reached. According to report
the cabinet determined upon the
action of the Greek fleet on the coast
of Macedonia, with view of aiding
the mobilization of the Macedonian
forces, the guarding of the Macedonian
towns devolving upon the gendarmie
!, and the depot battalions. 1t is esti
| mated that Greece will soon have 1OO,.
900 men under arms, including the re.
serves
The Greek ironclad Spezia and Tiara
have sailed from the Pirasus under
sealed orders
. LONDON. March Elm the house OF