Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-12
CREEKS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC
Citizens Of Athens Filled with Joy Over the
Outlook.
CHEER THE FLEET ON LEAVING FOR CRETE
Insurgent Leaders on the Island Meet
ana IL is Reported VIII Estnb-
lish Provisionary
Government. Ina

ATHENS, Feb. 1.-THE despatch OF the tor
pedo 1otilla commanded by Prince George Of
Greece for the island OF Crete has caused
the greatest enthusiasm among the popu-
lace, especially as it is stated that the
prince has resolved to prevent the landing Of
any Turkish troops. 1t develops that 1t was
the king who urged that the hotilla be
sent, and so soon as he had obtained the con-
sent OF Premier Delyanns he personally is
sued the orders In order to give additional
effect to the proposals. When Prince George
embarked salute OF 300 shots was fired by
the crowd ashore a parting sautation,
and the people assembled at midnight at
the palace and gave their majesties an
ovation. The students at the same time
paraded the streets, singing patriotic songs
and cheering for the king and for the
union Of Crete with Greece. The fighting at
Kissamo, where the Mohammedan inhabi-
tants were besieged in their houses for
several days, was desperate Thirty Chris
tans and 100 Mussulmans were killed. and
fighting is reported as still proceeding about
the convent Of Chrysopyghi. near Canea
The insurgent leaders have been assembled
for a conference, and IL is understood that
the constitution and a proyisionary govern
ment will shortly be promulgated.
Herakllon. 1t is asserted that NJ. Dilitroff,
the Bulgarian diplomatic agent, has been
entrusted with specific mission to negoti-
ate an agreement between Bulgaria and
Greece for combined action in Macedonia.
LONDON, Feb. 11.-A dispatch to the
Times from Athens says that the Central
Cretan committee is preparing to transport
arms, ammunition and supplies on great
scale. The first installment, 1t is added,
sailed on Wednesday with 600 armed Gre
tans. The same dispatch states that the de-
parture OF the Greek torpedo fotilla for
the island of Crete was due to the announce
ment that Turkish torpedo boats had left
the Dardaneles and that Turkish troops
had embarked at Salonica for Crete.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE uprising on the
island of Crete is attracting no little at
tention here. Since the massacre of Scio
in 1922 none of the Greek islands has given
the Turkish government as much trouble as
Crete. After many Instructions Crete got
q constitution in 1866 but this did not stop
the Instructions, because the Turkish sub
jects were constantly violating it and Turk
ish officers failed to enforce it, In the
meantime the Christians on the island have
been continually longing for annexation to
Greece and they made frantic application
for this to the powers at the Berlin confer
ence in 1877. Premier Disraeli of England
was not disposed to weaken Turkey at that
time and did not consider the subject seri-
ously So the mutual pickering between
the Turkish authorities and the Christians
has continued. varied by occasional little
wars and massacres.
ATHENS, Feb. 11.--A fresh fotilla of
four torpedo boats is held in readiness to
sail for Crete. and reinforcements OF troops
are being hurriedly dispatched to the from
tiers. The departure of Prince George with
the first torpedo iotilla has aroused the
greatest enthusiasm is the provinces as well
as in the city. Patriotic demonstrations
are taking part In all parts OF Greece. The
chamber has voted 900 decmilers to the
Cretan refugees.