The San Francisco call., 1897-03-04
A GREAT CRISIS
HAS ARRIVED
The Powers Order Greece to
Evacuate Crete in Six
Days.
Many Believe That a Monster
European War Is Inevi.
table Now.
A Demonstration in Athens To-Day
Will Urge the King to Re.
main Inf xible.

| A<O&>DSANs LzNuss AhdiCA NASP>'S~--
from Canea, Crete, says that an engage
ment was fought last evening between
Bashi- Bazouks of two villages and tho
Greeks on the heights of Malaxa, and
| lasted two hours.
| A dispatch from Athens says that the
| representatives of the powers there who
| last evening presented note to the Greek
| Government demanding the evacuation of
| Crete oy Greece now admit that their in
structions from their respective Govern
| ments were to warn Greece in the most
serious terms that the powers had ire
vOcably determined to resort to the most
| forcihle measures of compulsion unless
the Greek fleet and troops were Withdrawn
! in six days.
The dispatch also says that the Greek
commodore. Sachtouris, has started for
Crete on board the torpedo-boat Mikaeli.
The Post tomorrow will publish dis
patch from ConstantInople to news
| agency here, saying that the collective
note from the powers presen ted to the
Porte yesterday mentions the gradual
withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the
| island of Crete, and suggests military
convention between the powers and the
Porte for the settlement of details.
The dispatch also says that negotiations
are proceeding between the powers repre-
sentatives and the Porte regarding the
appointment of governor for Crete, who,
it is said at the Porte, shall be Turkish
| subject.
The Daily Chronicle will tomorrow
publish dispatch from Athens saying
that the contents of the joint note ad-
dressed by the powers to Greece have
caused solemn realization of the critical
moment which has arrived. The palace
square, the dispatch says, is constantly
crowded with groups discussing the situa-
tion. The people are absolutely unan-
imous and everybody seems to have per-
feet confidence in the Kings frmness.
On all sides are heard declarations that If
the King should order the withdrawal of
the Greek troops from Crete Colonel Vas
SOS, who commands the army of occupa-
tion, alone would return and that all the
other officers would join the forces of the
insurgents.
A great demonstration. the dispatch
states, has been arranged for March 4 to
urge the King to remain inhexi BILE in the
stand he has taken. -.
II is recognised here that the situation
with reference to Crete is becoming ex-
| tremely grave and there are many who
believe that affairs have already pro-
gressed so far as to make great European
war in the near future inevitable. The
action of the powers has postponed the
crisis for few days, and it is hoped that
within that time something of more
| peaceful character will take place.
| The note sent to Athens requested
| Greece to withdraw its forces from Crete
within six days. and was accom- panied
with hints that refusal would not be
tolerated.
The general opinion is that Greece will
refuse to do as requested and that when
the time has expired more peremptory
note demanding immediate compliance
will be sent. This it is also believed that
Greece will refuse to notice.
Then if the powers attempt to enforce it
Greece will declare war against Turkey
and will transfer the scene of hostllities to
the borders of the two countries.
What will happen then cannot be pre-
dicted. 1t is known that the connection
between the great powers is of very
slender character. and that but little force
would be needed to break it. Here in
|
in favor of Greece and in favor of the an
nexation of Crete to that country. Should
| a rupture among the powers occur 1t
would not be a surprising matter ii Eng
| land backed up Greece. Should it decide
to do so, it will be in READINGS to give ef-
fectIve help, for work in the various dock
yards is proceeding with feverish rapidity,
and a great fleet of warships will very soon
be ready for business.
| A dispatch from Athens saws that Com
| modore Reinick, commanding the Greek
warship Hydra, who, in reply to de-
mand by the foreign admirals at Canea
that the Greek warships withdraw from
Cretan waters. declared that he would
| only obey the orders of his own Govern
ment, has been recalled for his failure to
fire upon the Turkish warship Faud when
that vessel joined with the foreign war
ships in the bonn bardment of the Cretan
| Christian
A dispatch from Athens to the Central
News says that the Greek Metropolitan
has telegraphed to the Archbishop of
Canterbury invoking the support Of the
Anglican church for the Greek cause.
The Standard will tomorrow publish a
dispatch from Constantinople SAYING that
the Sultan has issued an order directing
that the 1900 troops already modified
be increased to total of ITO 600.
SPEAK Err REED IS OBDURATE.
/