The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-17
TEN MILLION POUNDS INDEMNITY
is ANOTHER.
Powers Will Never Consent to Change OF
Boundary Line-Even Germany Keso.
lutte on That Point-Grave Problem
Confronts Europe-Conference of
Nations May Have to Be Called
Attempt VIII Be Made 10 Obtain Nrodi.
Powers Will Never Consent
fication Of suItan's Terms

| Constantinople, May 16.-The Porte
has replied officially to the note of the
powers and declined to agree to an
armistice until the following conditions
are accepted:
The annexation of Thessaly, an indem-
nifty of II, 1000, 900 pounds (Turkish), and
| the abolition of the capitulations. The
| Porte proposes that plenipotenotiaries of
the powers should meet at Pharsalos to
discuss the terms of peace and declares
| that if these conditions are declined the
Turkish army will continue to advance.
The demand for the annexation of
Thessaly is based pom the fact that the
province was originally ceded to Greece
on the advice of the powers with the OBJ
jeet of ending brigandage and incursions
into Ottoman territory, the Porte believ-
ing at the time that the cessation would
attain these objects; but the recent incur
sions of Greek bands and the events i'm
mediately preceding the war have proved
Ito the contrary. This is the substan ce of
the reply. The ambassadors met today
to consider the Porte's answer, which
| lyu2
1t is believed that representations will be
made to the Sultan personally to induce
a modification of these terms; but it is
foreseen that this will be very difficult
owing to the attitude of the powerful
old Turkish war party.
If the Porte should prove obdurate a
European conference is not improbable,
although at present Russia is opposed to
such a step.
1t is regarded as quite certain that the
powers will not consent to a retrocessi on
of Thessaly. Even Germany is be-
lieved to be resolute on this point, be-
cause it would involve violation of the
Berlin treaty and imperil the peace of
the Balkans.
Altogether the reply of the Porte has
caused the greatest surprise. 1t appears
that during the discussion of the note
from the powers by the counsel of the
Sultan's ministers, news reached the
council that 5000 Greeks had landed at
Palona and were marching Johanna with
the intention of cooperating with other
forces from Arta. This caused a bad i'm
preston among the ministers.
News of More Fighting.
Constantinople, May 16.-The council
of ministers met again today. The Sui
tan has ordered distribution of troops
at various points along the Salonica
railway. Official dispatches have been
received from the commandant at Janina
who says that division of the Greek
forces approaching the town by "a narrow
gorge from the direction of Gremenitza
| charged the heights of Griobro and Kobo-
maria, but suffered heavily, losing 200
killed; while, on the other side, the Greeks
were driven back upon Paskenpru
| (Parskevia,) the commandant states also
| that fighting has occurred at Kumuzades
No further details are given except that
all these battles lasted until evening and
that the imperial troops retained their
position, with the probability that the
Greeks will be reinforced and the fight
| ing renewed on the morrow. No state
ment is made as to the Turkish losses.
The Turkish commandment at L uros
telegraphs under yesterdays date as fol-
lows. Liz OtlCOlIlc VI IL ueSpeTdUG Dat
tie lasting two days, against force of
900 Greeks, is that the latter have
abandoned the position on the heights
they had previously captured and have
withdrawn to the olive groves of Ger
| menitza.'
Wants Extradition Treaty, Too.
London, May IA despatch to the
Daily Mail from Constantinople say S
that the Porte's reply demands in its con
Guiding paragraph an extradition treaty
with Greece and that the ports of Volo
and Prevesa be kept open for vessels car
rying food and supplies to the Turkish
| troops.
Situation at Domokos.
| Larissa, May 15.-Edhem Pasha's plans
for the capture of Domokos are being
rapidly perfected. Reinforcements are
arriving and all the Greek positions are
] carefully watched