The San Francisco call., 1897-02-25
FLAMES RAVAGE
CRETE'S CAPITAL
Governors Palace Burned
and Incendiarism
Is Rife.
Last Vestige of the Turkish
Governments Machinery
Destroyed.
Queen Olga Proudly Declines an Honor
Conferred by the Russian
Government.

News will tomorrow publish a dispatch
from Canea giving vivid description of
the burning of the Governors palace there
to-day.
Vice-AdiraI Canevare of the Italian
squadron, who is in command of the
united naval forces in Cretan waters, re-
sided IN the palace, which was guarded by
q strong force of Italian sailors. The
energetic efforts of the British ma
rines, who form q part of the
foreign force occupying the town,
and which were continued for three hours,
alone saved the ihickly populated dis
trtcts in which the palace was located
from destruction. Detachments of sailors
from the warships in the harbor were
landed, and rendered valuable aid IN
fighting the flames.
The fire destroyed the last vestige OF the
machinery OF the Turkish Government.
All of the records were consumed as well
as contracts and financial, legal and
municipal documents. While the
palace was burning the Moslem
rabble set fire to several houses
in the towns and suburbs. The Monte
negrln police. who patroIled the town, ex-
tinguished these fires when it was pos
sib!e for them to do so, but three large
houses belonging to Christian merchants,
who were absent, were destroyed.
The Moslems are much excited, and
more incendiarism is expected. In the
event of the setting on fire of several
buildings in different sections at the same
lime the force of sailors and marines now
in the town would be insufficient to cope
with the fires.
The representatives of the powers, it is
stated, will not attempt to fulfill their en-
Caeements to preserve the safety of the
town. They will protect the Turks and
Turkish property, and will neglect the
Christians and their belongings.
No strong efforts we're made to save the
three houses before mentioned, and in
view OF this apathy it would not be sur
prising if the Moslems should begin a
course of wholesale destruction of the
property of absentees.
A dispatch from Canea to news agency
here says the situation in that town causes
much anxiety. The Mussulman popuIece
are armed and greatly excited. Turks
have been parading the streets, exhibiting
their indignation in various ways.
The situation at SeIino, the dispatch
says, is serious. The Benghazi Arabs
threaten to burn the entire town. The
suggestion of the Consuls that a mixed
force be landed in order to allow the
besieged Moslems to retreat has not been
adopted, the foreign admirals having de-
cided 10 contine their action to the send
ing of warships to exercise a moral IN
huence upon the contending parties,
whom it seems, however, there is little
hope of reconciIing.
The Daily News will publish to-mor-
row q dispatch from its correspond
ent at Vienna saying it is reported
that Queen Olga OF Greece, hav-
ing been appointed an honorary admiral
of he Russian feet, has returned the in
sigma of the position to ST. Petersburg,
declaring that she is unable to hold the
rank since the Russian feet has fired upon
Greek subjects and orthodox Christians
The Times tomorrow will print DIS
patch from Constantinople saying that
Emperor William of Germany has again
wired to the Sultan assurances of his
friendship and support.
The Daily News tomorrow will say that
the statement to be made in Parliament
by Lord Salisbury and Mr.. Balfour regard
ing the Cretan situation are to the effect
bury's proposals and have decided to lib
crate Crete from direct Turk ish rule
The Standard tomorrow will publish
an Athens dispach saying it is stated
there upon authority that the Greek Gov
ernment rejects the proposals OF the
powers to establish autonomy in Crete and
proposes TO persevere in the policy adopted
bv King George. The dispatch also saws
that the official report of :he engagement
which took place outside of Canea last
Friday states that so Greeks were killed
and 80 captured.
Tomorrow the Times VIII pub ish dis
patch from Canea confirming the report
OF the dangerous situation which exists in
the town, owing to the lack of proper
control.
There is a strong suspicion, the dis
patch says, that the fire that destroyed
the Governors palace was of incendiary
origin. Bands daily make excursions to
the Haiepa district for the purpose of
looting the houses of Christians which
have been destroyed.
A report has been received from the
commander of The British warship lying
off Titia, at the eastern extremity of the
island OF Crete, saying that the report of
a massacre of Moslems at that place is
utterly untrue.
The Standard tomorrow will publish
a Constantinople dispatch saying it
is reported that at the council
held at the Yildiz Palace yester-
day it was decided 10 make prepara-
tions for the eventual advance upon
Athens of three columns comprising six
divisions of infantry. A note to the Greek
Government would precede the advance.
demanding the evacuation of Crete within
certain period and threatening that if this
demand was not complied with that the
Ottoman troops would cross the frontier.
The dispatch also says that the Minister
OF Marine has pledged his word that he
would have thirteen warships ready for
action within week.
Military preparations.gare being pushed
with unparalleled activity. Reports from
various sources state that energetic pref
rAtions are being carried on day and night.
although many of the instructions issued
are Impossible of execution and an ugly
feeling of unrest prevails.
an INCIDENT OF THE FIRE.
H{ok Nao~L,t P-art.,ssof.d IA, ~. xS