Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-09

Central News from Athens gives a sum mary of the reply to the ultimatum of the Powers which Greece will hand to the diplomats when the time expires in which a reply can be mnde.
 It will recall that Greece in 1896, in difference to the wish of the Powers, used her influence with the Cretans to induce them to accept reforms offered by Turkey.
 It will point out that the continued unsettled state of the island is proof of the futility of the measures of re- form.
 With regard to the autonomy of the island the reply will state that it is for the Cretans to decide whether they will accept it or not.
 It will declare that the evacuation of Crete by Greece is impossible because peace, to restore which Greek troops and warships were sent to the island, re- mains seriously disturbed.
 READY TO GO.
 St. Louis, March S.-Demetrius Janno- poulo, Grecian vice consul in this clty, announces that every able-bodied ma n in the Greek colony here will answer the call of King George.
 Greeks are prepared to go to their re- serve commands at once, as the call has been anticipated and each man has ar ranged his business affairs to respond at once. -
 MT. Jannopoulo is in daily receipt of scores of letters from sympathizers ask ing how they may best serve the cause of the Cretans.
 RESIST TO THE BITTER END. F Canea, March S.-It is believed here that the reply of Greece to the demands of the powers will be a positive refusal to obey, and that a bloody struggle is therefore inevitable unless the powers re- cede from their position. It is known that Col. Vasso, the com mander of the Greek army of occupa- ton, has received instructions from King George to hold all the positions in the island now occupied by the Greek troops, and to prepare to resist to the bit- terend any attempt on the part of any, body to dislodge him.
 Information reached here that the Greek troops are enthusiastic over the determination of their king not to order their withdrawal from the island, and 1t is believed that it would take a far stronger force than their own to dis lodge them from the strategic positions they occupy. The events of the next few days are anxiously awaited.
 THE POWERS TO BE DIPPED.
 Athens, March S.-In view of the fact that the time allowed by the powers for
 
 fleet from Crete is on the eve of expira- ton and that the certainty that the pow CTS will be defied by King George, some of the foreign ministers here have recom- mended that all foreigners in Athens leave the city while they may do so in safety.
 This recommendation has provoked an indignant protest from the Athens news papers which declare that there is not the slightest danger, nor is there likely to be. Foreign residents have been inclined to take the view of the newspapers rath- CT than that of the ministers and few if any. have left the city or made prepara- tions to do so.
 A telegram received today says that a Macedonian leader at the head of 120 men had fight Saturday with a detach- ment of Turkish troops near Grevena, Thessaly. The Macedonians were vic- torious and captured the Turkish posi- ton.
 DIVERGENT LINES or POLICY.
 Berlin, March S.-Differences as to the amount of autonomy to be accorded to Crete follow the divergent lines of poli- cy seen in the early Greco-Cretan nego- tiations. The German and Russian gov ernments propose limited constitutional rights for the Cretans with a large trip ute to the porte and gendarmes, one fourth of which should be Moslem. The governor-general, according to these pow CTS, should be nominated at Constanti- nople under the approval of the powers. The English, French and Italian gov- ernments, on the other hand, propose al- most entire autonomy, the governor general to be elected by the Cre.an gem eIal assembly, which would be elected by something like popular suffrage and have full control of the gendarmerie and other matters relating to the internal order. asaf
 plebisciter on the question of union with Greece was secuted al Berlin, prob ably because 1t was believed that no hon. est plebiscite was possible in Crete. The withdrawal of Turkish troops in sisted on by Lord Salisbury, has not been viewed as absolutely necessary or advis- able here.