The record-union., 1897-03-19
Which Was Carrying Provisions and
Munitions to Crete.
Colonel Vassos Strengthening His
Position at Sphakia, and Showing
No Signs of Evacuating the Island
The Blockade of Crete to Be-
gin Sunday Morning - Gladstone
Arraigns the Powers for Their
Action Regarding the Cretan QueS-
ton.

CANEA, March 1S.-The Austrian
gunboat Zebenico fired upon and sunk,
near Gambia, a Greek vessel loaded
with provisions and munitions intended
for the Greek forces at Crete.
The Zebenico, while watching the
Greek ships, was fired upon by the in
surgents.
The Austrian WarShip replied by
sinking the Greek craft and driving off
the insurgents.
1t is feared that this news will great
ly irritate the populace at Athens and
have an influence IN precipitating the
crisis that the Powers are striving in
every way possible to avert.
There We're sharp engagements be-
tween the Turks and Cretans outside OF
Eetimo this morning.
The official report of the fighting just
| outside of Gambia shows the insurgents
attacked the military Gordon from Ye-
farecha to Yamaro, about four miles OF
Gambia. Reinforcelnents were sent as
fast as needed, until eleven COM
panies of regulars and seven companies
of temporary enrolled gendarmerie had
gone to the front. Altogether 1000 men
were engaged in the conflict, which
lasted six hours. The losses of the in
surgents are unknown.
The fighting on Wednesday outside
Retimo was provoked by the Moham-
medans. Both the insurgents and Mo-
hammedans had five killed and many
wounded.
Fighting was continued to-day at the
village of Monastir.
GREEKS DEMAND WAR.
LONDON, March 1S.-Popular opin-
ion in Greece, says the Times" cor
respondent at Athens, imperatively de-
mands an early declaration of war
with Turkey The idea is that Europe
would then be compelled to adopt a
neutral attitude. 1t is agreed that the
Greek fleet could conquer the islands in
| the Aegean Sea, including Samar, while
the Greek army, assisted by the insur-
gents, could rapidly overrun Macedo-
MIA.
1t is suggested as the conditions in
Crete do not give sufficient pretext for
a declaration of war; more valid eX-
cuse can be found in the refusal of
Turkey to concede to Greece the terri
tory assigned to her at the Berlin con-
vention. The boundary line, as speci-
fled in the Berlin treaty, started at the
mouth of the Kalamo River, opposite
the island of Corfu, and this would
have included in Grecian territory ia
nina and the town of MoezOvo.
But the Powers failed to enforce the
conference, and Greece, despite her
protest, was obliged to accept the pres
ent frontier which was ratified at Con-
stantinople in August, 1881. 1t must
be admitted. says the Times cores
pendent, that Greece has legitimate
grounds of complaint against the great
Powers and Turkey, and it is thought
| by good judges of Greek policy at
| Athens that if the boundary fixed by
the conference We're conceded, Greece
would willingly abandon her preten-
tons in Crete. At present, however,
| the Powers do not seem in a mood to
negotiate.
The Greek Vice Consuls at Retimo
and Gambia have informed the Govern
ment that the telegraph offices refuse
| to transmit their cipher dispatches to
| the Government, or deliver kilograms
sent by the Government. Whatever
| justification there may be for this step
of censorship of press kilograms, which
/ it is reported the Admirals have con-
scented to take at Gambia, it is an omin-
Gus retrograde accompaniment to the
proclamation of autonomous Govern
ment.
| 1t is announced from a Greek source
| that Lord Salisbury has suggested to
the Powers that each should contribute
10000 toward the expense of estab-
! fishing autonomy in Crete.
A dispatch to the Times from Ca
nea says the Admirals have accepted
the British Consul's proposal to amend
| the autonomy proclamation by adding:
while remaining under the suzerainty
of the Sultan. Cretans will be free of
all control of the Porte in any interna-
| tional affairs of the island
PREPARED FOR THE WORST.
| LONDON, March 1S.-The Athens
correspondent of the Daily Chroni-
Gle" declares that Greece has set her
back against the wall and is prepared
! for the worst. The Chronicle" cor
| respondent, who is Henry Norman.
says this opinion sums up the result of
his visit to the frontier, and adds:
THE Greek fleet which 1 visited yes
terday, and whose present whereabouts
are unknown to the foreign legation,
are watching the Turkish torpedo boats
off one of the northern islands l
should advise the German warship Kali
serin Augusta to avoid this fleet, which
is eagerly awaiting her.
PREPARING FOR WAR.
| ATHENS, March 1S.-According to
persistent rumors circulating here Col
| onel Vassos, the commander of the
! Greek army of occupation. has been
| ordered to oppose the landing Of the
| foreign troops now on the way to
Crete. This, however may mean only
a formal opposition as a protest against
the action of the Powers
Advices from Arta on the Greek
t frontier, show that the privations of
the Turks there are so great that some
are deserving to the Greek camp.
| The Turks at Prevesa Epirus are
arming in consequence of a conflict
| provoked by a Greek soldier belonging
| to the garrison at Actium
| The Turkish troops are occupving
several posts on the Servian frontier.
| The batteries at Arta are being con-
structed under the directions and plans
| Of German officers.
| 1t is reported in military circles that
the Russians are about to land troops
! on the coast of Macedonia The news
| that the Servian army reserves are be-
ing modified is causing great anxiey