Evening star., 1897-02-19
WHY GREECE TOOK ACTION
t','ss'cres were Begun I'm Crete
Turkish SOIdfers

M'ssacres We're Begun in Crete by
Turkish Soldiers.
In response to a cable message to the
King of Greece, the New York World has
received the following:
ATHENS, Greece, February 1S.-After six
months of waiting, the reforms imposed
upon Turkey by the great powers are not
put into execution. The Turks oppose the
organization of the gendarmerie (con-
stapuiarD. On February 3 the Turkish
troops began the massacres. The Christian
quarters at Canea We're burned. About
l3o,No women and children are refugees
today in Greece. The Cretans in DESPAIR
proclaimed their independence and union
with Greece. The Hellenic governme mt sent
small army to occupy Crete, in order to
restore order and peace. Five great powers
occupy the four towns of Canea Rethymno
Canea and Sitia. All the remainder of the
island is in the possession of the Christians.
The expressions of sympathy from the
great American people, and the Hellenes
resident IN America, are a precious support
to us in the work for the independence of
Crete, and We thank them sincerely.
SKOUSES.
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Greek Flag Lowered.
The Greek flag at Canea was lowered at
the request of the foreign admirals who
have now demanded the withdrawal of the
marine guard from the consulate. The
Greek consul acceded under protest .leclar-
ing that the admirals We're not competent
to deal with the question.
The MuSSulmanS have become excited
and assumed a menacing attitude since the
arrival of the news that one hundred Mus
sulmans have been killed at Sarakinos and
Seiinos. Another expedition of Mussaman
volunteers Is preparing to start for SelinoS.
A dispatch to the London Daily Nail
from Berlin says:
Emperor William has wired the cZar re-
questing personal interview owing TO the
gravity OF Cretan affairs.
The Black sea fleet has steamed for Con-
stantinople, under command of Grand Duke
Alexis
Insursent Plans.
A dispatch to the London Times from
Canea says:
The insurgents have intimated to the
consuls that they propose to attack Halepa
III the near future.
THE insurgents are operating with tie
Greek forces and were observed during the
afternoon "wednesday advancing nearer
the town. The admirals commanding the
foreign men of war threatened to send MA
rineS to force the consulate to remove :he
flag, unless the Greek cons.l complied with
the request of the powers in this particular.
Among the killed at Sarakinos We're twenty
women and sixty-one children"
Mr.. Gladstone, who recently telegraphed
a message from Cannes to the Chronicle
regarding the existing situation, as already
reported by the Associated Press, when
asked for opinion concerning the pro-
posed blockade of the Greek port of Pi-
raeus, again wired the Chronicle, as fol-
lows:
II have no information sufficient for judg-
ing, but / detest the whole idea of using
force in behalf of Turkey, which 1 think
has become an outlaw"
The Athens correspondent of the Chron-
icle declares on what is pronounced abso-
lutte authority that all the reserves will be
called out.
Among other things, the Athens cor
respondent of the Chronicle says: "The
king is to take command of the Greek
forces if the Turks attack the frontier The
secret committee here has several thousand
armed volunteers ready TO enter Macedonia
if Greece is provoked
A dispatch to the Standard from Moscow
says: In the event of certain contingencies
it is already arranged that German troops
are to traverse Russian territory and CO.
operate with the Russian forces in the
Kieff district"
A dispatch to the Daily News from Ca
nea says:
There is confirmati tion of the rumor
that the Cretans have massacred 300
Moslems In the Sitia district.
Two Italians have been sent with a gun
boat to make Inquiries"
The correspondent of the Times says that
he is informed on the best authority that
Colonel Vassos is complying with the DOW
ers' injunction to abstain from active hos
tilities.