The Springfield herald., 1897-04-16
LIBERTY OR DEATH.
The Oath Taken by Greeks The Struggle
on the Border VIII Lead TO War.

Athens. April 1.-THE latest ad-
vices here report that portion of the
invading forces continue TO besiege
the barracks ut Baltino. The remain
der has continued the advance. but to
destination as yet unknown at Ath-
ems. 1t is reported that communion
tion between Metzovo and Gravena is
cut of.
The Cretan refugees here have ad-
dressed petition to the embassies, in
| which, after reciting the whole histo-
ry of the Cretan question. they de
clare that the only possible solution of
1t is in annexation, adding: We hope
that Christian Europe will be moved
by our snfferings. martyrdom and
struggles for centuries to support our
claims for union with Greece.
The petition is signed by several
thousand.
Accounts are very conflicting as to
what really happened last Friday.
when the frontier was crossed by the
insurgents. A special correspondent
of the Associated Press went to Laris-
sa last evening Saturday and ascer-
tained that the invaders numbered up.
ward of 5000 Among them were
Amilcare Cipriani and his Italian vol
unteers. The entire force was under
the command of three eX-officers Of the
Greek army. kapsalopeuias. Mylanos.
and Ziepetres. and four Macedonian
chiefs, Iermas, Davelis, Vrakas and
Sarantio
On Friday monk from Mount
Athos. assisted by his abbot and two
deacons, held religious service at
Koniskos. mt which an members of
the invading body partook of the sac
rament and registered the oath of the
order, liberty or DEATH
AS everywhere in the Vale of Tempe.
this portion of the frontier. the roads
and bridges are in IA thorough condi-
tion of repair. This Sunday morn
ing the roar of artillery can be plainly
heard at Larissa from the direction of
karya- where Sinsinikos is evidently
forcing matters. General Makros and
his staff, with some knowledge of the
movements afoot which they We're un-
willing TO impart. left yesterday for
Iyrnavos, the most important Greek
position near Elassona. -Four batteries
of reinforcements followed to-day for
the same point. At the headquarters
they declare that nothing is known as
to the raid. and Will say nothing as TO
the probable character of the raiders
However. some additional light has
been thrown on the subject to-day by
tive of the Associated Press and n
prominent Greek, who is evidently in
close touch with the league and its
plans. The Greek said:
The movement of these bands is all
in accordance with a very clearly de-
fined program. For years thousands of
Greeks, even little children, on re-
ceiving a shilling. have been in the
habit of putting half of it into ma
tional box in The canse of Pan-Hellen-
ism. For many months il has been the
plan of the league to stir up the Pan
Hellenic people by means of armed
bands Now that n great movement
has come in Greek history, we have
seized upon it. Our aim at present is
to get behind the Turkish lines and To
stir up all our brethren.
Whether or not Europe insists upon
the integrity of Turkey. Greece is not
animated by selfish views or with de-
sire for annexing territory to the
kingdom. She demands not only a
true and complete independence for
heroic Crete, but the same indepen-
dence for Epirus. Macedonia and
Thrace. And she demands this also
for all the subjugated populations of
Asia Minor.
Therefore Greece will face any dan
ger in order to reach that end. Years
of frightful suffering and unnumbered-
crimes and tyrannies have forced up
on those who are our kinsmen by
faith and blood in those countries, and
we are pledged in the most solemn way
and inspired by the most sacred and
ennobling principles of liberty to do all
in our power to lift from them the
curse which burdens them
A dispatch from Athens says:
stringent orders have been issued
against irregular fighting. and the pen
atty of death will be imposed for any
infractlon. The general impression
here is that war will be proclaimed
tomorrow (Ionday) or Tuesday. The
position of affairs is now extremely
critical Although the Turkish army
has not yet assumed the offensive. or
ders to that effect from the Sultan are
expected at any moment. All classes
of the troops are full of war enthusi-
asm."