The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-18
In Order to Punish the HelIenes for
Their Temerity I'm Attempting to
Annex the Island of Crete.
TURKEY MOVED TO ACTION
NAVAL RESERVES CALLED OUT AND
WAR SHIPS SENT TO CRETE.
Greeks Still Landing Men and NUM-
tiOns and Making War on the Sui
tan's MussuIman Subjects.

LONDON, Feb. 1S.-Interest in the Gre
tan trouble now centers in the action of
Turkey and in the policy the powers in
tend 10 pursue. An unconfirmed report
from Vienna says most of the powers have
acceded to Germanys proposal to blockade
Piraeus, the seaport of Athens, in order
to curb the warlike impulses of the Hell
ienes. Greece, however, does not seem TO
be very much alarmed, for King George
is still dispatching war ships and troops
to the Island of Crete.
The Turkish Council, after a long session
at the Yildiz Palace. has decided to take
precautionary measures" as they are
called at Constantinople. An order was
issued yesterday calling out the naval re-
serves, numbering fifty thousand men and
officers. a Turkish squadron, consisting
of four war ships and ten torpedo boats,
was also ordered to start for Crete within
five days. 1t will be joined there by all
the vessels now in the Turkish archipelago
and the Gulf of Alexandretta. second
Turkish squadron made of five war ships
and ten torpedo boats, has also been or
dered to be prepared for active service.
The minister of marine has asked for a
credit of e5OO.O0O (s2, O0O0 to meet the
naval expenses.
Advices from Canea, Crete, say the COM
manders of the foreign fleets there have
sent a joint note to the Greek consul at
Canea informing him that any attack upon
Canea, Retimo, Heraklion or Sitia would
be repelled by the war ships of the foreign
powers in Cretan waters. The Greek gov
ernment has wired its consul at Canea TO
reopen the consulate, which has been done,
thus creating an anomalous situation in
the resumption of diplomatic relations
while the Greek army has occupied Crete
in the Kings name. PlatiadeS Pasha has
been appointed vail Of Crete on the recon-
mendation of the powers. The Russian ad-
miral has sent the Montenegrin gendarmes
ashore at Canea.
A dispatch TO the Times from ST. Peters
burg says: There is no longer the least
doubt that Russia is preparing for war
rot necessarily to declare war, but TO meet
any necessity i'm connection with the East
ern crisis. Even the Red Cross Society in
Crimea is taking active steps in the same
direction
A dispatch to the Standard from Athens
says News was received last night that
Colonel NassoS has captured another inn
portant position, the village OF Fouklies.
Another infantry battalion with guns, vol
unteers and stores started for Crete
Wednesday night. The King receives daily
telsgrams from all parts of the world, es-
United States of America, urging him to
pursue his policy to the end. solemn lie
deum was celebrated to-day in the chapel
of the palace. All the members of the royal
family were present. These religious serv-
ices were. held just previous TO the de,
parture of Prince Nicholas, who bade all
farewell and left for LarisSa amidst the en-
thusiasm of the crowd"
dispatch to the Daily News from Ath-
ems says that a portion of the forces COM
manded BY Colonel Vasso attacked the
town of Boncolin. which place was sur
rendered by the Turkish garrison after n
short resistance 1t is reported from Crete
that the Christians are blockading Retimo
1t is reported in Berlin that the Dowager
Czarna has wired the King of Greece
promising TO do everything in her power to
help him. At the ball at the opera house
last night Emperor William conversed over
an hour with the representatives of the six
powers.
The Athens CORE spondent of the Times
says that advices from Uskub Turkey. re-
port the departure of three Turkish battal-
ions, with seven guns and two wagons of
ammunition and seventeen artillery officers
en- route for the Greek frontier.