The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-02-17
IN CRETAN WATERS.
p,ucl,v Little Greece Has Put All
Europe to Shame
BY BOLDLY DEFYING THE GRAND TURK.
# Looks, However, as Though the
Powers. Afraid OF One Another,
viii Tie Greeco's Hands and
So Help the Moslem Cause.


NEW YORK, Feb. ia special ca bl
5ispatch to the Sun from London says
Greece has put all Europe to shame
She has defied the great powers, and
n spite of their solemn warning, ha
rtually begun war against Turkey
ier reply to the combined protest O
Europe was made Saturday by hel
minister of foreign affairs. 1t is 9
aconic message worthy of her people
md Of their splendid heritage: Greece
ceepts full responsibility for all hei
cts !"
Her first act under that spirited
declaration was to fire on a Turkish
transport conveying ammunition to
he besieged garrison near Canea and
rive 1t bach Her next was to call
Ut hsf army reserves, and her third
embark d regiment of soldiers Tor
he invasion Of Crete,
The first effect Of this policy Of
magnificent courage or bravado was
Incident which will make every self
especting Englishman grind his teeth
18th shame and disgust, A British
avail officer, sent by the British
1miral commanding the British fleet
L Canea, called tpoh the commander
the Greek cruiser which had fired
pom the Turkish flag and protested,
the name of Great Britain, against
e action, The second effect Of the
lifted conduct of plucky little Greece
as been interesting also The sultanl
Constantinople, as soon as he heard
at Greek man -of-war had fired on
shipi sent his foreign minister
otting around to all the am bsssadors
say that the great powers MUST
omptiY restrain tho Athens g6tern-
ent Cor else Turkey would "Fols
W her own course" OF course the
lbassadors quickly telegraphed to
six capitals, and already the news
mes from Athens that the ministers
the foreign powers have "made YER
presentations" to the govern
Phti
The events Of the past 4s hours have
anged the situation with startling
pidity from one of serious crisis to
yual war The firing upon the Turk
transport Fuad was done by the
eek cruiser Miaulis The Turkish
Rt was unarmed and therefore una
70 feturn the fire.
he latest advices from Canea say
heavy battle is in progress. The
ristian insurgents are making a
|orous attack upon the fort with
illery, but Turkish resistance was
cessful up to last accounts, al |
Pugh the engagement was sangui-
~ on both sides. The Turkish au-
|rities at Canea have begged the
nmanders of the foreign powers to
men and occupy the town. They
q telegraphed to their respective
ernments for instructions, which as
have not been received.
erious fighting is also in progress
other parts of the island with vary
fortunes, between the Moslems
Christians. There is sharp con-
ST steverywhere between the behavior
he Crete Christians and the Ar.
Plans, The former are not only
IN aggressive, but as good fighters
The Moslems, and the losses are
Fty evenly divided as far as is
wn.
accounts agree that the Greek
PIE are IN state of frantic excite
and are unanimous for war. 1t
be admitted that King George
really no choice in the matter Of
oellicose policy which has been
pted' The feelings of the people
quite beyond control, and there is
doubt that the king would be
en- from the country if he ven
to oppose them.
zero were ominous signs a few
ago when it was suspected for the
tent by the masses that the king
not fully in sympathy with their
turkish temper. The govern
virtually had to choose between
ulng the powers and suffering
uiatlon by its own country.
rim advices say that if Greece
troops at Canea the powers will ,
aVor to effect union of Greece and r
upon such terms as are least Of |
We TO Turkey, but that matter must {
tiled quickly. The latter version Z
more reasonable. In fact, there :
good reason why a Cretan crisis I
III disturb the agreement of the /
10 TO put the sultan under con- =
IT will be just as easy to compel }
hamid to submit to Greece TAX a
teIe as to force him to accept the Z
IL measures of reform which the +
are able to put before him un- /
threat of coercion if he refuses +
uopt them. The Cretan crisis =
tne hand of the combined pow
il'tle In point of time, but il the
neht OF the Turkish question
oSSlole before, it is possible now. "
present situation, therefore, =
important, critical and of thrill "
ramatic interest, does not involve 3
reat peril to the peace OF Europe .
divergence of policy on the =
the powers would imply. y
. u
french Admiral In Command. Il
NNA, Feb. 15.-lt is stated here Il
seml-otlicial authority that the d
a' In command of the French 81
ron as the senior flag officer in p,
waters, will take command of I,
u''ed fleets Of the powers. and CT
movement of the war ships will
ue under his direction. 1t is fur
ated that all arrangements for .
action on the part of the com i'
meets Of the powers have been N
eted. 81
Notice to Prtnca GoOrRa II