The record-union., 1897-02-06
GRECIAN WARSHIPS
ORDERED TO CRETE,
Threee-QuarterS Of the Christian Quarters
In Canea Burned to the Ground.
Fighting Has Ceased, But the Torch
Continues to be Applied.
The Number of Victims of the Recent
Troubles Estimated at Three Hun
dred, the Christians Being At
tackled by the MussuIman Popula-
tion While Trying to Escape to
Warships in the Harbor.

ATHENS, Feb. 5.-In the Executive
Chamber to-day the President of the
Council, Delyannis, announced that the
Government had ordered two men
of-War to proceed at once to Crete.
The announcement was followed by
scene of intense excitement and en-
thusiasm. Minister of Marine Levidis
ordered the vessel Salamanca to leave
her dock Immediately. 1t is said some
torpedo-boats have also been ordered
to make ready for a possible trip to
Crete.
The latest news from Canea is to the
effect that foreign vessels are already
engaged in the work of transporting
refugees to the Grecian island of Mileo.
1t is also announced that the foreign
Consuls We're obliged to make their es-
cape from Halesia to Canea by way of
sea-
Advioes received from the island of
Crete are to the effect that the trouble
in Canea originated in the unfounded
report that the MuSsulmans had killed
twenty-seven Christian sentinels in
Akrostri When the report was re-
ceived the Vail ordered the troops to
proceed to the defense of the Christian
villages. The troops were attacked.
and it is reported that twenty persons
We're killed. Several villages were de-
stroyed by fire. Canea itself is in q
state of complete revolt.
The MuSsulmans, it is claimed, in
stituted the attacks upon the Chris
tians, and commenced the discharge Of
firearms A considerable number of
persons perished in the conflict. Finally
it was observed that the soldiers them
selves fired from the ramparts on the
heads of the Christians. The Mussul-
mans set fire to the quarters occupied
by the Christians, and the flames We're
visible from the warships of the Pow
ers anchored in the harbor. The flames
appeared to be spreading in the direc-
ton of the palace of the Archbishop and
the Greek schools. The commanders
of the Italian and French gunboats at
tempted to stop the fighting, and land
ed small detachments of soldiers for
the purpose of protecting the telegraph
office The Christians at Haleisa sought
refuge at the office of the foreign Con-
suls and on board the gunboats The
Vail and ConSuls of the Powers were
near Haleisa when the outbreak COM
menced, but We're unable to enter
Canea till nightfall. The fighting ceased,
but according to the latest advices the
fires started for the purpose of de-
stroying the buildings have not yet
been extinguished.
Three -fourths of the Christian quar-
ters in the city of Canea have been
burned to the ground. according to late
advices received from the island. The
Christians, while trying to escape to
the Warships, were attacked by the
Mussulman population and many We're
killed and injuerd. The total number
of victims of the recent fighting is
estimated at 800.
Minister of Foreign Affairs SkouseS
has paid a visit to the representatives
of the Powers stationed here for the
purpose of assuring them all of the pa
cifc nature of the mission of the Gre
clan warshlps ordered to Crete The
vessels selected for the expedition in
clude the ironclad Hydra, with a crew
of 500 men, and the cruiser Mykale,
with a crew of 300 men.
1t is reported that a large number
of women and children have already
been landed on the island of Mileo
by the IIdIIdIl CIulStT- men In most
instances remained at Crete They
barricaded their houses, and made 9th
er preparations for the approaching
struggle.
THE KING RESPONSIBLE.
LONDON. Feb. Ga dispatch to the
Times from Athens announces that
the King of Greece is responsible for
the sudden change of policy regarding
Crete. President of the Council Del
yannia yesterday (Friday) announced
that inasmuch as the Powers had un-
dertaken to care for the reforms in
the Turkish Empire, Greece will main
tain a policy of ''watchful non-inter-
vention.p
To this declaration of policy the King
offered decided objections, taking a
stand in opposition to Prime Minister
Delyannis, with the result that it was
soon announced that gunboats would
be sent to Crete.