The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-23
Quarter Given Up to Pillage
for Eight Hours.
Powers to Land Troops at Crete to
Relieve Marines.
Preparations for War are Going on
Night and Day in Greece.

Constantinoplc, March 30. Authentic
details of the outbreak on Sunday last at
Toka, in the Sivas district of Asia Minor,
when the Turks attacked the Armenians
while the latter were in church. show that
one hundred Christians were massacred.
The Armenian quarter was given over to
pillage for eight hours.
The representations of the AMBASSADORS
of the foreign powers regarding the condi-
tion of Anatoffu have rnucfe but fittfe inn
preston upon the Sultan, who relying
upon the support of Asia, is convinced
that he has nothing TO fear from the So
called concert of the powers.
The diplomats here are said to be once
more turning their attention to the con-
duct of the Sultan and it Is senfi-otficially
intimated that they are of the opinion
that the system of friendly representations
on the subject of Armenia which have
hitherto been followed must be changed
for sterner methods of dealing with the
cvilss complained of. The Sultan, however,
has heard this story many times during the
past few year--<<f4a--@se- eesee}es~ hisAself
with the belief that he will survive this
new fight of righteous indignation.
The ambassadors have notified the
Turkish government of the intention OF
the powers To land troops on tho Island
of Crete for the purpose of relieving the
detachments of foreign marines now on
duty ashore. lhe Porte has raised no
objection up To the present. believing
that foreign fleets will then carry out the
threat of the powers TO blockade the
principal ports and coasts of Greece. On
this question, however, there n no unan-
unity of opinion, the impression prevail
ing that Great Britain and Italy at least
will strongly oppose such step, believing
that ii would cause Greece to promptly
declare war upon Turkey, u elimination
of the crisis which some of the powers are
apparently still hopeful of ayerting
In the meanwhile the war preparations
in Greece are continuing day and night
and there are no indications of a back
down in that quarter. Troops are being
continually hurried to the frontiers, the
work of erecting Notifications Is progress
ing rapidly and all should be in readiness
for an advance early in April when tho
weather will be much more propitious than
now for military purposes. Some people
intimate that war will break out April Q,
next the anniversary OF the raising OF
the standard of the cross against the
Crescent i'm 1921, at the commencement Of
the Greek war of Independence.
The Turkish squadron Is still in the
Dardenellcs and the opinion Is expressed
that it will remain there indefinitely.
The Turkish headquarters are at Etal-
Soma and the Greek headquarters arc a6
Alissa. Exits To the mountain passes at
Epirus The depot of supplies of the
Turks is at Salonica and that of the
Crooks is at Athens, although the supplies
for the armies i'm the field are landed at
NOlo, Lamia and other ports.
The Turks are estimated To have about
30, 900 men regulars and irregulars under
arms in Macedonia and Epirus and they
are credited with having 100 to 200 field
pieces withithem.
Greeks on the Frontier.
The Greeks are believed to have about
forty thousand men under arms on the
frontiers and to he fastening forward
every gun procurablc i'm order TO counter
| act as much as possible their inferiority
| i'm artillery. In cavalry also the Turks
are said Ia bc much stronger than tho
| Greeks, but by the beginning of April, IL
| Is believed the Greeks will be In much
| better state of readiness for war than at
| present. Money docs not appear to be
| lacking for the equipment of the Greeks
| and large supplies of arms and ammuni-
| tion have been forthcoming, but from
| what sources it Is not so clear There In
| one feature of the situation which should
| not be overlooked The Crooks are AMI
mated by the strongest feeling of war
| like enthusiasm, while the Turks are said
! without pay or proper equipment which
| has made them far from content. IL is
| still possible that war may be avcrted by
| timely concessions to Greece with the
| withdrawal of Turkish forces from Crcto
and the selection of King George as gov
| ernor Of Crete with the understanding
| that when all is quiet a plebiscite Is TO
| decide whether or not the island shall DO
| annexed To Greece.
The Greek government, according to
| dispatch from Athens, has just called ont
| the last of it's reserves and has called To
| the colors all men 20 years Of ago and
| upward Ten additional battelions 80
| Greek infantry are being formed, besides
! fourteen more batteries OF artillery. These
! preparations certainly do not point TO
| the approach Of peaceful solution of
| crisis In the near future.