The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-26
CRETANs MAKING WAR.
Fighting Between Insurgents and
Turks-SheIls from Foreign Fleets.

CANEA, March 25.--The insurgents made
determined attacks on the blockhouse or
fort at Malaxa, outside of Suda, to-day.
During the night the insurgent forces were
pushed forward until they occupied con-
venient positions for attack, and about 6
a. m. the artillery opened fire on the Turk
;sh blockhouse. The pieces of the Chris
tians were served with such admirable
promptness and precision tnat in short
time nothing remained to the Turks but
determination or evacuation. The Mussul-
mans. preferring the latter, left the fort
and commenced retreat on Suda,- relying
ON the Turkish var ships in the bay 10
save them from the Christians. The Sui
tan's fleet opened a badly judged fire on the
insurgents in order to cover the retreat
from the blockhouse. The shells fell either
short or far beyond the msurgent forces.
Consequently the Christians pushed for
ward steadily. pressing hard on the rear of
the Turks and keeping up continual skir-
mish. The Turks made stand now and
then, pouring a few VolieyS in the direc-
ton of the insurgents skirmiSh lines. The
insurgents succeeded in pushing on as far
as the village OF 1sikalaria, where they set
fire TO some houses.
tachment of Turkish troops, being unaware
of the fact that the garrison OF the fort
was retreating on Suda. closely pursued by
the Christians, made a sortie from Canea
with convoy of provisions intended for
the garrison of Malaxa From the route
followed by the Turks nothing could be
seen of the fighting in progress between
MalaXa and Suda, and the Ottoman troops
advanced half way up TO the heights on
which the blockhouse of Keratidi Is situ-
ated But while the Turks were unaware
of the insurgents doings the latter had
closely followed the movements of the
Turkish column escorting the provision and
ammunition train. Near Keratidi the Turks
We're met by body of insurgents, who.
from We'll selected positions opened n fierce
fire on the advancing troops. The fire of
the Christians stopped the advance of the
column, and the turkish commander took
up the best position possible in order TO
protect the convoy and send il TO the rear
If necessary. The Turkish garrison at Ma
laxa lost heavily during the retreat from
that place. The insurgents are numerous,
and occupy all the heights in the vicinity OF
Canea far Perivolia having captured
the two last Turkish fortresses. Only the
fleet of the powers prevented the entire
success of the insurgent cause.
Politically, there is no change in the sit
uation The Cretan chiefs have definitely
decided to refuse autonomy, and will con-
tinue the struggle until the union of the
| island with Greece Is an acknowledged fact
The blockade is in progress all along the
several small Greek vessels from landing
ammunition and provisions The Greek
vessel which was accidentally captured by
| an Austrian gunboat which put into har-
| Dor, owing TO the severity of the weather
| had on board sixty volunteers and quanti-
| ~ of ammunition.
| AT nightfall the Christians still occupied
| the fort at MalaXa, from which they drove
| the Turks by bombardment this morning
| in spite Of the shells which fell around II
| and which set fire to the blockhouse. At 3:5,
| O'Clock this afternoon, while the Turkish
| reinforcementS were Vainly struggling to
| capture the heights above Nerak Ourou
| the Christians from Akrotiri attacked the
| Turkish Gordon at Halepa, which was keep.
| ing them at "a distance with mountain ar
| tilery.
Desperate fighting continued between the
| Turks and the Christians until quarter
past O'Clock this afternoon in and about
| the village of Tsikalaria, not far from
| Suda, to which point the insurgents sue
! ceeded i'm pushing forward this morning
| while in pursuit of the retreating garrison
| of Malaxa. The insurgents burned several
| more houses of Tsikalaria, whereupon the
] war ships of the foreign powers at BIZ
| p. m. began firing at the Christians. The
| bombardment, however, only lasted ten
minutes
The fleets fired ninety shells on the insur-
| gents around Malaxa, and some of these
fell inside the blockhouse. OF the Turkish
garrison. numbering sixty-four one escaped
to Nerokhuri and eighteen others TO Suda
| 1t is believed that the others perished.
At s o'clock this evening the insurgents
succeeded i'm blowing up the blockhouse
with dynamite. The whole structure Is
now i'm flames and the Turkish war ships
are bombarding the insurgents.