Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-05-22
THE PORTE'S TERMS,
Upon Which the Dogs of War
Will be Called Of,
Raise an Extremely Grave Issue and Causs
the Greatest Surprise Among the Repre-
sentatives OF the Powers-More
Fighting with Indecisive Results.

The Porte's UItimatum 10 the Powers
CoNsTANTISoPLE, May 16.-The porte
has replied officially to the note of the
powers, and declines to agree to an
armistce until the following condi-
tions are accepted:
The annexation of Thessaly, an in
demnity of 10000, 900 pounds Turkish,
and the abolition of the capitulations.
The porte proposes that plenipoten-
tiaries of the powers should meet at
Pharsalos to discuss the terms of peace,
and declares that if these conditions
are declined, the Turkish army will
continue to advance.
The demand for the annexation OF
Thessaly Is based upon the fact that
the province was originally ceded to
Greece ON the advice of the powers
with the object of ending brigandage
and Greek incursions into Ottoman
territory, the porte believing at the
time that the cession would attain
these objects, but the recent incursions
| of Greek bands and the events jmme-
diately preceding the war have proved
to the contrary.
This is the substance of the reply:
The ambassadors met to-day to con-
slider the porte's answer, which is re-
| garded as raising
An Extremely Grave Issue.
1t is believed that representations
will be made to the sultan personally
to issue modification of these terms,
but it is foreseen that this will be very
difficult, owing TO the attitude of the
powerful Old Turk war party.
If the porte should prove obdurate a
European conference is not improba-
bic, although at present Russia is op-
posed to this.
1t is regarded as quite certain that
the powers will not consent to retro
cession of Thessaly. Even Germany
is believed to be resolute on this point,
because it would involve violation Of
the Berlin treaty and imperil the peace
of the Balkans.
Altogether the reply of the porte has
caused the greatest surprise. 1t ap-
pears that during the discussion of the
note from the powers by the council Of
the sultan's ministers, news reached
the council that's, 900 Greeks had landed
at Palona and were marching to Janina
with the intention of cooperating with
other forces from Arta. This created
bad impression among the ministers.
More Fighting In Which 1t Is Claimed the
| Greeks Were Worstcd.
CONsTANTIN0PLE, May 16.-The coun-
Gil of ministers met again to-day and
the sultan has ordered distribution
of troops at various points along the
Salonica railway. Official dispatches
have been received from the command
ant at Janina, who says that division
of the Greek forces approaching the
town by narrow gorge from the
direction of Gremenitza, charged the
heights of Griboro and Konoari, but
suffered heavily, losing 200 killed,
while on the other side the Greeks
were driven back upon Paraskevi.
The commandant states also that
fighting has occurred at Krmusades
No further details are given except
that all these battles lasted until even
ing, and that the imperial troops re-
tained their position, with the proba
bility that the Greeks will be reinforced
| and the fighting renewed tomorrow.
| No statement is made rs to the Turkish
| losses.
The Turkish commander at Luros
telegraphs under yesterdays date as
| follows:
THE outcome of desperate battle
lasting two days against force of 15-
900 Greeks is that the latter have aban'
doned the position on the heights they
had previously captured and have
withdrawn to the olive groves OF
Gremenaitza.'
Only Case of Oriental Bargaining.
LONDON, May 1.-THE preposterous
terms proposed by the porte must be
regarded as the natural and usual
method of oriental bargaining. They
would not be serious did they not force
continuance of the fighting.
10 90 ha
in Epirus there is no chance to make
further stand unless at Thermopyle,
which, by virtue of its natural condi
tions, is an immensely strong position.
from which the Turks would have the
greatest difficulty in dislodging the
Greeks.
At Domokos the Greeks must be suf
fering severely from the heavy rains,
as they have no tents. The capture OF
evacuation of the town is only ques,
tion of few days. The Turks have
been seen at the passes east and west
of Domokos, and Gen. Smolenski has
warned the crown prince to expect an
attack.
The weakness of the Greek position
is in the great extent of the line. The
news of the retreat in Epirus serves TO
still further demoralize the troops in
Thessaly.
As to the terms on which peace will
finally be declared the general belief
in official circles is that they will be
settled by an European conference.
AN ILLEGAL CORPORATION.