The record-union., 1897-03-14
Newspapers Filled With Speculations
From Capitals
AS to the Next rlove to be rlade by
the POwers-The Belief Gaining
Ground That There Will be No
War, and That Greece Will be
Compelled to Climb Down.

! LONDON, March IL copyrighted,
1897, by the Associated Press 1.-The
| Cretan question is still absorbing the
attention OF Europe and the newspapers
here are full of speculation from all the
! capitals as to the next move of the
powers. All kinds of so-called semi
official statements are afioat and many
i of them are undoubtedly balloons
dessai launched by the various Govern
ments in order to test the drift of pop
ular and ministerial feeling in the mat
ter. An idea, however, is gaining
ground that there will be no war and
that Greece must climb down. An in
dication OF this is shown in a statement
of NJ Zaimi, President of the Greek
| Chamber, telegraphed here to-day, in
which he says he is personally disposed
to accept the proposal of autonomy for
the Island of Crete as a step toward
its annexation to Greece. The fact is
that in Europe, even among the people
who supported the Greeks when they
thought their object was the freedom
of the Cretans, is now firing, and it is
seen that the sole aim of the Greeks is
annexation.
The news of Commodore ReinockS
perfidy in not communicating to the in
surgentS the remonStranceS and de-
mands of the powers, as we'll as their
proposition to grant autonomy to the
island, has been a severe blow to the
cause of Greece, while a letter from
w. j. Stillman, formerly United States
Consul at Canea, to the Times" has
thrown further unpleasant light upon
the Greek methods. Mr.. Stillman says
that at the end of the long revolt of
1S66-69 the Cretans obtained conces-
sionS which afforded most complete sat
isfaction. Mr.. Stillman, as United
States Consul at Canea, was the inter-
mediary between the insurgents and
the Grand Viziers. At that moment
the Greek Government stopped the sup
ply of food and powder, which largely
came from the foreign Cretan commit
tees, and sent to Crete a band of vol
unteers, commanded by Chief Pietroro-
fulikis, friend of the then Turkish
Prime Minister. This chief, unopposed
by the Turks, took command OF all the
insurgent forces, and without firing
shot yielded the island to the Turks,
not even STIMULATING that amnesty
should be granted to the chiefs, and the
IGNOil was suppressed III the
of it's triumph by it's Athenian friends.
Mr.. Stillman adds that he can give al'
the details of this infamous transa
ton from personal participation.
But the foregoing shows it is the pol
icy of the King of Greece and of a
large part of the Athenian statesmen
to refuse any settlement of the Cretan
situation except annexation to Greece.
The cabled story from New York of
the Greeks drawing back from sailing
on the Sarnia has been widely printed
here, and coupled with the news from
Athens that thousands of reserves sup
posed to be crazy to meet the Turks
have failed to respond to the call of
arms, has created an unfavorable i'm
preston. In addition, the tales Of en-
thusiaSm in Greece are said to have
been grossly exaggerated. There is
plenty of noise in the streets, chiefly
from the foreign volunteers, but the
Government is meeting with very seri-
Gus difficulty in the mobilization of the
Greek recruits. The foreign volun-
teers are a motley crowd, every prov
ince being represented by different
dress. Walking in the streets of Ath
ems are seen Albanians and Macedo-
mans in kits, Thessalian peasants and
AEGEAN Islanders in baggy Turkish
trousers, and Italians in a sort of bri-
gand costume. Most of them are sent
to the frontier as they are owing to
lack of uniforms.
There is little doubt that Greece is
disappointed at the attitude of the
Balkan States, which have apparently
j.
cording to one authority, Russian in
fiuence has been brought to bear on
Sofia, and has prevented Prince Alex
ander's visit from resulting in def
mite understanding with Servia and
Bulgaria regarding the future of Mace
donia
The latest indications tonight point
to q pacific blockade of Greece, ard
that it will be enforced Monday next.
ATHENS, March 13.-It is officially
stated here that Turkey is sending 3d.
900 troops to the Servian frontier.
A dispatch from Canea, filed at II
p. M, states that pillaging at Retimo
and Heraklion continues incessant
A dispatch received from Canea to-
day says the Greek steamer Smyrna
which arrived here this morning was
ordered to leave. and her commander
said he intended to remain there
Thereupon Admiral Caneravero, the
Italian officer in command of the for
eign fleets, acting in concert in Cretan
waters, sent word to the Greek vessel
that unless he left Canea in five min
utes her cables would be cut. The
Greek Captain then lifted his anchor
and steamed away.
The 'Asticis Larissa" correspondent
says that the news Of the destruction
of a railroad bridge over the river VAR
dueria, near Salonica, has been con-
frmed. The bridge was dynamited as a
train carrying 5000 Turkish troops
passed. Many carriages were thrown
from the rails and many soldiers |
drowned. Transport of Turkish troops |
has been suspended until the bridge is
restored.
VIENNA, March 13.-The following |
semi-official statement was published |
here to-day: Russia yesterday in
structed the Commander of the Rus |
sian squadron in Cretan waters to take |
steps in conjunction with his colleagues |
to blockade the Cretan and Greek ports. |
Germany and Austria had previously |
sent similar instructions to their squad
rons. and Great Britain and Italy are |
ready to participate. A similar decision |
upon the part of France is awaited with |
certainty.
SALONICA. March 13.-There is great |
anxiety prevailing in this city as the in
habitants fear that the town will be |