The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14
And Another that a Turkish Vessel
Which Attempted to Leave n Cretan
Port Was Forced to Return.
ARMS FOR THE INSURGENTS
LANDED At CANEA BY THE GREEK
FLOTILLA OF TORPEDO BOATS.
More British War Ships Ordered to
Scene of Disturbance-AuE Europe
i'm an Anxious State.

LONDON, Feb. 1S-SeveraI conflicting
dispatches and wild rumors were received
here to-day from Canea, Island of Crete,
and though all the reports were not veri-
fled. some contained enough truth to show
the gravity of the situation has increased.
One report was to the effect that the
Greeks and Turks had clashed, and that
Turkish vessel which attempted to leave
Herakilon to-day was forced TO return by
a Greek cruiser.
IL is reported in Canea this morning
that the Greek torpedo fiotilla commanded
by Prince George, of Greece, which arrived
at Canea yesterday had succeeded, in spite
of the vigilance of the foreign ships.
in landing during the night a quantity of
arms. eight hundred cases af ammunition
and three hundred cases of provisions in
tended for the Cretan insurgents. who are
gathered in large numbers on the hill tops
of Canea. 1t is also stated that the Greek
war ships have the intention of landing a
Greek colonel of artillery. eighty Greek ar
tillerymen and some guns. The Cretan in
surgents. after proclaiming their independ-
ence of Turkey and the union of Crete with
Greece. on Thursday formed a provisional
government. The Cretans are now in pos
session of a large part of the island, and
are threatening the important towns.
The landing of blue jackets and marines
from the foreign fleets Is contemplated, ac-
cording TO report. The British first-class
gunboat Harrier. the first-class gunboat
Dryad. the third-class gunboat Blazer and
the torpedo destroyer Ardent left Valetta
to-day TO reinforce the British fleet in
Cretan waters. The first-class battle ship
Families will leave on Monday for the
same place.
A dispatch from Athens says: There
Is a change for the better here to-day. The
people are becoming calmer and the public
officials are betraying anxiety as to the
eventual outcome of the demonstration of
Greece in favor of the Cretan insurgents.
1t is now known that very strong pressure
has been brought to bear on King George
within the past twenty-four hours and that
equally strong pressure has been exercised
on the Sultan OF Turkey in order to prevent
an outbreak of hostilities between Greece
and Turkey, and the latter country is un-
derstood 10 have agreed TO send troops TO
Crete and the powers i'll return are believed
10 be restraining Greece from actively i'm
terfering in Crete. At the same time there
is evidently danger in the direction of Thes-
sally, Macedonia, for Greek troops are being
hurriedly dispatched TO the frontiers, and
reports from Salonika say that Turks are
quietly mastering an army corps there in
order TO be prepared for emergencies. The
situation in the Island of Crete has some
what improved. Desultory fighting is still
reported, and ii is stated here that the in
SurgentS are practically In possession of
the whole island, with the exception of the
larger towns. If this is the case the union
of Crete with Greece having been formally
proclaimed, the independence of the
Cretans from Turkish rule is almost au fait
accompli, and it is difficult to see how the
pre-exiSting order of things can be re-
.s.I. 81.
the powers and a military occupation of
Crete by the foreign fleets. In official cir
possible and there is disposition now TO
quietly allow even this 10 take its natural
course, the idea being that Crete is practi-
cally free and that the island is likely to
remain so unless subdued by the powers
Therefore, the question to be discussed. it is
said, is whether the powers will permit the
Cretan insurgents to enjoy their independ-
ence and eventually ally themselves with
Greece.