The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-03-08
THE GREEKS ANSWER
Will Probably be Delivered to the
Powers Today,
NOT ANXIOUS FOR A BLOODY WAR.
The Greeks, However, VIII Not Yield TO
the Demand of the Powers Unless Some
other Proposition Is Made in the In
terest OF Peace.

the Demand of the Powers Unless Some
other Proposition Is Made in the In
terest Of Peace.
Athens, March S-The answer Of
Greece TO the identical notes of the
powers was discussed at a meeting of
the cabinet and approved by King
George yesterday. 1t is reported that
the reply is a refusal to recall the Greek
fleet and troops from Crete, on the
ground that the recall would be sig
nal for piuage, incendiarism and muir
der. The complete text viii not be
known until it is presented to the am
bassadors of the powers today. In dip
lomatic circles it is said that the Greek
answer may lead to negotiations to
agree on a proposal for cooperation
which has been presented to France.
Though the exact character of the
Greek reply is not yet made known, it
is understood that, in addition to the
ground of refusal to comply because
of the fear of pillage, incendiarism and
murder in Crete, the note points out
that the Cretans, who alone should be
regarded as entitled to determine their
fate, have declared their unalterable
resolution to be annexed to Greece as
the only solution that viii finally pac-
| ify the island.
The situation Of affairs here remains
/ grave, although there are a few signs
| that a pacific solution Of the Cretan
crisis Is yet possible. This is more par
ticularly so in the case Of Greece. 1t
( is believed that the government is sin
! cere in not desiring to start any con-
| hagration which may spread far and
| wide The gravity of the situation is
/ recognized on all sides, and those inter-
ested seem willing to arrive at a peace
/ ful settlement of the difficulties if pos
sible.
/ Greece is displaying undiminished
| frmness as to her intention to carry
/ out at all costs the program which she
/ has mapped out for herself in regard
/ to Crete, while at the same time sup
porting the pacific intentions Of her
advisers.
1t is stated that Prince Maurocor-
dato, the Greek minister at CONSTANT
nople, has addressed a note to the
Turkish government, proposing to re-
call the Greek troops from the from
tiers Of Macedonia and Albania if the
Turkish troops near the Greek frontier
are simultaneously withdrawn The
porte, however, has not shown any
haste to accede to this proposal.
At the same time this note was sent
to the Turkish government stringent
orders We're issued to the commanders
of the Greek troops In Thessaly to do
everything possible to avoid anything
calculated to provoke a conflict while
the hope was expressed to the Turkish
officials at Constantinople that the
porte would issue similar instructions
to the commanders of the Turkish
troops in Macedonia.
Dispatches since received here from
Thessaly indicate that the wishes Of
King George will be carried out. It
was stated in these messages that al
though the Greek troops are animated
with unabated enthusiasm nothing will
be done to needlessly irritate the Turks.
An incident showing this to be the
case has occurred near Melun A
Greek officer of engineers was engaged
in supervising the work of repairing a
road close to the frontier, and was pre-
vented by some Turkish officials from
proceeding with the task The Greeks
have not taken any action in the mat
ter, although it is claimed they We're
well within their rights in proceeding
with the repairs
On the other hand, a dispatch re-
ceived here from Canea at $3.50 this
morning state that Colonel Vassos,
who is in command of the Greek army
Of occupation" as it is termed at
Athens, has received at his camp, near
Platania, instructions from King
George to be prepared to resist CO.
ercion to the end.
This spirit, which pervades all the
orders sent to the Greek commanders
in Crete, is further shown in a Canea
dispatch referring to the incident which
occurred at Sela5 yesterday. Before de-
) Gliding to land the mixed detachment of
llar9es the admirals pour -parleyed fol-
i,ng time with the Greek commodore
Colonel Vassos, and the Greek vice
consul Evasive answers only We're re-
turned to the admirals. the Greek com
modore protesting against the obstacles
which Europe placed in the way of his
action and Colonel Vassos asserting
that he had no authority over the in
surgents who were investing Selino.
These replies, coupled with the in
sistence of the Greek vice consul that
he would only consent to go to Selino
on board a Greek warship and in the
name of King George of Greece, com
PEELED the foreign admirals, in defer
ence to their instructions, to de-
eide to themselves deliver the inn
prisoned Moslems, even if they had to
/ use lOAGt dBdl4l6A Allt Insurgents VI LlN
Greeks in order to do so. Therefore a
detachment of marines was landed at
Selino from the foreign warships, and
it set out forthwith for Candamo.
The Greek vice consul, NJ. Baraclis
) thereupon informed the admiral that
the Greek government declined all re-
sponsibility for what might take place
1t Is said that there are 5000 Mosleml
besieged at Candamo, where the earth
works of the Turks have been partly
D destroyed by the fire of the insurgents
! many men being killed on both sides.
Additional advices from Crete say
that the insurgents have formed a cor
don around Canea, and that Saturday
evening the insurgents attacked tn,
Turkish positions at Malaxa and Ker
q atidi, where they attempted to destroy
the blockhouse with the use of dyna
mite. The fighting, however, was of Z
desultory nature, and yesterday hos
y tillties were reported to be at a stand
still.
4 A Canea dispatch says that the ad
I mirals have forwarded to their re.
spective governments their suggestion,
o for the coercion of Greece. The com.
mander of a Russian cruiser which ha.
. Just arrived at Canea from Soino re.
ports that the foreign vessels fired
= guns there to intimidate the insur-
gents The military governor of Cane5
I Al.