The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-17

treaty with Greece, and that the ports
of Volo and Prevesa be kept open for
vessels carrying food supplies to the
| Turkish troops.
| The ambassadors met yesterday to
consider the porte's answer, which is
regarded as raising an extremely grave
issue. 1t is believed that representa-
tions will be made the sultan person.
ally to induce a modification of these
terms. but 1t is foreseen that this will
be verv difficult. owing to the atti-
tude of the powerful old Turk war
party. If the porte should prove OBJ
durate an European conference is not
improbable, although at present Rus
sia Is opposed to this,
Germany Is urging the sultan to In
sist upon the European control of
Greek finances as the only means of
securing the payment Of an indemnity.
Representatives of the Deutsche bank
will arrive next Saturday to realize in
the promise of important concessions
which the sultan has made to the bank.
1t Is regarded as quite certain that
the powers will not consent to a retro.
cesHion 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 5000 Greeks had land
ed at Palona and were marching to
Janina with the intention of cooper
ating with other forces from Arta.
This created a bad impression among
the ministers.
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 the
Greek forces, approaching the town by
a narrow gorge from the direction of
Gremenitza, charged the heights of
Griboro and Kokonaria. 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 kumuzades. No further details are
given, except that all these battles
lasted until evening. and that the i'm
perial troops retained their position,
with the probability that the Greeks
will be reinforced and the fighting re-
newed. No statement is made as to
the Turkish losses.
The Turkish commander at Luros
telegraphs under Saturdays date as
The outcome of a desperate
battle lasting two days against a force
Of $4,000 Greeks Is that the latter have
abandoned the position on the heights
they had previously captured and have
to the olive groves of Gre
menitZa.
Edhem Pasha's plans for the capture
Of Domolos are being rapidly perfect
ed. Reinforcements are arriving, and
all the Greek positions are carefully
watched. The bad condition of the
roads and the heay rains delay opera
tions for which the Turkish officers
are anxiously waiting. but q general
advance began at dawn yesterday
A number of Greek deserters who
have been captured say that $4,000
Greeks are behind the fOrtifcations
and intrenChments at DOmOkCs, but
that the whole organization is rotten,
and the medical and transport services
have completely collapsed. They say
that for 86 hours the only ration was
a half loaf. and that the forces are be-
coming demoralized, and are deserting
by the wholesale.