The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-21
ABMlyTICE DECLARED
Between Turkey and Greece Pend
ing Peace Negotiations.
TO LAST FOR SEVENTEEN DAYS.

Meantime a Mixed Commission OF Of
ncers of superior Rank VIII Estab-
Iish "A Neutral Zone Between the Two
Armies.
Athens, May q. An armistice be-
tween the Turkish and Greek troops in
Thessaly, to extend over a period Of
II days, was formally concluded yes
terday.
The armistice agreement stipulates
that a mixed commission of officers of
superior rank shall establish a neutral
zone between the two armies, and that
no advance on either flank shall be
permitted. 1t is understood that Tur-
key wants the commission to be con-
stituted of the foreign military attaches
with the two armies.
Crown Prince Constantin, it is said,
sent a personal appeal to the czar not
to allow the Greek army to be crushed
by a force four times greater than IT,
self, and as a consequence the czar
insisted on the armistice
The numerous suggestions as to the
conditions Of peace now coming in
from all quarters may be dismissed,
probable that a majority are prompted
from Constantinople, with the idea of
sounding the powers. In all likelihood
the negotiations win be protracted.
The alacrity with which the sultan
consented to an armistice at the behest
of Emperor Nicholas shows his own de-
sire to stop military operations, es-
pecially as compliance with the request
places a great power under obligation
to Turkey in the negotiations.
A newspaper correspondent says he
learns on unquestionable authority that
the powers have agreed upon the chief
conditions of peace, namely indemnity
to the amount of e5,O00,OOO, guaranteed
by a control of the Greek customs,
and the rectifcation of the frontier,
details as to which have not yet been
settled
The armistice has caused widespread
discomfort among the Turkish troops
in Thessaly and Epirus, and the mill
| tary commission has ordered the most
prominent grumblers to be sent home
/ under escort. The priests who are
! with the army have been instructed
| to preach special sermons eXhorting
| the soldiery to be loyal and obedtent
! An imperial order prohibits the sale
! of drawings, photographs or poetry
! dealing with the war or with the ex
| ploits of the commanders, the obiect
/ of the prohibition being to prevent any
/ individual general becoming a popular
hero.
The former Greek consul at Gambia
who has returned here, says that whel
the Greek troops have left the islanC
delegates of the Cretan people will
meet to constitute a provisional gov
ernment and to proclaim the politica
union of Crete with Greece. He add
that Admiral Canevaro, commander o
the Italian fleet in Cretan waters, toll
the Cretans that if after a time au
tonomy proved unsuccessful the Cretal
people would be free to fulfill their owl
destiny.
The Austrian mail steamer Minerva
which was captured by Greek cruiser
and towed to Orei has been released
but the " Turkish seamen and re
serves found on board her have bee
detained as prisoners.
The report that fresh hostilities ha
, taken place Wednesday near Arta ap
pears to have grown out of an inciden
of comparatively small Importance. TIL
Turks, despite the existence of tn
armistice, began to repair the breache
in the walls of Fort Skafidaki, on tn
Gulf of Arta whereupon a Greek gun
boat opened fire, with the result tha
the repairing was stopped.
1t is now known that when tn
crown prince arrived at Lamia he ha,
been practically abandoned by hi
army. Colonel Mastrapas and his di
vision had already quilted the town
directing their flight toward Alamana
Molo and Atalanu. After vainly try
ing to collect the remnants of his arm
at Lamia the crown prince, with hi
staff, went to Alamana, where anothe
attempt was made to rally the fugitiv
troops. But this was only partly sue
cessfuI, and during the whole of Tues
day Lamia lay deserted and at tn
mercy Of the Turks, who, however
made no attempt to occupy it.