New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-08
A WAY OUT FOR GREECE.
FER REPLY TO THE ULTIMATCM.
CORDED so AS TO LEAVE ROOM FOR
FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS.
rrRMs OF THE NOTE TO THE PowERs-cANNor
,r.vr CRETE. AS PEACE HAS NOT BEEN
RESTORED on THE IsLAND-ACTONOMY
A QUESTION FOR THE GRE
TANS DECIDE

QUESTION FOR THE GRE
rASs TO DECIDE.
london. March IA dispatch to the Central
x.u. from Athens gives the following summary
=, the reply TO the ultmatum Of the Powers
.,ch Greece will hand TO the diplomats to-mor-
,or. when the time expires in which a reply can
be made
I, will recall that Greece in 1896. in difference
N the wish Of the Powers. used her influence
with the Cretans to induce them to accept re-
forms offered by Turkey. 1t will point out that
The continued unsettled state Of the island Is
,root Of the futility of the measures of reform.
With regard to the autonomy of the island the
reply will state that II is for the Cretans TO decide
whether they will accept it or not.
II will declare that the evacuation Of Crete by
Greece is impossible because peace. to restore
which Greek troops and warships were sent to
the island. remains seriously disturbed.
The Daily News" will tomorrow claim to be
able 10 announce that there is every hope OF
.needy. satisfactory and peaceful solution Of the
Cretan trouble 1t will add that Greece's reply
N the note Of the Powers will. by stating her
tons though she will not accept the conditions
laid down by the Powers.
The paper gives dscursively the probable
.,ms Of the reply. which are similar to those
contained in the dispatch to the Central News
A Constantinople dispatch to The Daily
News" SAYS 1t Is understood there that Greece
I, willing to withdraw her fleet from Cretan wa
ters. but suggests that her troops remain in the
island to assist in organizing the new govern
ment
King George Of Greece has sent to Sir Charles
Dixie a teegraphic message expressing his
heartfelt thanks 10 Sir Charles and the hundred
members of the House of Commons who signed
the message of sympathy sent recently to the
King In his message King George says:
In our struggle for humanity, faith and lib
ertv nothing could he dearer to our hearts than
those who encourage our feelings"
Constantnople March while a number Of
Greek engineers were engaged in repairing the
main road near Meun On the Greek frontier.
Presumably for the purpose Of facilitating the
1assage Of troops. they were stopped by body
OF Turkish troops. A rumor reached here to-day
that a serious encounter between Turks and
Greeks had taken place on the frontier but
though inquiries have been made 1t has been Inn
possible to confirm the story. 1t is the ught very
probable that the report originated in the stop
page by Turkish troops Of the work Of the
Greek engineers near Melun.
Canea March Tt is believed here that the
reply Of Greece to the demands Of the Powers
VIII he positive refusal to obey. and that
bloody struggle Is therefore inevitable un-
less the Powers recede from their position 1t
is known that Colonel vassos. the commander
Of the Greek army of occupation. has received
instructions from King George to hold all the
positions in the island occupied by the
Greek troops. ard to prepare to resist to the
bitter end any attempt the part OF anybody
10 dslodge him. Information reaches here that
the Greek troops enthusiastic over the de-
termination Of their King not to order their
withdrawal from tho island and it is believed
that IT would take a far stronger force than
their own to dslodge them from the strategic
positions they occupy. The occurrences OF the
next few days are anxiously awaited.
Last night the insurgents who are besieging
the blockhouses at Malaxa made an attempt 10
blow the place up with dynamite. but were
frustrated by the vigilance Of the Mosem de-
tenders. For several hours after the failure OF
the attempt there lively fusillade but
the result is not known here.
A similar attempt was made upon the fort at
Keratini and here the insurgents were more
walls Of the fort killed four Turks and wounded
many others The Turks though brave fight
ers have been made nervous by the use OF dyna-
mite by the insurgents, this being a method of
warfare Of which they have had no expert
ence.
Athens March THE time for Grecces for
NAL reply TO the ultmatum Of the combined
Powers is rapidly drawing Nigh and though II IS
generally known that that reply will be re-
fusal of the terms that are sought to be imposed.
there Is intense anxiety that the answer be de-
livered II is known that all Europe is alert to
hear the words Of Greece, which, perhaps, will
mean much to the armed millions who have
never actually followed the grim trade of 1t
Is believed that the life or death Of thousands
Of men hangs upon the worCs that Greece will
sreak and these words. therefore. not to
be lightly spoken But Greece is firm In her
solve not to bow to the mandate OF those
called Christian Powers which have practically
expressed their willingness 20 go to the extreme
Of war TO support the rule of Turkey The hith-
erto impotent concert of Europe Will in few
hours find its embarrassments increased by the
defiance OF Greece, and the Greeks will accept
the arbtrament OF a war rather than drag their
national honor in the dust by submitting to the
orders OF the allies OF tn. Turk
1t is evident that the Powers intend to carry
into effect their threat TO blockade the Piraeus.
the port Of Athens, as soon as Greece's answer is
delivered to them. A number Of the warships OF
Great Britain and the other Powers are now In
the vicinity of the Piraeus and 1t is believed that
they are there for the sole purpose Of blockadng
the port
The one bright spot In the situation to-day Is
that the enforcement Of the recent decree calling
out the last two remaining classes of reserves
mas been postponed. In diplomatic circles this Is
taken TO mean that there will be afforded an op-
portunity for further negotiations. though the