The news & observer., 1897-02-13
Sultan Defied by King George
OF Greece.
GREEK FLOTILLA FIRM
BLUE JACKETS AND MARINES
HELD BACK AS YET.
POWERS NOT AGAINST GREECE
Though England May Not Take the
initiative, the insurgents Seemingly
Have Tacit encouragement in
the Midst of the Panic.

copyright 1897 by the Associated
Press
Athens, Feb 1.-THE war-like ex-
citement in this city and in the province
continues, increasing with the departure
Of troops for the frontier and the equip
ping Of additional war vessels for ser,
vice in Cretan waters. Nobody seems
to doubt that a clash at arms will occur
between Greece and Turkey unless the
powers intervene; but it is believed here
that Greece will be given free hand
in Crete, and that if she succeeds in an
nexing that island her right to do so
will not be questioned by the rest of
Europe. That the present trouble in
/ Crete has been brewing for a long time
nobody pretends to deny, and it is equal
~ certain that King George has not
acted without consulting with his friends
in sending the torpedo Flotilla into Gre
tan waters with instructions to prevent
at all hazards the landing of Turkish
troops on Crete. The independence Of
the island is said to have been proclaim
ed, and the Cretan revolutionary COM
mittee is openly shipping arms, ammuni-
tion and supplies to the insurgents.
Beyond the fact that the Porte is un-
derstood to have appealed to the powers
to restrict Greece in this emergency,
nothing seems to be known of the policy
| Turkey is adopting, though it is reported
that a large force Of Turkish troops is
assembling at Salonika for embarkation
to Crete, that there is great activity in
military circles on the Turkish frontier,
and that portion of the Turkish feet
is being prepared for active service.
Advices received here form Canea to-
day say that George Berovitch Pasha,
the Turkish Governor of Crete, sought
refuge last evening in the Greek Consul
late at Canea, fearing the anger Of the
Mussulmans and dreading arrest 1t is
understood that Berovitch Pasha had
previously rendered mis- resignation, and
that the Sultan had refused to accept it.
The wife Of Berovitch Pasha has been
ut the French Consulate since Wednes-
day, having sought refuge there on the
advice of her husband. The latter is
said to have fallen into disgrace with the
Sultan because he supported the chris
tians in the representations they made
against Turkish oppression.
In reply to the request which the
Turkish Minister here, Assim Bey, made
yesterday for an explanation of the de-
parture of the Greek FlotiIla for Crete,
and the issuing of the note to the pow
ers stating in brief that Greece cannot
remain inactive in view of the present
outrages upon christians in Crete, the
government Of Crete says that the meas
ures taken are due to a desire not to
discourage the christians from occupying
Halepa at a moment when an attack
uDGn that town is threatened
1t is added that q detachment of sail
ors from the Greek warships have been
landed at Halepa in order to protect the
Consulate of Greece in that town.
The down of Canea is now said to be
tolerably quiet; but it is estimated that
from four to FIVE thousand insurgents are
gathered about that place, awaiting re-
enI0rcements and arms and ammunition,
which have been promised them by those
IN sympathmy with the revolutionary
movement at Sphakia and other places.
when the re-enfOrcements arrive, ii is
stated, the insurgents will attack Canea
in force.
1T is known here that the Turkish Of
ficials in Crete have reported to the
Porte that it is absolutely impossible to
pacify the island without a very large
force of troops and the occupation OF
every town, village and mountain strong
hold in the country. The hatred which
has always existed between the Mussul-
mans and the Christians has been famed
into fever heat by the recent collisions
between the insurgents and the Turks
and this feeling has been still further
intensified by the proclamation of the in
dependence Of Crete from Turkish rule
and It's union with the kingdom of Greece.
foa1 fiiypf-o nF H.
ture are reported from many parts of the
island and Heraklion is said to have been
the scene of another and most grave out
break. The town is said to have been
set on fire at a number of points. The
foreign fleets have left Canea for Herak-
lion, which seems to confirm the report
that 1t is now the centre Of disturbance.
Other reports say that the situation at
Retlmo is almost as serious as at Herak-
lion. The Turks at Retimo, it appears.
refuse to allow the Christians to leave
the place until a detachment of one hum
dred Turkish soldiers and forty Mussul-
mems who are held at Ammari as hostages
are released.
The opinion expressed in official circles
here is that nothing short OF a landing of
blue jackets and marines from the for
elgn fleets win have the effect Of sub
Dung the insurrection and it is not be-
heyed that the powers can agree to take
this step. Under these circumstances,
therefore Greece feels justified in adopt
ing the course which she judges to be
the best under the circumstances and she
will do so at any cost, even that Of
conflict with Turkey.
The report that Great Britain will, if
necessary, take the initiniatiye in pre-
<c..