The record-union., 1897-03-26
lnSurgentS Attack and Drive the Turks
From the Fort at MalaXa.
Succeed in Blowing Up the Block
House With Dynamite.
At Latest Accounts the Turkish War
ships Were BOmbarding the lnsur-
Qents-The British Admiral Re-
ceives Orders Not to Actively Par
ticipate in the Proposed Blockade
of the Ports of Greece.

CANEA, March 25.-The insurgents
made determined attack upon the
blockhouse of the fort at MalaXa, out
side Suda to-day. During the night
the insurgent forces We're pushed for
ward until they occupied convenient po-
sitions for attack. About g a. m. their
artillery opened upon the Turkish
BlockhouSe. In a short time nothing
remained to the Turks but extermina-
ton or evacuation. The Mussulmans
commenced to retreat on the Suda, re-
lying upon the Turkish warships in the
bay to save them from the Christians.
The Sultan's fleet opened a badly
judged fire upon the insurgents, TO
cover the retreat from the Blockhouse.
The shells fell either short or far be-
yond the insurgent forces. Conse-
quently the Christians pushed forward
steadily, pressing hard upon the rear
of the Turks, keeping UP a continual
skirmish fire.
The Turks made a stand now and
then, pouring a few volleys in the di-
rection of the insurgents skirmish
lines The insurgents succeeded in push
they fired some houses.
While this fighting was in progress a
detachment of Turkish troops, being un-
aware that the garrison at the fort at
Malaxa was retreating upon Suda,
closely pursued by Christians, made
sortie from Canea with convoy of pro-
visions intended for the garrison at
MalaXa.
Near Keratidi the Turks were met by
the insurgents, who opened nerce
fire, which stopped the advance OF the
column The Turkish commander took
up the best position possible in order 10
protect the convoy. At noon, as TINS
dispatch was sent, the fighting between
the Turks and Christians near kera-
tidi was still in progress and the result
is uncertain. The Turkish garrison at
Nalaxa lost heavily during the retreat.
The insurgents occupy all the nights
in the vicinity of Canea as far as Per
ivolia, having captured the two last
Turkish fortresses. Only the fleet or
the Powers prevent the entire success OF
the insurgent cause.
The blockade all along the Cretan
Coast has not prevented several small
Greek vessels from landing ammunition
and provisions. The Greek vessel cap
tured by the Austrian gunboats had on
board sixty volunteers and quantity
of ammunition.
At 3:35 o. m, while the Turkish re-
Inducements We're vainly struggling TO
capture the nights above Nerakourou,
the Christians from Akrotiri attacked
the Turkish Gordon at Halepa, which
was keeping them at a distance with
mountain artillery. The fighting con-
tinues as this dispatch is being for
warded. the shots of the insurgents
reaching Morlevardia and Halepa.
6:30 o. m-The Christians still occu-
DIV the fort at Malaxa, out of which
they drove the Turks by bombardment,
in spite of shells which fell around 1t,
which set fire to the blockhouSe.
At o'clock this evening the insur-
gents succeeded in blowing up the
blockhouse at Malaxa with dynamite.
The whole structure is now in flames
and the Turkish warships are bonn
harding the insurgents.
CANEA, March 2J.-The warships of
the foreign Powers began firing upon
the Christians this afternoon. The bonn
bardment, however, continued only ten
minutes.
The fleets fired ninety shells upon the
insurgents around Malaxa. and some OF
these fell inside the blockhouse OF the
Turkish garrison. numbering sixty
four, one escaped TO Nerokhuri and
eighteen others 10 Suda. 1t is believed
that the others perished.
CONSTANTINE WILL TAKE COM
MAND.
ATHENS. March 25.-The news of
the dynamiting of the Malaxa block
house at o'clock tonight as the cul-
mination of day of fierce fighting and
a prolonged siege has made tremen-
dous sensation here. 1t is regarded as
an event of far-reaching importance
both in it's effect upon the insurgents
themselves and upon the Greek Minis
ters at this stage of the crisis. 1t is
generally believed in official circles. as
well as by the people at large. that the
Christians in Crete are not in the least
deferred by the blockade and not in
the least beguiled by the appeals of the
Admirals or the implied arguments OF
the autonomy proclamations.
Advices from Canea as to the details
of the days fighting show that the in
surgents displayed the most desperate
valor. and left the Turkish garrison OF
the blockhouse no choice but flight
Evacuation by the Moslems was fol-
lowed Immediately by the occupation
by the insurgents. who We're close upon
the heels of the flying foe. To hold
the blockhouse in the face of a rair
of shells from the Turkish warships ir
Suda Bay was impossible. The com
mander of the insurgents having re-
solved that they could not do it. deter
mined that the Moslems should not
and blew the whole structure into frag-
ments with successive heavy charges
of dynamite. At s O'Clock tonight the
long fought for blockhouse is mass oi
burning debris and the flames light vi
the blockaded waters of the bay.
Immediately on receipt of the news
Delyannis and the Minister CT Wal
drove rapidly together to the royal pal
ace, where they had an audience with
the King. What happened there car
only be guessed at. but one thing Il
significant, King George and the Cab
met have given their consent. which
they had withheld for the last foul
days, to the formal gazetting o.