The herald., 1897-03-19

ttons as given out
1t is understood In the house Of com
mons that Sir william Harcourt would
shortly take up Mr.. Balfours challenge
and move an address to the crown on
iCretan affairs.
Apparently the blockade of the island
of Cfete does not begin until Sunday
next, but the situation is very puzzling.
Sir William Harcourt tried to obtain
light on the subject. Mr.. ,Balfour re-
fused to be drawn into any definite state
ment.
| WAR DEMANDED.
LONDON, March 1S.-Popular opinion
in Greece, says the Times correspond
ent at Athens, imperatively demands an
early declaration of war with Turkey.
The idea is that Europe would then be
compelled to adopt a neutral attitude.
1t is agreed that the Greek fleet could
conquer the islands in the Aegean sea.
including Samar. while the Greek army,
assisted by insurgent bands, could rap
| idly overrun Macedonia.
| 1t is suggested that as the conditions
in Crete do not give sufficient pretext
| for declaration of war, more valid
excuse can be found in the refusal of
| Turkey to concede to Greece the terri
tory assigned to her at the Berlin con-
vention. The boundary line as speci-
fled in the Berlin treaty, started at the
mouth of the Kalamo river opposite the
island of Corfu. and this would have in
cluded in Grecian territory Janina and
the town of Moezovo.
But the powers failed to enforce the
conference, and Greece, despite her pro
test, was obliged to accept the present
frontier, which was ratified at Constan-
tinople in August, 1891. 1t must be ad-
mitted, says the Times correspondent,
that Greece has Legitimate grounds of
complaint against the great powers, anu
| Turkey, and 1t is thought by good judges
of rGeek policy at Athens that If the
boundary fixed by the conference We're
conceded, Greece would willingly aban-
don her pretensions in Crete. AT pres
ent, however, the powers do not seem in
mood to negotiate.
The Greek vice consuls at Tetimo and
Gambia have informed the government
| that the telegraph offices refuse to trans
nit their cipher dispatches to the gov
ernment or deliver kilograms sent by
the government. Whatever justification
there may be for this step of censorship
of press kilograms, which it is reported
the admirals have consented to take at
4 Gambia, it is an ominous retrograde ac-
compartment to the proclama ton of au-
tonomous government.
1t is announced from a Greek source
that Lord Salisbury has suggested to the
powers that each should contribute
10000 towards the expense Of estab-
[,lishing autonomy in Crete.
A dispatch to the Times from Canea
says the admirals have accepted the
British consul,s proposition to amend the
autonomy proclamation By adding:
while remaining under the suzerainty
! of the sultan. Cretans will be free of all
control of the porte in any interna-
| tional affairs of the island"
LONDON, March 1S.-The Athens cor
respondent of the Daily Chronicle de-
clares that Greece has set her back
against the wall and is prepared for the
worst. The Chronicle correspondent,
who is Henry Norman. says this opinion
sums up the result of his visit to the
frontier, and adds THE Greek fleet
which 1 visited yesterday, and whose
present whereabouts are unknown 10
the foreign legation, are watching the
Turkish torpedo boats off one of the
northern islands. I should advise the
| German warship Kaiserin Augusta "a
avoid this fleet, which is eagerly await
ing her."
| THE ADMIRALS READY.
| CANEA, March 1S.-The admira1s of
| the foreign fleets in, these waters have
telegraphed to their respective am
'bassardors at Constantinople no.
tifying them of the blockade OF
the island of Crete. Warships will
be snt to tour the island and give the
mayors of the chief ports copies of the
proclamation of autonomy and the an
nouncement of the blockade. 1t is un-
derstood that the admirals will compel
the Greek warship Pinior to leave the
| Cretan waters tomorrow. Colonel Vas
SOS is gathering great quantities of pro-
visions together at his new camp at
Sphakia, situated in one of the mount
ainous and inaccessible portions of the
| islandisland. The Greek commander is
showing no signs of any intention OF
evacuating the island, and consequently
it is believed he has received orders 20
remain in occupation in spite of the OPP
position of the powers.
The Austrian gunboat Zebenico fired
upon and sunk near Gambia Greek yes
sci loaded with provisions and munitions
intended for the Greek forces in Crete.
The Zebenico, while watching the Greek
ships, was fired upon by the insurgents.
The Austrian warship replied by sink
ing the Greek craft and driving off the
insurgents 1t is feared this news will
crafty irritate the populace at Athens
and have the effect of precipitating the
crisis the powers are striving In every
way possible to avoid.
There We're sharp engagements be-
tween the Turks and Cretans this morn
ing outside of Retimo.
The foreign troops which are to consti-
tute the occupying forces of the powers
have been located as follows: The
French will occupy Sitia and Spina-
longa the British, Gambia; the Rus
slams, Retimo; the Germans, Canea and
Suda bay. The Russian commander al
ready has notified the governor Of Re-
timo Of his intention to land 300 troops
TREATIES IGNORED
IN