The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-01
CRETE WINS.
Negotiations for Removal Of
the Turks
From the Island of Crete as
Soon as Possible.
THE POWERS ACT.
THE POWERS
Position of the Turks on the Is
land UntenabIe.
Big British Steamer ExplOdes
Bombs Among YassOs Men.

London, April 1.-The Westminster
Gazette this afternoon publishes a dis
patch from ConstantinopIe which says
that, acting upon the instructions of
their respective. governments, the am
bassadors of the powers have opened
confidential negotiations with the
Turkish government for the definite
withdrawal of the Turkish troops from
Crete.
Athens, April 1.-ColoneI Vassos has
photographed the following message to
King George: Contrary to their prom
ises, the admirals have permitted bands
of armed Mussulmans at Candaimo to
pillage and burn houses outside that
town, while every act of defense of the,
present Christians provokes. lombard
ment by the foreign warships. The ad-
mirals send their governments false dis
patches declaring that I am guilty of
cfuelt1eS, that have maSSa cred pris-
Oners taken at Malaxa, and despite my
solemn declaration to the contrary,
I intend to attack Canea- I shall ad-
dress to the admirals a protest" "
Colonel VassOs, in pursuance of the
promise he made in his heliograph
message to King George, has sent a
strongly worded protest to the admir-
ais.
The insurgents, by a bold stroke. oc-
cupied the hill on the south side of
Suda bay last evening. They were
promptly shelled by the British, Aus
trian and Russian warships. At day
break today the firing was resumed and
the Cretans were driven out. AS soon
as the firing ceased they made another
attempt to recover the ground and the
warships promptly resumed the firing.
which was heavy for several hours.
During the cannOnade three Turks were
killed and five wounded.
The Russian consul at RetimO re-
W
the Cretans at SipOhulos the proclama-
tion of the admirals inviting them to
lay down their arms, the Cretans re-
piled that the only boon they would
accept from the powers was political
union with Greece.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGHT.
London, April 1.-The Canea CORE
spondent of the Standard says, in de-
: scrfbing the bombardment by the for
eign warships of the position taken up
by the insurgents on the hill to the
south of Suda bay, last evening:
when the Cretans began the attack
Bor proposed to the adnfrals that they
should land a mixed force of 800 men
to drive the insurgents from the posi-
ton that they occupied behind a-strong
wall along a ravine. The Austrian
and French admiraIs were opposed to
taking the offensive and decided to con-
fine their action to firing from the
ships The Turkish guns in Fort Isze-
lin could take only a small part in the
firing, as most of them were directed
southwark, but the Turkish tTigate
shelled the insurgents freely, though
with little effect An hour later the
foreign men-Of-War Signalled their IN
tention to lombard. The Groziastlchy
fired first then H. NJ. S. Ardent and
finally the Austrian gunboat I1ger-
Each vessel fired n its turn, aiming
chiefly at the Greek flag, which was
hoisted above the stone wall Ihe Ar
dent ceased firing at $40 but the Gro
Elasticity, running close in, by degrees
VaTQ
every shot telling.
I'm spite of the heavy cannonade the
Cretans held their ground stoutly even
throwing out SkirmiSherS to repel the
Turkish OutpOStS. though they were
compelled to abandon their own prtn-
cipai positions behind the stone wall:
At $40 am. H NJ. S. .Camperdown. the
Ia 1.gest of the irOncladS began firing
inch shells. The Cretans thereupon re
tired but continued a heavy fire until
10 o'clock when the CamperdOwn at q
range of 400 yards, fired her big guns.
The effect was instantaneous
..Three ont of four of the shells burst
directly in the center OF the lnsurgenr
position and the Cretans fled helter-
'sThe aim of the gunners was perfect.
while the formidable noise of the enOr-
NOUS shells hurting through the air
was enough to frighten any enemy
Things were now getting too not 10
last and the insurgents flag was lower
ed The CretanS in full retreat were
FASTENED by the fire of the Grosziasti-
chy and the Tiger, which poured IN,
with extreme accuracy of aim, a sue
cession of shells.
.sAt 1O:15 the last shell fell. Seeing
that the object of bOmbardment was
accomplished the Russian and Aus
trian war ships steamed away for
blockade service. The Ardent return
ed to Suda The Turkish soldiers stay
ed in the forts owing 10 the posllou
held by the insurgents and hOlsteu life
ottoman flag with evident joy
.'At 1870 a.. m. the Turks were sun
pouring a rafting rifle fire upon the re
treating masses of the insurgents, Who
replied with wonderful spirit The
splendid defense of the position excited
the admiration of all.
Until the CamperdOWn began TO nre
heavy shells the insurgents rather gain
ed than lost ground, in spite Of the tre-
rnendous fire of the Russian and Aus
trian vessels. Altogether ABOUT lUO
shells were fired.
London. April 1.-At a banquet given
in his honor last evening at the Ma
tional Liberal club, Lord Kim berry,
leader of the liberal party in the house
of lords. severely arraigned the powers
for their proclamations in dealing with
the Greece Cretan affair. He complain
ed that every action was taken too Iale
TO accomplish the end designed
ssThe sultan he said, should be re-
o11ired to move his troops from the IS
land of Crete instanter, and if he re-
fuses then the powers ought to remove
them"
State Forestry Commissioners.