, 1897-04-14
MISREPRESENTATION
DAILY PROLONGED MEETINGS OF
MINISTER'S AT CONSTAN-
TINOPLE.
In Spite of Official Denials, No One
Doubts But That Greek officials
Were Fully Cognizant OF the Move
men of the Irregulars-A Very
Evasive Reply From Greece.

Athens, April 13.-Here and at Con-
stantinople there are daily prolonged
meetings of councils of ministers, and it
is generally recognized that there must
be a decided change before. long. Both
Greece and Turkey are trying to avoid.
if possible, being classed as the aggress-
or in the conflict which Is apparently
impending and for this reason are act
ing with the greatest caution. The Greek
National league, or Ethnike Hetairia, is
no party to this attitude Of the govern
ment's and has already pushed forward
a force Of 5000 irregulars well armed,
supplied and equipped, accompanied by
an ample commissary corps. through
Turkish lines with a two fold object OF
cutting off communication between
Turkish headquarters in Albania, at
Janina, where Haiku Pasha is in COM
mand and getting in the rear Of the
Turks, raising Macedonia against the
rule of the sultan, and forming bands
OF irregulars who will harrass the Turk
ish rer while the regular Greek army
does the real fighting in front. In spite
Of all official denials nobody doubts that
the Greek officials were fully cogniZant
of the movement of Ethnike Hetairia,
which was openly prepared for and free
ly discussed for a long time. 1t is an
open secret here that by the end OF the
present week at least 10000 Greek irreg-
ulars will be in Macedonia, Albania and
Epirus. having been sent under the pre-
tense OF maintaining the status quo in
obedience to representations to the pow
ers. The Turkish ministers at Athens
yesterday called the attention of NJ.
Skouzes, the Greek minister OF foreign
affairs, to the departure from Greece of
further irregular forces into Macedonia,
complaining OF their being able to
evade the Greek troops. 4 reply SINH
lar to the one previously made by the
Greek premier, NJ. Delyannis, namely,
that Greece might make some complaint
as to vigilance OF Turkish troops.
The next important move will be from
Greek headquarters at Arta, where the
banks and principal stores, etc., are
closing and removing into the interior
and every other preparation possible is
being made to get out of harms way
before war begins in earnest. At Arta,
it is well-known here, that a force OF
about 1900 men organized by ,Ithnike
Hetairia either started for Turkish ter
ritory or are making final preparations
for so doing. This body will be divided
into six separate detachments each ably
directed and having a separate destina-
ton. The Greek government has given
strict orders to stop the departure OF
this force of irregulars, but it Is semi
officially explained that the Greek con
mander at Arta, Colonel Manos, is 'un-
able to spare men to intercept them.
Another force of %irregulars is preparing
To cut off Turkish communications with
Salonica, from where the Turks at Elias
soma derive their supplies. II the at
tempt is successful three Turkish army
divisions will be cut off from communi-
cation with each other. The Greek fleet
proposes to make things lively of Sa-
lonica in order to prevent the landing
OF any supplies there. A strong fleet is
Off Arta ready to render effective SER
vice in that direction. Another Greek
fleet off the island of Skirathos Is pre-
pared to strike at Salonica; another Is
of the island Of Skyro, prepared to at
tack the Turkish islands in the Aegean
sea.