The herald., 1897-02-13

indicate increasing gravity in the situa-
ton. The MOhammedans of Sitia ap-
! parently have been hard pressed by the
Christians. They sent an urgent re-
| quest to the governor at Heraklion ask
| ing him to send troops Immediately. The
governor ordered 500 Bashi Bazouks to
| embark, but rescinded the order, owing
| to the opposition on the part of the pow
ers.
| The Mohammedans at Selino has been
besieged for several days days. 1t Is said
| twenty persons, including girl have
been killed and another girl kidnapped.
| 1t is also announced that Christians fired
| upon the arsenal at Suda on Thursday,
but retired when the troops replied with
artillery.
The consuls at Retimo report that de-
spite the setting at liberty of the Moham-
| medans in the surrounding villages, the
Moslems at Retimo continue to pillage
the shops of the Christians and threaten
to burn their houses. Several buildings
owned by Christians have been blown up
by dynamite. In the sections surround
ing Retimo the Christians are reduced
to despair.
The British vice consul at Heraklion
has been ordered to send all the subjects
of Great Britain ON the men-of-war un
less lne ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS dCllNely ISSiol
the movement The situation at Herak-
lion is unchanged.
Mr. Albert Billotti. British consul for
Crete, has delayed his departure for
Heraklion, owing to the serious compli-
cations at Canea.
The companies of troops which were
sent for the purpose of reinstating the
refugees at Bukolies have been besieged
by the Christians for the last ten days
and all means of communication cut off.
should they surrender and be massacred,
1t is feared the army would break loose
from all restraint.
Over 200 refugees are reported as being
shut up in the Chrysophege monastery
near Suda. Their only hope of liberation
lies in the intervention by the consuls,
but nothing has been done in the matter
yet.
A dispatch to the Times from Athens
SAYS in spite of obstinate official silence
it is known something is happening on
the Turkish frontier necessitating the
movement of troops in that section. The
Turkish authorities are aware of the
difficulty and are taking serious precau-
| tions against Greece owing to the crit
| ical state of feeling. Macedonia has
! organized large bodies of Albanian
| Ghegs, ready to invade Thessaly and
| engage in guerilla warfare as seton to
the Grecian- Macedonian movement.
Whatever truth there is in this it is GER
tain there was unusual coMmotion In
military circles in Athens on Friday.
A dispatch to the Times from Vienna
saws that the powers have made repre-
sentationS to the Grecian government
which are not likely to be misunderstood
at Athens and which will not only check
Greece and prevent that country from
taking law into its own hands but which
will also pacify the sultan and prevent
.;s-,a - q
clan frontier.
The Paris correspondent of the Times
says it is the opinion in France that the
king of Greece has been assured of the
support of Russia so far as his designs
for a union OF Crete with Greece are
concerned. Another dispatch from Paris
announces that the second-class cruiser
Bugeaud and a French torpedo boat
will leave Toulon Tuesday for Canea.
A dispatch to the Times from Berlin
says the general situation inspired the
greatest apprehension. The Berlin Post
contains what is believed to be an in
spred statement that war between Tur-
key and Greece appears inevitable in
view of recent events.
The Post says Il seems to be hopeless
to expect the powers to do more than
prevent the conflict from extending to
the neighboring states. To exercise
wholesome influence that object must
be the first task of the German policy.
The report that German diplomacy was
supporting Greece, the Post announces
as a mere invention, and says Germany
cannot support Greece If she intends
with selfish aims to attack the island of
Crete while it is denuded of troops On
the contrary it must rather be regarded
that Turkey would be justified in send
ing troops across the Thessalian from
tier.
The Berlin correspondent ofthe Times
says there is no doubt that the foregoing
statements of the Berlin Post represent
Germany's official views, and if any
thing understates rather than overstates
the feeling prevailing in Berlin on the
subject of the Greek policy.
The correspondent finds no traces of
any opinion in Germany favoring the
policy recently adopted in Greece.
A TURKISH COUNCIL
ONSTANTINOPLE, Feb 12-It was
officially announced this evening that
council of ministers was held during the
day for the purpose of coming to de-
Cision regarding the attitude of Greece.
The war party here just now is very in
huential, but it is hoped a pacific set
tlement will yet be attained. At pres
ent there is no indication that the Turk
ish government has decided to send re-
Inducements to the island of Crete.