The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-23
CRETAN ROW STILL CRITICAL.
RUSSIA SAID TO HAVE MADE A
DEAL WITH THE SULTAN.

Integrity of the Ottoman Empire
Guaranteed in Return For the
Session to Russia Of an Island in
the ELECTROMAGNETIC Post
Announces That the Powers Are
Unable to Reach an Agreement.
Situation of the Turkish Garrison
in the Fort at NIGIaxn Critical.
Canea, March 22.-The outlook in this
city and vicinity is not very re assuring,
The situation of the Turkish garrison
in the fort at Malaxa Is very critical. The
place is besieged by insurgents, and the
Turkish troops have not enough provisions
to last them more than two days. At
tempts have been made to re-victual the
fort, but the insurgents have rendered the
efforts fruitless.
If the Christians capture the forts at
Malaxa and Kerotde, which 1t now APP
pears highly probable they will do, Canea
viii be virtually blockaded landward.
1t is estimated that nearly half of all
the Mussulman inhabitants of the island
have sought refuge here. Their number
is so large that space within the Gordon is
cases they are herded like animals. Meas
ures are being taken to extend the Turkish
lines with the help of the foreign detach
ment on duty here. In the present tenn
per Of the insurgents near the city this is
considered to be a hazardous experiment.
Athens. March 22-King George
had long interview to-day
with NJ. Onou, the Rus
sian minister, after which he summoned
Prime Minister Delyannis, to whom he
gave a prolonged audience.
The government has ordered the enroll
ment of all robust citizens, not otherwise
liable to military service, to form militia
force to guard the towns in the absence
of the troops.
Advices were received here to-day that
a cannon exploded in the Turkish camp at
Elassona, killing officers and eight sol
diers.
After his audience with the king, M.
Delyannis summoned a meeting of the
cabinet. The council Is supposed to have
discussed the naval preparations which
Greece is making in the Gulf of Arta,
which are reported to have produced I'M
easiness in St. Petersburg.
There is a scarcity of horses for army
purposes, and the government has issued
a requisition for all the best horses here
to be used by the troops. Many of the
wealthy residents of the city and vicinity
have turned all of their horses over to
the government. glad of the opportunity
thus furnished them of aiding in this way
the cause OF Greece.
Berlin, March 22-The Post which
is known as the ambassadors
organ says semi-oficially to-day
that it seems that an agreement be-
tween the powers on the Cretan question
cannot be reached. 1t adds that If Ger
many's efforts to maintain the peace do
not meet with the support of other pow
ers, she will not further lend her dlsn-
terested services to that end.
Copenhagen, March 22.-The Berllngske
Tidene asserts that an agreement has been
entered into between Russia and Turkey
by which the former guarantees the in
tegrity of the Ottoman empire in consider
alton of the cession by Turkey to Russia
of an island in the Mediterranean and the
peninsular of Mount Athos. on the Aegean
sea.
Vienna. March 22.-The Neue Freie
Presse says that England with a view Of
preventing a collision between the Turks
and Greeks on the Thessalonian and the
Turkish frontier, will propose to the
established mile on either side of the
border.
London, March 22.-In the House of
Commons to-day the Rt. Hon. George NJ
Curzon. parliamentary secretary of the
foreign Office, stated that Sir Alfred Bill
ietto, the British consul at Canea, had
reported to the government the text of an
interview had on Friday last by the adj
mirals of the warships in Cretan waters
with the chiefs of the insurgents The
chiefs did not approve, of the scheme of
the powers to grant autonomy to the
island, and declared that nothing but an
nexation to Greece would satisfy them
The Times tomorrow Will publish a
long dispatch from Athens. the gist Of
which is that the Greek government, real
izing the gravity of the situation, and
not sharing in the war fever prevailing
in the army and populaee, Is sincerely
seeking a solution of the present troubles
1t awaits with anxiety the efforts toward
a compromise that are being made by the
powers friendly to it, and is doing every
thing In its power to check the troops and
prevent an outbreak on the frontier.