Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-20
ACTION OF THE POWERS
Will Probable Use Their Fleets to Compel
a Cessation of Hostilities.

ACTION OF THE POWERS
Will Probable Use Their Fleets to Compel
Cessation of Hostilities.
London. April 2O.-ICopyrighted. 1891.
by the Associated Press. lin spite of
the fact that the hostilities on the Greek
frontier have caused but little excite
ment here, communications are in
progress continually between the for
eign office and Rome, France and
Athens. 1t is reported that among the
other matters considered is the ex-
pediency of ordering the International
fleets to leave Cretan waters and to go
in the direction Of Salonica and the
Dardanelles, to watch the fighting with
view to localizing it if necessary by
naval Intervention. Should this sug-
gestion, which is understood to emanate
from the italian foreign office, be acted
upon it is probable that only half the
fleet of foreign warships would be with
drawn for such a purpose, the other
half remaining to continue the Cretan
blockade.
There is said to be a sharp difference
of opinion between the military powers
Russia, Austria-Hungary and Ger
maryland the maritime powers-Great
Britain, France and Italy-as to the
most expeditions and least violent
methods of compelling a cessation of
hostilities, should this result not be
reached by the exercise Of diplomatic
pressure at Athens and Constantinople.
The likelihood is that the force to be
employed by Europe, if resort to force
becomes necessary, would be by sea,
as the contingencies of military inter-
vention might be more serious than the
hostilities now in progress.
| 1t is reported at the foreign office that
a communication received here yester-
day from the Marquis of Salisbury,
after his interview with Queen Vic
toria at Nice, supports the theory
that the British government is using
| Its utmost energy to persuade both the
combatants to make a cessation of the
| conflict at the stage which it has now
| reached. NJ. Hanctaux, who received
the Greek minister to France yesterday
is understood to have assured him that
| while France could not tolerate the in
| definite prolongation of war, and would
never consent to any essential modifica-
ton of the existing territories of Greece
! and Turkey, she would continue for the
| present her policy of non-intervention.
except so far as Intervention might be
necessary to prevent the spread of the
| contest to other ccmbatants
The situation on the frontier has not,
according to the latest advices, been
| materially modified. Both the Turks
| and the Greeks are resting from the ire
mendous exertions of Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. The troops of Edhem
Pasha were half dead with fatigue and
hunger when the firing slackened Sun
| day night. Most of them flung them.
selves down where they stood on the
bare ground to sleep. The Turkish
commander-in-chief prudently decided
to allow his army to rest yesterday.
| AS details come in it becomes more ap-
parent that the fighting in Milouna
| rass was of the most stubborn and saw
| age character. The Turks fought like
| devils. and the Greeks resisted in the
| spirit ofStheir ancestors.
The most inexplicable fact in connec-
ton with the whole engagement is the
| comparatively small number killed. All
| the special correspondents agree to this.
The Turks appear to have fired as Wild
| ly with their rifles at Milouna pass as
they did at Arta, where the fighting
| consisted of an artillery duel between
| the rival batteries on each side OF the
river lasting about four hours in the
| afternoon. There they fired only one
out Of five shots with any effect. and
| their batteries were soon silenced by the
u Greeks. whose craftsmanship was very
much superior The Turkish losses at
Arta are believed to have been very
heavy. On the Greek side there was
rot a man killed.
French Policy ON the Trouble.
Paris, April 20.-At cabinet meeting
held yesterday morning it was decided
not to modify the policy Of non-interven-
ton in Greco Turkish affairs previous
y adopted by France. At the request ct
| the Greek minister at Consfantinople,
Prince Mavrocordato. the French en-
bassy there has been authorized to take
| Under its protection the Greek Roman
/ Catholics in Turkey. At the close Of
! the cabinet meeting NJ Hanotaux. the
. minister Of foreign affairs. received the
! Greek minister to France.