Evening journal., 1897-03-26
WAR SEEMS INEVITABLE
Crown Prince Constantin Takes
Command In Person.
TURKISH BLOoKHoUsE BLOWN UP

Insurgents Capture and Destroy a Fort
In Crete and Are Then sheiled by the
sultan's Warships Incident Likely
to Hasten Hostnities In Thessaly.
ATHENS, March 26--Tho news Of the
dynamiting Of the Malaxa blockhouse at
o'clock last night, as the elimination OF
a day Of fierce fighting and a prolonged
siege has made a tremendous sensation
here It is regarded rs an event of far
reaching importance, both in its effect up
on tho insurgents themselves and upon
the Greok mind at this stage Of the crisis.
1t confirms the belief generally enter
tainod here in official circles as well as by
the people at large that the Christians in
Crete are not in tho least deferred by the
blockade and not in the least beguiled by
the appeals Of the admirals or the implied
arguments of the autonomy proclamation.
Advlces from Khania as TO the details
Of the days fighting show that the insur-
gents displayed the most desperate valor
and left the Turkish garrison Of the block
house no choice but flight Evacuation by
the Moslems 0as followed Immediately by
occupation by the insurgents, who were
close upon the heels OF the flying foe
To hold the blockhouso in the face of tho
rain Of shells from the Turkish warships
In Suda bay was impossible. The COM
mender Of the insurgents having resolved
that If they could not keep it neither
should the Moslems, blow tho whole struo-
ture into fragments with successive heavy
charges of dynamite. The long fought for
blockhouse is now mass OF burning do
bris.
Further advices from Khania say that
the fleets fired 80 shells upon the insur-
gents around Malaxa, and some Of these
shells fell inside the blockhouse. OF the
Turkish garrison numbering G4. ono es-
capped to Nerokhuri and is others to Suda.
1t is believed that the others rerished.
Immediately on receipt of the news NJ.
Delyannis and the minister of war drove
together rapidly to the royal palace, where
they had an audience with the king. What
happened there can only be guessed at
but one thing is significant, King George
and the cabinet have given the consent
they had withheld for the last four days
to the formal gazetting of the Crown
Prince Constantin as commander in chief
of the Greek army in Thessaly.
Greece Determined.
The departure of the crown prince with
the full approval Of the king and the cab
met to take supreme control Of the army
government is determined not to accept
the terms offered by the powers for peace
full settlement of the Cretan difficulties.
His presence among the troops is certain
to have the most exhilarating effect upon
them, and it is notice to Turkey that If a
conflict comes the Greek troops will enter
it under the leader of their own choice.
The step thus taken is mOmentous
The military preparations 90 on unceas-
ipgly upon a large scale Contracts are
being placed abroad for blankets and cloth
for uniforms as well as other equipments.
The Greek newspapers continue with
one voice to denounoe the proposal thai
Prince George should become the governor
of Crete, and it is generally felt that the
temper Of the people is such that this solu
tion could not now be accepted by the gov
ernment even if the powers were willing
to accept It.
The news Of Lord Salisbury s expected
interview with M. Hanotaux has made q
great sensation and it is regarded rs the
only possible chance of arriving at a set
Element which will avert war.
Already an agitation has begun for the
return Of the czar's donation for the bene
fit Of tho Cretan refugees More than tn S
the people now demand that the clergy
shall cease to pray for the car
Thousands of signatures arc appended
to protest by Cretans against the block
ade, which runs in part as follows;
1--WE Cretans sojourning in Greece pro
test before God and man against the un
lust and inhuman death which some O
the great potentatos of the earth seek Il
impose by famine upon our fellow coun
trymen, whose only crime is that they ar
seeking for freedom, as those potentate
themselves have formerly done.