Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-29
70 PROLONG ARMISTN1E.
The Turkish Ministry in No Hurry
to Resume Hostilities.
THERETRooEssIoN OF THEssALY.
The Turks Refuse Even to Discuss
That Matter. Assuming That the
Province Must Be Coded to Turkey
Rail- Exfles an italian Leader.


Ralli Exfles an italian Leader.
London. May 27.-The correspondent
of The Standard at Constantinople
says: The council of ministers has de-
cided to prolong the arnistice. 1t will
refuse even to discuss the retrocession
of Thessaly, but will leave the other
points for consideration to the powers
So far as the note to the European ar
bitrators is concerned, there can be nc
doubt that, whether the sultan is only
bluffing or is the victim of popular
pressure, a peace such as Europe ex-
poets cannot be arranged without risk
of the gravest complications.
The grand vizier on Saturday pre-
scented a report to the sultan urging
that the whole of Islam was fully de-
termined to retain Thessaly, and add
ing: Your majesty proved victorious
in Armenian and other matters when
you firmly refused to be dictated to
by Europe. Therefore you should be
equally firm on this occasion. But If
my views are unpalatable to your ma
jesty 1 beg of you to accept my resig-
nation"
1t now appears that the armistice
was for three days only, and nothing
but the energy of the powers secured
an extension for a fortnight. The story
is current that wounded Turkish SOL
dier at the Yildiz hospital, on being in
vited by the sultan to proffer a dying
request, implored him not to yield up
Thessaly. The sultan grew pale, and
his eyes filled with tears.
Seyfullah Bey, chief of staff to the
sultan and the Won Moltke of the cam
paign, has been summoned to Constan-
tinople.
The Athens correspondent of The
Standard reports an interview with M.
Ralli, in the course of which the pre-
mier said he was very grateful to Eng
land for her firmness, as this might
result in saving the corn crop in Thes-
sally, valued at e1,000000. If the
Turkish troops should withdraw with
in fortnight, he said, the crop might
be harvested, but if the withdrawal
were delayed for a month the whole
would be sacrificed, entailing loss to
Greece of quite 100000, since, If the
crop were lost, the government would
be obliged to feed the peasants and
to incur other expenses.
With reference to the alleged loan
negotiations, M. Ralli said the proposal
was merely to renew the treasury
bonds authorized by the former min
istry for war purposes.
The Athens correspondent of The
Times says 1t is believed that COM
plications have arisen owing to the
advocacy by some of the powers, in
Guiding Russia, of a Turkish occupa-
ton of Thessaly until the indemnity Is
paid, and to England's firm resistance
to such a project. The Greek govern
ment is preparing for a possible re-
newal of the war.
A dispatch from Larissa says the i'm
preston is general among the Turkish
troops that there will be more fight
ing. A brigade of redifi has started
for Phourlla, armed with Mausers, and
a dispatch to The Standard from
Athens says that the municipal au-
thorities have conferred the freedom
of the city upon General Riccotti Carl
baldi and Amilcare Cipriani, the
italian socialist leader, in recogi-
ton of their eminent service in the
field"
Another Athens dispatch says: An
exciting scene took place at the min
istry of marine yesterday Signor Di
Felice, the italian socialist leader,
rudely accosted and insulted NJ Ralli,
the Greek premier The latter i'm
mediately summoned the police and
had Di Felice put on board the italian
ironclad Sardegna, lying off the Pr
raeus. with a request that he be not
allowed to again set foot on Greek
soil
Ralli had courteously asked Di
Felice for his assistance in inducing the
Italians to return to Italy. Di Felice, in
the most insulting manner, declined to
be dictated to, and accused the Greeks
of stealing the clothing of the Italians.
When M. Rail- summoned the police
Di Felice went ON the balcony and
shouted for the Garibaldians to come
to his assistance, but his appeal was
ignored. At first he declined to ac-
company the project of police, and con-
tinued his VolleyS of abuse until the
project summoned the gendarmes,
when Di Felice offered to go quietly.
AS soon as he was on board the IRON
clad Di Felice was liberated at the re-
quest of the Italian minister, the Duke
of Avarna, on his solemn promise to
quit Greece without provoking further
incidents.