The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-26


Action in Regard to the Attacks Upon
the Armenians-Great Britain Makes "a
Suggestion That the Principal Ports of
Turkey Should Also BE Blockaded by
the Powers.
Constantinople, March 26.-[Copy-
righted, 1897, by the Associated Press. j
The change in the policy of Great Brit
ain has assumed definite shape. The
recent massacres of Armenians at To-
kat, the Danger of further outbreaks in
Anatolia and the action of the porte
in semi-ofiicially pointing out to the
Turkish press and provincial officials
that the blockade of the Island of Certe
by the fleets of the powers and the sup
port given to the Turkish forces by the
foreign fleets was a triumph for the
policy of the sultan have had their eff
feet is showing that the Christians in
Armenia are in danger of extermina-
tion.
Consequentlyit Is semi-officially stated
here that the British admiral in Gre
tan waters has been notified not to send
any warships of Great Britain to take
ports of Greece. At the same time,
however, in order apparently to avoid
an open rupture with the powers Great
Britain will acquiesce in the blockade
of the Greek ports.
Subject of Much Discussion.
According to the reports in diplomatic
circles here the powers have already
been notified to this effect and the with
drawal of Great Britain from the block
ade is the one subject discussed in court
and other circles. The sultans advisers
are making the best of the situation by
pointing to the fact that Great Britain
does not constitute the whole of Europe
and that so long as the sultan has the
support of Russia, France, Germany
and Austria he has nothing to fear from
Great Britain.
1t is whispered that France will, In
all probability, follow the example of
| Great Britain. France, it is explained,
could readily take this step without dis
turbing to any appreciable degree her
accord with Russia and it is added that,
in any case. the French government
would not risk taking part in the block
ade of Greece, which would be an act
of war, without first consulting the
chamber of deputies, whose approval of
the coercion policy is regarded here as
J being far from certain.
Blockade of Turkish Ports.
1t is stated that Great Britain has in
timated to the powers that if Greece is
blockaded steps should also be taken to
blockade the principal Turkish ports.
The latest move of Great Britain in the
eastern game has undoubtedly called a
halt for the present in the coercive
! measures and may, 1t is said, bring
! about their abandonment.
In the meanwhile, in view Of the inn
minent danger of a clash on the from
J tiers of Greece, which may bring about
/ a declaration of war between Greece
and Turkey, Great Britain has definite
| ly proposed to the powers that steps be
| taken to induce both Turkey and Greece
to withdraw their forces half a mile
from the actual frontier, thus leaving
mile of neutral ground between the
opposing armies. Greece, ii is eX-
planned. had previously made a similar
proposal to the Turkish government,
but the porte declined.
Insurgents Attack Fort.
The insurgents made a determined
attack upon the blockhouse, or fort, at
| Malaxa outside of Suda, Thursday.
} During the night the insurgent forces
were pushed forward until they occu-
pied convenient positions for attack,
and about a. m. the artillery opened
fire upon the Turkish blockhouse. The
| pieces of the Christians were served
with such admirable promptness and
precision so that in a short time moth
ing remained to the Turks but exter-
mipation or evacuation. The Mussul-
mans, preferring the latter, left the
fort and commenced a retreat on Suda,
relying upon the Turkish warships in
the bay to save them from the Chris
tians. The sultan's fleet opened bad
ly judged fire upon the insurgents. In
order to cover the retreat from the
blockhouse The shells fell either short
or far beyond the insurgent forces.
Consequently the Christians pushed for
ward steadily, pressing hard upon the
rear Of the Turks and keeping up a
continual skirmsh fire.