The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-02
THE POWERS
GAME OF BLUFF
They Have Now Decided to "Blockade
the Port of Athens"
BUT EOT ALL THE CREEK PORTS
King George Gave Notice That a Blockade
Of the Whole Greek Coast Would be
the Signal For a Declaration
Of War Against Turkey.

dispatch from its Vienna correspondent.
| who says:
A council of the admirals was held
4 yesterday TO determine whether and
when the Gulf of Athens is to be block
AIDED. All the powers have now con-
sented to that proposition, though
nothing has been decided with respect
to the blockade of other Greek ports.
1t is no secret that King George has
formally stated to the powers that
declaration Of war against Turkey will
Immediately follow an extension of
blockade to the Greek coast. This fact
cannot be left out Of consideration. 1t
is believed in some quarters that if the
Gulf of Athens is blockaded popular
excitement will compel the king to de-
clare war, even if his own Judgment
and that of his cabinet were opposed.
This has been a leading cause Of the
delay in securing a unanimous agree
ment between the powers. There is no
doubt that in the event Of a Turko-
Greek war the Intervention of the pow
ers would be suspended.
The Times correspondent at Larissa
telegraphs: The first step Of the Crown
Prince Constantin in his new command
has been to hold a strategical council,
at which 1t was decided to create two
divisions of the army, with bases at
Larissa and Trikhala. Some of the
leading spirits of the Ethnike Hetairia
have been here recently, among them
the well known Alexandrian banker.
M, Goussios who is believed to be
largely responsible for financing the
mobilization.
The Times Athens correspondent
telegraphs: Whether In the event of
war the powers viii abstain from
blockade and leave the Greek fleet un-
fettered is debated here with great
interest, It is pointed out that should
war ensue the powers could not as
neutrals hinder the operations Of the
Greek navy, which might lombard
Smyrna and Salonika and capture the
islands of the Aegean.
In case the Turks should be victorious
on land, which is not expected at Ath-
ems, Greece would be more than com
pensated by victories on the sea. 1t
is assumed, of course, that Europe
would never permit the Turkish army
to invade Greece.
Thus, whatever happens. Greece
stands to win, at any rate not to lose.
These calculations would be completely
overthrown should the powers compel
the Greek fleet to remain inactive. But
this course, it Is contended here, would
be tantamount to an offensive alliance
with Turkey against Greece.
a number of Italian volunteers have
arrived at Athens from Crotc, having
safely run The blockade. They say that
there is no bread in the island except
in the camp of Colonel Vassos which
Is provisioned for three months. olives.
milk and lambs flesh are the principai
articles of food of the Inhabitants. The
insurgents are not organized, but con- /
sist of bands Of armed peasants, who /
leave their homes for a day or two
during active operations and then re- /
turn to them, The real head OF the |
Greek army OF occupation in the ISL |
and, according TO the statement of the |
italian volunteers, is Colonel Lombrloi |.
who directs al the movements of the /.
insurgents.
The report Of the desire of Turkey
and Greece to come to a direct under |
standing must in no wise be summar-
lily discarded. Moreover, the fact must
be taken into consideration that most
OF the powers are beginning to show
unmistakable symptoms Of a feeling
that little is to be gained by pushing
european intervention beyond certain
limits and that a great deal is to be
gained by leaving Turkey and Greece
to settle by direct negotiations what
the powers might leave unsettled. In
this way the situation would become |
much simplifed, and de powers be re- |
heved of an ever increasing responsi- |
bility already Weighing heavily upon
most of them. e---uF7,--rvs,
Three Greek sailing vessels carrying
cargoes of provisions consigned to
Crete have been captured by a British
warship outside the limits of the
blockade.