The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-18
HAD NO ALTERNATIVE.
King George Forced to Act by His Eli
thusiastic Subjects.

London, Feb. 13.-(Copyrighted, 1897,
by the Associated Press. ALI Europe is
watching the Cretan fireworks with tie
greatest anxiety, as the spark may set
all Europe ablaze. Everybody is agreed
that the present moment is the most crit
ical since the powers interviewed in Turk
ish affairs. The daring action of Greece
in sending Prince George with Il torpedo
fiotilla to Crete has caused II tremendous
hutter in the European cabinets. Tel
egraphic dispatches on the subject have
been flying between the continental and
British governments and their embassies.
Unusual activity prevails ut the British
foreign office. kilograms from the east
have arrived in rapid succession and the
MARQUIS of Salisbury had a special inter
view with the Russian. Austrian and
German ambassadors. The Importance
of these conferences can be gagged by
the fact that Count Won Hatfield, the
German ambassador, went to the foreign
office, although he was in such feeble
health that he was unable to meet the
ex-Empress Fredericka on her arrival in
London yesterday. and had to be carried
up stairs at the foreign office.
The Greek note to the powers justifying
the attitude of Greece towards Crete Is
couched in such strong terms as to be
regarded in official circles here as almost
tantamount to a declaration of war
against Turkey. The note accused the
i, Turkish troops of siding with the Mus
Jsulmans. said that the Turkish reinforce
against the Cretan Christians and con-
cluded with saying that it was therefore
incumbent on Greece to prevent ut all
not only out of sympathy with. but
as duty to, the Greek popula-
ton, (which had just solemnly de-
clarcd it's intention to accept nothing
but union with the motherland.' This
mcnacing attitude towards Turkey is quite
vote face upon the part of King George.
who has hitherto shown modest ana
pacific disposition. and there is consldeTl-
bile speculation for the reason thereof.
The opinion is expressed that Greece
must be able to count upon, the support OF
some influential persons and the tolerance
of others. and indications point to Rus-
STA as her hacker 1t is c0ntended that
the close kinship between the two reign
ing families must count for something in
the present crisis. and people are asking
what passed at the conference between the
ear and King George of Greece at
Copenhagen last autumn.
King George also mad a conference
with Count GoulOuchOw in Vienna, and
it is stated that the latter advised Greece
to wait patiently and in the future she
might reap tIt lIlil Nni'h was nv ~
ripe. Apparently King George, pushed by
the national feeling in Greece. has been
trying to expedite matters by bold stroke.
According to adviccs from Athens, the
excitement in Greece was so great that
the king either had to yield or pack his
trunk and leave the country forever. IL
is stated that King George has admitted
that he had no choice between dethronc..
ment and putting himself at the head OF
the popular movement. and it is thought
in some quarters that the theatrical send
off of his SON. Prince George, with the
torpedo fotila wds only intended for ef-
feet and as means of appeasing the
claInor of the popuacc. But dispatches
today show that the passions of the Greeks
are thoroughly aroused. Throughout the
country meetings are being held and sub
scriptions in aid of the Cretans are being
raised. Dispatches from the European
capitals indicate sympathy with Greece
but the governments fear that If Greece
= is allowed to annex the Cretan island an
uprising will occur and that efforts will
he made there to throw off the
Turkish yoke. All the Balkan
states except Roumania are ready
to rise. Macedonia is especially
eager to fly at the Turkish throat. Arms
there, however are comparatively scarce
although quantity have been imported
recently. Nevertheless this will not pre-
vent a rising if Greece is involved in