The morning news., 1897-04-03
TURKEY is GROWING TIRED.
PRESENT SITUATION DECLARED no
LONGER ENDURABLE.

Have Destroyed Provisions on the
Island Lest They Should Fall Into
the Hands of the Insurgents.
Houses Demolished to Prevent the
Undermining of o Fort.
Constantinople, April 2.-Reports of the
lighting in Crete which are being received
here daily are making a very bad impress
sion upon the government and people
alike, and in consequence the porte has
informed the representatives of the Tur-
kish government abroad that the present
position is no longer tenabe This infor-
nation is accompanied by a declaration
on the part of the porte that unless a set
tlement of the Cretan difficulty shall be
speedily reached the porte will propose to
the powers that Turkey take matters into
her own hands. It is also feared here that
a blockade of Greece by the warships of
the powers will hasten conflict between
Turkey and Greece on the frontier of
Thessaly.
London, April 2.--In the House of Com
mons to-day Rt. Hon. George N. Cursor,
under secretary for foreign affairs, reply
ing to a question by ]. C. S. MacNeiI
anti-Parnelte member for South Donegal
stated that the admirals commanding the
foreign squadrons in Cretan waters had
asked their respective governments to
send three mountain guns each to Crete.
Mr.. Cursor added that he was not aware
of the character of the replies of the pow
ers to this request if indeed, any answer
ha in ha of
Russia, which government, he said was
sending a mountain battery to Crete in
accordance with the recommendation of
the Russian admiral.
The Hon. Philip ]. Stanhope, M. p, for
Burnley, has received a letter from Mr..
Gladstone in which the ex-prime minister
says he hopes that parliament will firmly
resist the claim of the powers to choose
ruler for the Cretans. The powers, MIR.
Gladstone adds, are entitled to claim that
whoever shall be selected as prince of
Crete shall be disposed and able to fairly
recognize Ottoman suzeTainty in the is
land, but beyond that the selection Of a
ruler is purely a Cretan affair.
The Star, in its issue of this afternoon,
asserts that it has authority for the state
ment that the blockade of the ports Of
Greeee-by che powers will begin on Sun
day April A.
The Ganea correspondent of the Daily
gers sent by the foreign admirals have
been able to reach the insurgents All
their communications hitherto have been
with agents of Greece.
The correspondent adds that in inter-
views he has had with various insurgent
chiefs, the latter declared they had not
seen the proclamation issued by the ad-
nirals, stating that an autonomous form
of government would be established in the
island by the powers. The insurgents only
know that the Europeans have used vio-
lence toward them, whereas they support
the Turks. The result is that the bitter
ness felt by the Christians is increasing,
and disaster is sure to follow.
The Canea correspondent Of the Chron-
icle sends a dispatch to that paper in
which he says that the following incidents
have occurred during the current week:
"A force of British marines with guns
went to Tripet and searched the houses
there for provisions which, whenever they
were found, were destroyed lest they would
be used by the insurgents. A similar ex-
pedition went to village near Selino,
searching for flour and grain.
Two warships, one of which was Brit
ish, sent armed boats to Kolumbari, to
seize small mercantile craft that were
lying at the place. 7The peasants refused
TO surrender the vessels, whereupon the
marines threatened to destroy the village.
"The most astonishing incident reported,
however. is the following: A British de-
tachment which was sent to Kissamo Kas-
tell passed chains around the houses Of
certain Christians. Cables were then at
tached to the chains and these were pass
ed to warships which pulled upon them
until the houses fell"
The correspondent of the Standard
makes mention of this affair, but adds
that under cover of these houses the in
surgents were attempting to undermine
the fort.
The Daily Telegraph will tomorrow
publish an interview had by the corre-
spondent in Crete, with Col. Vassos. The
Greek commander declared that the pro-
test recently sent by him to the foreign
admirals would be the last document of
the sort that would be sent Col Vassos
said that he does not regard the admiras
as the true representatives, of Europes
attitude. He claims that he has quieted
the entire Christian population, and re-
pressed every form of crime, rendering
life and property as secure as i'm England
or France. He has established hospitals
and prisons, built bridges, and appointed
judges and sanitary officers. Such a sat
isfactory state of things was never before
known in Crete. Everything has been
effected in seven weeks.
Col. Vassos explains his success as be-
ing due TO his knowledge of the people,
who, he declares, recognize him and his
troops as kin.
III" said Col vassos, "the European
forces had done in the towns what I have
done in the country. perfect peace might
reign until Greece has completed the ne
gotatons with Europe for a recognition
of her claims 70 Crete, and not a Esp OF
blood need have been shed"
Proceeding, Col. Nassos Indignantly re-
lated the Incidents Of the proceedings OF
the international forces here during the
week. lie added that the Bashi Bazouks.
who were formally forbidden TO carry
arms, issued from Canea Wednesday eve
ming and marched towards Nigla. Their
advance was covered by the guns OF the
Turkish warshps. but as the progress OF
the Bashi Bazouls was slow, the interna-
tional heot came to their assistance, fir
ing eighty-two rounds from their heavy
guns. The Christians retreated and the
Turks entered the village and set fire 20
the houses, a church and a monastery.
"This," Col. Vassos exclaimed, rs the
work Of Christian Europe. The condition
Of affairs Is now Infinitely worse than ever
before The admirals have made II So
say deliberately ana reluctantly that un-