San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-13
GREECE AND TURKEY.
BOTH NATIONS MAY RENEW THEIR
ANCIENT QUARREL.
Each Are Holding off From Beginning
War, However, Until the Jealous
Powers Try to Settle Matters.

Athens, Feb. 1S.-(Copyrighted by
Associated Press )-There is a change
for the better here today. People are
becoming calmer and public officials
are betraying anxiety as to the event.
ual outcome of the demonstration of
Greece in behalf of the Cretan insur-
gents. 1t is now known that very
strong pressure has been brought to
bear upon King George within the past
twentyfour hours and that equally
strong pressure was exercised upon
the sultan of Turkey in order to pre-
vent an outbreak of hostilities between
Greece and Turkey. The latter coun-
try is understood to have agreed not
to send troops to Crete and the powers
in return are believed to be restrain
ing Greece from actively interfering in
Crete. At the same time there is evil
IDENTIFY danger in the direction of Thes-
sally and Macedonia. for the Greek
troops are being hurriedly dispatched
to the frotier and reports from Salon
lea say that the Turks are quietly
mastering an army corps there in or
der to be prepared for any emergency.
The situation in Crete is somewhat
improved. Desultory fighting is still
reported and it is stated here the in
surgents are practically in possession
of the whole island with the exception
of the larger towns. If this is the case
the union of Crete with Greece hav-
ing been formally proclaimed, the in
dependence of the Cretans from Turk
ish rule is almost accomplished and it
is difficult to see how the pre-existing
order of things can be restored with
out joint action upon the part of the
powers, and the military occupation
of Crete by foreign fleets.
In official circles here this outcome
is not believed to be possible and there
is a disposition now to quietly allow
events to take their natural course,
the idea being that Crete is practically
free and that the island is likely to re-
main so until subdued by the powers.
Constantinople, Feb. 13.-There is a
disposition in official circles here to
hold the powers responsible for any
thing that may happen in Crete. The
sultan has been prevailed upon by the
ambassadors to refrain from sending
reinforcements of troops to Crete and
he has also been assured that the pow
ers have decided not to permit the
landing of Greek troops at Crete.
Therefore the whole matter is in the
hands of the powers and the sultan's
en- tourage at least, is inclined to be-
lieve the powers may have a falling
out as to the disposition to be made of
the insurgent island. The council OF
ministers, it is semi-officially an
nounced, has decided that Turkey will
remain passive, pending efforts of the
powers to prevent direct Greek inter-
Vention in Crete, but further states
that if the powers are successful in
these efforts the Turkish government
will be compelled to begin military OPP
erations on the Thessaly frontier, or in
other words, Turkey will declare war
against Greece and promptly invade
that country. This is no rumor from
diplomatic circles. This decision of the
Porte on the subject has been formally
and officially communicated to the diff
ferent embassies and the Turks are in
earnest. The situation is a grave one
beyond doubt and as usual the sultan
is calmly reckoning on coming out of it
ahead by trusting to the jealousies of
the powers, an event not unexpected.