The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-04
BASHI-BAzOUKS GIVE BATTLE.
CRETONS FIRED ON WHEN UNSUs-
PICIOUs OF DANGER


The Attacking Party 1000 strong
and Firing Not Opened Untn They
Were Within 22O Yards of the
ChristiRns-Thc Insurgents Were
Abandoning Their Positions by
Permission of the AdmiraIs for the
Purpose of Leaving the Peninsula.
No Attempt to Protect Them Made
by the Fleet.
Canea, April S.-The insurgents in the
hills about the town of Akrotirl, on the
peninsula of that name, recently asked
the foreign admirals for permission to
leave their position, as they desired to
leave the peninsula, The authorization
was granted, and to-day the insurgents
with their families, descended from the
hills, driving their cattle before them and
not suspecting any danger. They had
scarcely reached the lower ground when
1900 Bashi-bazouks suddenly fired upon
them at range of only 220 yards. The
Bashi-bazouks had emerged from Canea
last evening and made their way to the
neighborhood of the insurgents position,
that the Christians were about to evacu-
ate the peninsula. The Turkish force
consisted mainly of refugees, who had
been brought to Canea from SelinO by Sir
Alfred Billotti, the British consul here
After their arrival In Canea they had been
armed by the governor In defiance of the
promises that had been made TO the ad-
mirals. Their arms had been taken from
them when they were compelled to evac-
llnF Calt At.arH -
slightest difficulty in procuring other wea-
pons by direction of the governor.
The insurgents were armed and they
soon recovered from the surprise occasion
ed by the sudden attack of the Bashi-ba-
zouks They then returned the fire,
whereupon the later returned to Canea.
AS they approached the town they quiet
| ly deposited their arms and ammunition
in places where they would not be seen by
the foreigners here. Part of the weapons
were placed in houses in the outskirts,
while the remainder were deposited in the
Medjies barracks.
The international forces ashore did not
take any measures to prevent the collision
and the warshps in Suda bay did not fire
a shot to check the Bashi-basouks.
The Mussumans lost heavily in the en-
gagements. Fifty dead and wounded
were brought to Canea. The Mussulmans
are very much incensed by this action and
are assembling in great numbers at
Spiazzi.
1t is stated this evening that British
sailors were landed on the peninsula os-
tensibly to restrain in the Bashi-bazouks
but only when 1t was to late to do any
thing.
London. April S-Several of the corre-
| spondents of London newspapers, tele-
| graphing from Canea, represent that the
| foreign admirals were seriously blamable
for the fighting that occurred to-day be-
| tween insurgents and Turkish irregular
forces on the peninsula of Akrotiri. They
| state that Admiral Canevaro, the italian
naval officer who is in command of the
| combined fleets Of the powers, had given
| his assent to the request of the insurgents
| that they be allowed to leave the penin-
| sula and pass through Canea to the inte-
rior Of the island. They evidently trusted
that Admiral Canevaro would give them
safe conduct, but 1t seems that no meas
ures were taken TO protect them.
When the admirals learned that the
ashl-bazouks were barring the way Of
| the Christians they ordered that detach-
| ments Of sailors and marines be sent to
| disarm them and compel them to return
| TO Canea, but 1t was then too late for the
| detachments to carry out their orders. 1t
does not appear why the foreign warshps
| did not shell the Bashi-bazouks
| Paris, April 3.-In the Chamber Of Dep.
uties to-day NJ. Gautier de Clagney. in
terpellated the government regarding the
| Cretan situation.
NJ Hanotaux, the minister OF foreign
| affairs, replying to an Interpolation, de-
| clared that It was impossible to reproach
the government for the action they had
taken in the matter. He added that II
was not likely that a conflict would oc-
cur at present on the Macedonian frontier
The powers were considering the question
of eventually blockad.ng the ports Of
Greece.
Continuing, NJ Hanotaux declared that
there was nothing specially disquietlng IN
the actual situation. The powers hoped
that the councils Of wisdom would prevail
with time
NJ Denys asked the government for in
formation regarding the massacres at 81
vas and Tokat in Anatolia, where a large
number OF Armenians were killed by
Kurds and Turks He also desired 10
know why coercion had been applied TO
| the sultan TO compel him to obey the de-
mands of the powers.
NJ. Hanotaux replied that a message
had been telegraphed on March lG to N.
Cambon, the French am bassador at Con-
stantinople, directing him to make repre-
sentations to the sultan as to the unsat-
isfactory condition of affairs. NJ. HanO-
taux further said that In consequence Of
wrongful acts the military governor Of
Adana had been recalled by the porte.
and a Christian appointed in his stead.
| with reference to the application OF CO.
erciOn, M. HanOtauX said that the powers
had decided 70 exact the execution OF the
reforms that they had demanded and
which had been promised by the sultan.
Europe, he said In conclusion, might
count upon the nrmness OF the ambassa-
doris at ConstantlnOple in insisting upon
the execution OF the reforms