The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-16
THE WAR FEVER
IS SLOWLY SUBSIDING AMONG
THE GREECIANS

King George Relies Solely on the Justice
of His Cause.-The Asks No of Aid Royal
Relations-Germany Insisting on Drastic
Measures Against Greece-The other
Powers Opposed-Pitiable Condition of
Cretan Refugees-ItaIy's Fleet in the lie.
want.
Athens. March 11.-An easier feeling
now exists in the city and the wal few
er is slowly subsiding. Reserves con-
'tinue to arrive frOn the interior and
the enthusiasm still prevails, but at
the same time the belief that actual
warfare has been averted is becoming
popular. The government has inform
ed France and Great Britain that
Greece is willing to place the Greek
troops in Crete under the direction Of
the powers and also to abandon her
propOsa for a Cretan plebiscite and
leave the Cretan chamber Of deputies
to pronounce in favor Of autonomy or
union with Greece as that body may
elect.
Amilcar Cipriani, the Italian socialist
agitatOr, arrived here today, accom-
panied by sixteen Volunteers, for the
purpose of entering the Greek military
service. The party was met by a mob
which included a number of students,
and were chcered necessarily as they
marched through the streets.
The government denies the report
that military authorities are forming
a foreign legion. The authorities wish
it to be understood that they do not
desire any disOrderly element or any
%filibusters or adventures in the mill
tary service, a sufficient number Of
Greeks to fight the battles of Greece
being available.
Witnesses Of the arrivals of Cretan
refugees at the Piraeus, where 5000
are quartered, describe their state as
being extremely pitiable. They are ut
terly destitute and most Of them are
emaciated from hunger and illness.
Most Of them are women and children
and many of them were brought in
Open-decked slOOps, exposed to the
weather in an absolute u state.
Many of the women were driven raw
ing mad through their sufferings and
from fright, and several children were
born at sea or upon the landing stages
Where the miserable creatures disem-
barked.
King George authorizes the South
ern Associated Press to state that he
does not expect, nor has he at any time
since the present troubles arose, eX-
pected, either advice or aid from his
relatives upon or near the thrones of
Europe, but relies entirely upon the
justice of Greece's cause. The king ad-
nmitted that he had expected the most
from the prince of Wales, whose wife
is the kings sister, and advised him
to influence the recall Of Sir A. Bilotti,
the British consul at Canea. But his
majesty added, BilOtti was a titled
parsonage and was enabled to spread
official ties concerning the troubles in
the island of Crete, which found ready
believers. King George further said
that the marvellous mobilization of the
Greek fleet had provoked the jealousy
of the powers.
Berlin, March 1.-THE National lei
tung, in a presumably inspired article
on the situation in Crete, says that II
the promised coercion of Greece is not
proceeded with by the powers Germany
will not AXE part in any negotiations
which may be entered into for the
presentation of another note to Greece.
The Cologne Gazette says that the
powers have not yet agreed upon the
method of applying coercion to Greece.
Germany and Austria, The Gazette
says, are in perfect accord as to the
application of drastic measures, but
Russia and Great Britain are uncer-
tain. Russia sent Instructions of a Sc
rious nature yesterday, both to the adj
miral commanding the Russian squad
ron at Crete and the Russian minister
at Athens.
London. March 1.-THE plans of the
powers for blockading the coast of
Greece are still incomplete and the
methods to be pursued unknown. LORD
Salisbury declined to discuss them until
lit shall be shown that the negotiations,
which have been resumed with Greece,
have failed and action is taken upon
the ultimatum of the powers. M. Han
otaux. foreign minister of France, and
the Marquis de Rudini, prime minister
of Italy,, concur in the view taken by
Lord Salisbury and decline to express
any opinion upon the subject. italy
already has fifteen warships in the
Levant and is on the " OF sending
ten more. The Italian iron clad Said
Egna, the largest warship in 1taly's
navy, has arrived at SpeZZia, where
the italian flying squadron is assem-
bling.
Vienna, March 1.-THE Neue Erie
Presse publishes a report of an inter-
view had by it's correspondent in Ath-
ems with King George, of Greece. The
king is quoted as saying: Greece has
done in Crete as Austria did in the
case of Bosnia when the BOSNIAN
Christians took refuge in Austria" The
king also said that the Greek troops
would remain in Crete and protect
Greeks and Turks alike. His majesty
complained of the conduct Of Sir A.
Bilotti, the British consul at Canea in
assisting the Turks. Though Bilotti
was a British consul, he said. he was
a Levantine and more Turkish than
even the Sultan himself.