The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-19

cANEA, Island Of csete, March 1S.-.
The Austrian gunboat sebenico has
fired upon and sunk near Gambia. a
Greek vessel loaded with provisions ana
munitions intended for the Greek forces
in Crete.
1t appears that the sebenico. whne
watching the Greek ship was fred on
by party Of insurgents. To this the
Austrian warshlp replied by sinking the
Greek craft and driving on the tnSur-
gents.
1t is feared that when this news be-
comes generally known in Athens it
will serve to greatly trrttate the popu-
lace and may have an influence In pre-
cIpitatIng the crisis which the powers
are striving in every possible way to
avert.
The blockade of the island Of Crete
by the fleets Of the powers will begin on
Sunday morning and notification to
this eject Will be addressed to-day to
the governments at Athens and Con.
stautinOpie.
1t is further stated that the powers
will also communicate the steps taken
to the goernments OF the neutral states.
The limits Of the blockade Will be be-
tween lODgitudeS 23A and 26.20 east,
and latitude 25.4S and a.25 north,
The blockade will be general against
deck vessels, but other ships will be all
lowed to land goods, provided they ara
not destined for the Greek troops or for
the interior Of the island. Finally. the
admlrals have caused n request to b0
addressed to Greece to recall her war.
ships from Cretan waters II she does
not comply, force will be used on Sum
day morning to compel them to .Wtths
draw.
NOtihed OF Blockade.
The admirals Of the foreign fleets In
these waters have telegraphed to thalr
respective ambassadors at Constanti-
nople notifying them OF the blockade OF
tho island OF Crete. Warslhps win bO
mayors Of thee hfef ports copies Of the
proclamation Of autonomy and the ans
nouncement Of blockade.
II Is understood that the admirals will
compel the Greek wArshlp Pinios to
leave the Cretan waters tomorrow.
Colonel Vassos is gathering great
quantities OF provisions at his new
camp at SphaklH, situated in one Of the
mountainous and inaccessible portions
Of the island. The Greek commander 10
showing no signs Of GEy Intention Of
evAcuaIlng the island, consequently It ia
believed he has received orders to re-
main IA occupation in spite OF the oppo-
sItion Of the powers.
Al number Of French and italian off,
cers were sent to-day CThurgIlay) to the
camp Of Col. VaBSos to demand that his
troops embark to leave the island within
ttfrty-St6 hours The officers had not
returned at midnight.
The Austrian consul has Joined the
Brftigil consul, Sir Alfred Bilhotd, in de.
m0ndinE modification Of the proclama-
Efon OF autonomy. The telegraph oflce
i1as refused to transmit an admtraIo
cipher message TO ConStantinople.
ATHENS, March 1S.-The official an
nouncement Of the blockade OF Crete did
not produce much Of display Of feeling
either In the Boule, or on the part Of the
public. The sinking Of the Greek vessel
by the Sebentco on the other hand, - de-
nOunced with indignation as q crime
committed by a civilized state.
The Greek vice consuls Mt Rettmo ana
Gambia have informed the government
that the telegraph offices refuse to
transmit their cipher dispatche to the
government or to deliver kilograms sent
by the government. : Whatever 3usdh-
cation there may be for this step OF
censorship OF press kilograms, which, Il
is reported, the admirnls have CONSENT
ed to take at Gambia, 1t Is an oninoug
retroErade movement to the proclama-
ton Of autonomy.
LONDON, March ls.--Popular opinion
In Greece, says the Times corresponds
ent at Athens, imperatlvely demands
nm early declaration OF war with Turs
key, The idea is that Europe would
then be compelled to adopt neutral at-
tltude.
It must be admitted, says the Times
correspondent, that Greece has legiti-
mate grounds Of complaint against the
great powers and Turkey, and 1t is
Thought by good Judges Of Greek poll
cy at Athens that II the boundary IKEA
by the conference were concedc, Greece
would willingly abandon her pretens
sions TO Crete. At present, however, the
powers do not seem in mood to neso7
ttate. -. A..
BnIfour said 1t was incorrect to say
that Germany had declined to dtspatch
truops to Greece. It Is understood th3t
Sir william Vernon Harcourt (LsoeraDs
viii shortly move an address 10 the
crown on Cretan affairs.