The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-03-25
cRETAN PORTS CLOSED.
United states Notified Of the Estab
lishment OF the Blockade.

United States Notified Of the Estass-
lishment Of the Blockade.
Washington, March 22.-The repre-
sentatives in Washington of the six pow
ers signatory to the Berlin treaty, Great;
Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Aus
tria-H Hungary and Russia, have in con-
cert notified this government of the
blockade Of Crete, the respective notes
of Sir Julian Pauncefote, Mr.. Patenotre,
Baron de Fava, Baron Won Thielman,
Mr.. Hengle Muller Won Hengervar and
Mr.: de Kotzebue, having been delivered
to Secretary Sherman Sunday. They
were almost identical and consisted Of
a mere formal announcements of block
ade to Cretan ports against ships under
the Greek flag commencing at nine
o'clock Sunday morning. Merchant yes
sells of neutral powers, including those
CT the United States and of the treaty
powers, while subject to overhauling
by the blockading war ships of the con-
certing fleets, are not to be disturbed
in their ordinary commercial occupa-5
tions it they carry no merchandise in
tended for the use of the Greeks or IN
surgents On the island.
1t is question whether this gov
eminent will give it's assent to this
form of blockade, which involves a
grave departure in international law
and would establish precedent abol-
ishing rights that the United States
might not desire to surrender. There
is little or no likelihood Of an American
vessel attempting to run the Cretan
blockade for the stars and stripes on
merchant vessels in the Mediterranean
is practically unknown. An indication
of this is given in the records of the
Suez canal, the American flag having
passed that highway only three times in
1895, on two private yachts and one
man-of-war, while in 1896 not single
vessel showed our flag in the canal.
This year, the passage of the cruiser
Detroit, early next month, will probably
be the only occasion for showing the
American colors in the Red sea. Around
Crete an American ship is rarer than at
Suez. Nevertheless if the United States
should even tacitly consent to being
kept out of Crete where there is no
proclaimed condition of war. any more
than there is in Cuba at the present
time, such action, it is anticipated by
those familiar with international prece-
dents may establish an untoward prece-
dent in relation to countries where
"American commerce is unmeasureably
more important and where American
merchant flags are more numerous.
~"Canea, March @22.-According to the
proclamation issued by the foreign adj
mirals. the blockade of Crete began at
eight o'clock Sunday morning. 1t is ap-
parent that the blockade is directed
solely against the Christians in the in
terror and that the Moslems will suffer
little Inconvenience from the action of
the six great Christian nations of Eu-
rope. 1t appears that the object of the
blockading squadron is to prevent the
landing of supplies of food, clothing,
ETC.. destined for the starving Chris
tians in the interior. while the Mussul-
mans that have focked to the coast
towns are allowed to land whatever
they want. s55-.'-
There was all exchange of shots Sat-
ufday between insurgents and Moslems
in the vicinity of Suda bay. The Turk
| ish war ships in the bay bombarded the
insurgents, but the result is not known.
\ number of foreign war ships were in
the bay. but they took no part in the
firing.