Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-01
VICTORY FOR GREEKS
CRETANS ROUT TURKS AND DE-
STROY A FORT.
Christians Assault the Stronghold
with Dynamite-Mos Saved from
Annihiiation by Foreign Admirals-
Britain Bolts the Blockade Planned.
Fort Mt MaIaxa Falls.


Thursday evening the blockhouse or fort
at Malaxa, just outside of Suda, was
blown up with dynamite by the Greek in
surgents. The whole structure was soon
in flames and the Turkish warships began
a bombardment of the insurgents. The
fleet fired ninety shells upon the insur-
gents around Malaxa, and some of these
fell inside the blockhouse. OF the Turk
ish garrison, numbering sixty-four, one
escaped to Nerokhuri and eighteen others
TO Suda. 1t js believed the others per-
ished.
During the night the insurgent forces
were pushed forward until they occupied
convenient positions for attack and about
a. m. the artillery opened fire upon the
Turkish blockhouse. The pieces of the
Christians were served with such admira-
BILE promptness and precision that in n
short time nothing remained to the Turks
but determination or evacuation. The
Mussulmans, preferring the latter. left the
fort and commenced retreat on Suda, re-
lying upon the Turkish warships in the
bay to save them from the Christians.
The sultan's fleet opened badly aimed
fire upon the insurgents in order TO cover
the retreat from the blockhouse. The
insurgent forces.
The Christians pushed forward stead
lily, pressing hard upon the rear of the
Turks and keeping up Il continual skirm-
ish fire. The Turks made n stand now
and then, pouring Il few volleys in the
direction of the insurgent skirmish lines
While this fighting was in progress a
detachment of Turkish troops. being un-
f.l, ~. 4.ls.
laxa had evacuated that place and was
retreating upon Suda, closely pursued by
the Christians. made sortie from Canea
with convoy of provisions intended for
the garrison of Malaxa. From the route
followed by the Turks nothing could be
seen of the fighting in progress between
MalaXa and Suda and the Ottoman troops
advanced half way up to the heights upon
which the blockhouse of Keratidi is sit
uated.
Turks We're Trapped.
But while the Turks were unaware of
the insurgents doings the latter had close
ly followed the movements of the Turkish
column escorting the provision and am
muntion train. Near Keratidi the Turks
were met by a body of insurgents, who.
from well selected positions, opened
fierce fire upon the advancing troops. The
fire of the Christians stopped the ad-
vance of the column and the Turkish com
mander took up the best position possible
in order to protect the convoy and send it
to the rear if necessary.
Desperate fighting continued between
the Turks and the Christians in and about
Tsikalaria, not far from Suda. to which
point the insurgents succeeded in pushing
forward while in pursuit of the retreating
garrison of Malaxa. The insurgents
burned several more houses of Tsikalaria
whereupon the warshps of the foreign
powers began firing ut the Christians. The
bombardment, however, only lasted ten
minutes.
The Turkish garrison at Malaga lost
heavily during the retreat from that place
The insurgents are numerous and occupy
all the heights in the vicinity of Canea as
far as Parivolia. having captured the two
last Turkish fortresses. Only the fleets of
the powers prevent the entire success of
the insurgent cause.
The news of the, dynamting of the Ma
laxa blockhouse as the elimination of n
day of fierce fighting and Il prolonged
siege made Il tremendous sensation in
Athens. 1t is regarded as an event of
far-reaching Importance, both in its effect
upon the insurgents themselves and upon
:he Greek mind at this stage of the crisis.
Great Britain has bolted the blockade
planned by the powers. and 1t is semi
officially stated in Constantinople that the
British admiral in Cretan waters has been
notified not to send any warships of Great
Britain to take part in the proposed block
ade of the ports of Greece. At the same
time, however. in order, apparently, to
avoid an open rupture with the powers,
Great Britain will acquiesce in the block
nde of the Greek ports. According to the
reports in diplomatic circles. the powers
haveV lready been notified to this effect.
and the withdrawal of Great Britain from
the blockade is the one subject discussed