The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-31
SITUATION ON TURKISH FRONTIER
WILL STAND NO FURTHER
STRAIN.
ACTUAL FIGHTING ALREADY.
CONFLICT AT AN OUTPOST, WITH
A Loss OF TWELVE
KILLED.
1t LIS Impossible to withdraw
the Greeks.

CANEA, Crete, March 30.-The Greeks
today attacked Fort Izzedin which
dominates Suda bay. The foreign iron
clads bombarded the attacking force
in support Of the Turkish garrison,
which had twelve cannon and one
mitreilleuse. Finally detachments of the
foreign troops occupied the fortress
There was sharp fighting today at
Spinalonga. The Cretans succeeded in
dislodging the Turks and seized a
vessel which was landing ammunition
Tor them. Fighting continues at Her
aklion and Retimo. Several shots
nave been fired at the foreign occu-
plying forces at Putsunaria. The French
commander has obtained reinforce
ments to replace the Turkish outposts
which are said to be absolutely unre-
liable.
Athens, March 30.-The Crown Prince
constantine today formally assumed
command of the Greek forces on the
frontier Of Thessaly
Constantinople, March 30.-An imper-
1al trade issued today orders that the
f1rst five army corps shall be armed
with mausers.
Athens, March 30.-It is rumored here
tonight that Russia has intimated that
she will not participate in a blockade
OF Greek ports. This apparent change
OF front is viewed with suspicion in
Greek official circles. 1t is understood
that admiral have called on their re-
ntc
ships as well as more troops,
CONSTANTINOPLE, March 3O-If
the reports just received here from
the Turkish headquarters at EIassona
are correct, fighting has already oc-
Cured on the Turkish side of the from
tier of Macedonia. 1t is said the Greek
leader, Alexis Taxi, a brother Of the
famous chieftain of that name, crossed
the frontier into Macedonia on Sunday
last, accompanied by about twenty
hVe of his followers. Near Grevena.
the Greeks met and engaged an ad-
vance post of Turkish troops. COM
manded by German officer In the
lighting which followed the Turks lost
twelve men killed. and had twenty
men wounded, including the German
cfhcer. The loss of the insurgents is
not known. The latter subsequently
returned across the border into Greek
territory.
The situation is about as critical as
1T can be, and it is difficult to see how
war between Greece and Turkey can
be averted. Strong efforts in that direc-
ton are still being made. but it is
rumored in diplomatic circles here
that King George has sent a message
to the car saying that it is impossible
fer Greece to yield to the powers re-
regarding Crete. and that it is equally
impossible to recall the Greek troops
from Thessaly, in view of the excited
condition of the public mind.
Edhem PaSha, the Turkish command
er-in-chief, now has at his disposal
about 100000 fighting men and 800
Krupp guns. He also has an ample
supply of ammunition, a fair COM
missariat, as Turkish commissariats go,
and his medical staff and hospital
corps are in satisfactory condition. All
the strategic points on the frontier are
occupied, defended by newly thrown
up earthworks and other defenses.
and are supplied with powerful bat
teries of artillery.
To attack this line of defense, # is
thought the Greeks cannot muster
more than $4,000 men, mostly irregu-
lars, although some estimates here
have it that the Greeks may be able to
muster $4,000 men in all, counting the
hastily armed peasantry and the raw
recruits and rough reserves which
they have been pushing towards the
frontier for month past. This force
is known to be weak in cavalry, and
especially so in artillery, in which arms
the Turks are overwhelmingly strong.
1t is true that the Greeks are animated
by a warlike spirit and degree of en-
thuSiaSm rarely before witnessed. but
Warlfke enthusiasm cannot prevail
against battalions and heavy and
numerous batteries of artillery Thus
it is that the Turkish authorities are
calming awaiting the outbreak of war
If war is to come, confident that every
step possible has been taken to meet
the emergency.
AS to the Cretan situation proper it
is understood that the admirals in COM
mand of the foreign fleets in Cretan
waters are of the opinion that now that
Greece has virtually completed her war
preparations on the frontier of Thes-
sally. a blockade of the principal Greek
ports would be useless. thus bearing
out the forecasts previously made In
these dispatches that the refusal Of
Great Britain to take active part in
the blockade of Greece might lead to
the collapse of that scheme to prevent
an outbreak of hostilitieS. Under these.
circumstances, all the efforts of the
ambassadors Of the powers here are
now being directed toward prevailing
upon the Turkish government to advise
the sultan to withdraw the Turkish
troops from Crete, as another SOD to
Greece and as another attempt to pre-
vent war and, in addition, the ambas-
sailors are endeavoring to prevail upon
Greece and Turkey to agree to the
establishment of a neutral zone be-
tween the opposing Turks and Greeks
on the two frontiers.
LONDON, March 30.-The following
semi-oficial announcement was made
this evening: In consequence Of the
request Of the admirals, it has
been decided that a further bat
talon of 600 men be forthwith
sent to Crete by each power. The
Welsh fusilfers at Malta have been
ordered to be ready to sail Immediate
ly. Otherwise the situation as regards
the action of the powers is unchanged.
1t has not yet been decided to demand
the Withdrawals of the Greek and
Turkish forces from the frontier. such
course appearing impracticable at
the present moment