The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-01
TURKS GIVEN A TRoUNCIlG.
MOSLEMs DRIVEN BACK IN A sOR-
TIE AT MAIAAXA.

The Turks Repulsed at Heralx lion
by the Insurgents Under KOrakas.
A Turkish Warship in Suda Day
Open Fire On the Insurgents but
Ceases On n Warning From the Al
lied Fleet.
Canea, Feb. 2S.-The presence of foreign
warships off this port has not had the
effect OF preventing fighting between the
insurgents and Turks, save in the town
itself, where a comparatively small force
of sailors and marines were recently land
ed for the purpose of preserving order.
A skirmsh occurred to-day at Malaxa.
a short distance from Canea, in which
the Turks were worsted. although they
outnumbered the Christians. The fight
ing at MalaXa arose from a fruitless at
tempt on the part of the Moslems, aided
by detachment of Turkish troops, to
revictual the block house, where the
Turkish garrison has been blockaded for
a number OF days The Moslems made a
sortie, but the insurgents were prepared
for just such a move, and attacked the
party furiOusly, finally driving them
back. During the fight heavy fire was
directed upon the Christians from the
Turkish arsenal in Canea. 1t had, how
ever, very little effect and the Christians
still maintain the position held by them
prior to the fight
Further lighting has occurerd in the vi
cinity of Herakion. AS heretofore. the
insurgents under Korakas repulses the
Turks.
a Turkish warship in Suda bay to-day
began the bombardment of a position oc-
cupied by insurgents, but before she had
done much firing her commander received
word from the representatives of the for
eign powers that he must silence his guns
or take the consequences. This is the sec
ond time that the insurgents near Suda
bay have been fired on by a Turkish war
ship.
The Greek, Korakos, who at the head OF
1000 insurgents has invested the town of
Heraklion, has given permission to the
Turks to leave the place in order that they
may cultivate the lands adjacent TO the
town. His action, however, is looked up
on with suspicion by the Moslems, they
believing that 1t is his intention to benefit
from the labors of the Turks by seizing
their crops when they are ripe. on the
other hand those who are acquainted with
the character of Korakos declare
that he is a just and humane man, and
that his only object in permitting the
| Turks to till the fields Is to prevent sur
ferng from famine among the women
and children in the beleaguered town.
| Several British and italian officers re-
| Gently visited the camp of Ko-
rakos, where they were treated
with much courtesy. They were
| 40 inc ,fsa md
by the perfection of their organization,
all Of which is due to Korakos, who ap-
pears to be a born leader Of men. He Is
enthusiastic in support Of the cause of
| the Cretans and his force will prove no
unimportant factor should Turkey at
tempt to quell the insurrection by force
of arms.
Tewfik Pasha, the new military gov
ernor arrived here to-day and paid visits
to the several consuls
A new danger threatens this unfortu-
nate island, and IL IL is to be averted a
speedy settlement of the present difficulties
must be arrived at. Every day the situa-
ton Is becoming more desperate owing to
the fact that throughout the island the
state Of war prevents any attention being
paid to the crops. In the towns which are
beseged by the insurgents the situation is
much worse than IL is In the country dis
tricts.
|
very large influx of refugees, the outlook
is very serious. There is now in the town
counting the regular Moslem population
and the refugees, fully 5000 persons. Pro-
visions are very scarce and famine Is
imminent. Large numbers of the refu-
gees are already dying Of starvation and IL
was knowledge of this fact that led Kora-
kos the Greek leader, TO issue his order
permitting the cultivation Of the fields near
the town.
The lines of the besegers are absolutely
impassable as has been proved by the
failure Of the several sorties that have
been made. The officials In the town
have telegraphed to Canea lmploring the
assistance Of the foreign warships In rais-
ing the seige but It Is not considered
likely that their supplicatlon will receive
a favorable response, though provisions
may be sent TO the starving. Korakos
has not yet cut off the water supply OF
the town, which he threatened a few days
ago to do. Should he carry this threat
into effect the condition Of the besieged
people would be pitable indeed.
Korakos with part of his forces Is ad-
| vancing upon Hierapetra. He will pass
| through the turbulent district of Lasthi,
| and the populace there is expected to join
him. 1t Is pretty certain that the gar-
rison at HieraDetra will have to capitu-
late when the insurgents reach there, un-
less the foreign warships help the Turks.
/ on March 3 the armistice Of a week
agreed 10 between the Moslems and Christ
| ians at Selino will expire. The position
or the Moslems there Is very precarlous.
The insurgents are so incensed over the
bombardment of Akrotiri that It is con-
sidered doubtful whether they will listen
| to the persuasion of Col Vassos the COM
mander Of the Greek army OF occupation,
who has promised to use his influence with
| the Insurgents to obtain the release OF the
| besieged Moslems.
Il has been learned that the fighting at
Malaxa resulted I'm the killing Of eight
Turks and the wounding OF many other.
The Christian losses, II any, are unknown.
The engagement caused the most in
tense excitement here and prompted In
| cendIarism In the vicinity OF the town.
Two villages and several isolated houses
were destroyed.
Athens, Feb. ga number OF Cretan
deputies. headed by the bishop OF Retimo.
visited King George to-day and presented
to him memorial. which, In effect. de-
clared that the establishment OF an au-
.t0nomous government in Crete would not
result IN the pacihcation Of the island.