Evening star., 1897-04-13
War or Breakdown Cannot Be Long
Averted.
DAILY CONFERENCES OF TEE POWERS
Turkey Reiterates Co mpiaint ofthe
Invading Greeks.
ORDERS GIVEN TO STOP THEN


situation is developing slowly for two
reasons In the first place. bad weather
SHOWS, rain and bitterly cold winds-hav.
MADE campaigning i'm the mountainous
districts anything but a picnic and have
retarded all movements. In the second
place, Intentional or otherwise all dis
patches are being considerably DELAYED. "a
not unusual occurrence since the beginning
OF the present crisis. But IL the deyeop-
ment Is slow, * is none the less menacing.
and an open outbreak of hostilitIes or a
backdown upon the part of one or other or
both of the countries most interested cam
not be much longer delayed. as the strain
OF maintaining armies of about lOa.oo0
men each in the field is being felt with a
steadily growing severity by both Turkey
and Greece, SO that a declaration OF war
would be welcomed by either side with a
feeling of relief.
Conferences of the Powers
Here and at Constantinople there are
daily prolonged meetings of the councils of
ministers, and Ii is generally recognized
that there must be a decided change be-
fore long. Greece and Turkey are each
trying to avoid, if possible, being classed
as the aggressor in the conflict which is
apparently impending. and fer this reason
they are acting with the greatest caution.
The Greek National League, or Ethnike
/ Hetairia. is no party to this attitude of
the governments, and has already pushed
forward force of 1900 'irreguiars," well
armed, supplied and equipped, accompanied
by an ample commissarlat CORPS through
the center of the Turkish lines with Inc
two-fold object of cutting off communica-
tlon between the Turkish headquarters i'm
Macedonia, at Elassona, where Edhem
Sasha is in command and the Turkish
headquarters i'm Albania, at Janna, where
Haiku Pasha is i'm command, and OF get
ting in the rear of the Turks, raising
Macedonia against the rule of the sultan,
and forming bands OF irregulars who will
harass the Turkish rear. while the regu-
lar Greek army does the real fighting in
front.
In spite of all official denials, nobody
coubts that the Greek officials were fully
cognizalt of the movement of The Ethnike
Hetairia, which has been openly prepared
for and freely discussed for long time.
1t is an open secret here that by the
end OF the present week at least lo.90
Greek ''irregulars'' will be IN Macedonia,
Albania and Eprus, having been sent un-
der the pretense OF maintaining the status
quo in obedience to the representations of
the powers
Turkey Protests.
The Turkish minister at Athens yestcr-
day called the attention of NJ Skouzes the
Greek minister for foreign affairs, to the
departure from Greece CT further ''irregu-
lar forces into Macedonia, complaining CT
their being able to "evaje' the Greek
troops. The reply which was received was
similar to the one previously made by The
Greek premier. NJ. Delyanis, namely, that
Greece might make the same complaint as
to the vigilance of the Turkish troops. "un-
less there was suggestion II coanivance
between the two armies"
The next important move which Will he
heard will be from the Greek headquarters
at Arta, where the banks and principal
stores. etc, are closing and removing into
the interior, and every other preparation
possible is being made to get out OF harms
way before the war begins in earnest.
At Arta, II is well known hn:e force of
about 1000 men, organized by the Eibnike
Hetairia, has either started for Turkish
territory or is making the final preparations
for SO doing. This body will be divided
into six separate detachmalTs, each ably
directed and having a separate destination,
with the view of raising the flag of the
cross in a certain locality, increasing its
numbers as much possible and harass-
ing the rear of the Turkish force which will
be directed from Janina against the Greek
regulars. who will operate against the
Turks from Arta.
Orders to Stop the Irrcgulars.
The Greek government has given strict
orders tc stop the departure of this force
of ''irregulars:'' but, it is seni-ofiicially ex-
planned, the Greek commander at Arta
Colonel Manos, is unable to spare men 10
intercept them" Nobody ever expected
he would be able to spare men, to do
so. The Ethnike Hetaira probably counts
him among its devoted members. as 1t does
nearly all the officers in the Greek army,
and the colonel can be counted upon not
to interfere with the carefully prepared
plans of the National League, which will
make Greece a country worthy of its glori-
Gus traditions or perish bravely strug-
Cling to the last in its efforts 10 bring about
a realization of the dream for which its
members have sworn to sacrifice their lives
and all their belongings, If need be.
The Greek positions in the vicinity OF
Arta are much stronger than those of the
Turks who, owing TO the recent heavy
rains and bad roads. will have much diff
Guilty in communicating with their base
of supplies. at Janina, even If the Greek
"irregulars'i are not in their rear for the
purpose of preventing them from do
ing.
The Greeks are able to reach Arta from
Athens in twenty-four hours giving them
a fine base of supplies. an immense ad-
vantage in a campaign such as the one
planned by the Greek leaders. The volun-
teers from this city have already reached
1t is the intention of the Greeks when all
is ready TO attack and capture Janina,
which according to the treaty of Berlin,
righ;fully belongs to Greece.
Finally. another force of "irregualrs" is
preparing to cut on the Turkish commu-
n.cat:ons with Salonica, from where the
Turks at EiaSSOna derive tneir supplies.
II the attempt is successful the three Turk
ish army divisions. the eastern Tear Sa-
lonica, the central at Elassona, and the
western at Janina, in addition to the army
corps at Grevena, will be cut off from COM
MI ncation with each other. In addition
the Greek feet proposes to make things
II, ely or Salonica in order to prevent the
landing Of any supplies there.
Strang Greek Fleet Ready.
strong Greek feet is OF Arta ready to
render effective service In that direction.
Another Greek fleet Is on the Island Of
Skiathos, prepared to strike at Salonica;
another Greek feet lis OF the Island of
Skyro prepared to attack the Turkish
islands In the Aegean sea-
When the communications Of the Turkish
divisions at Janina are cut on its position
will be precarious. especially In the event
Of q rising of the Aibanians In it's rear,
" Which is one Of the objects " hich the
EtEnike Heta:rfa has i'm view.
A significant fact. pointing to the way
the wind IL blowing. IL that the Greek gov
errment las telegraphed to Colonel Berth
es. who has promised to bring with him
1000 italian volunteers. telling him to hold