The herald., 1897-03-16
On a Russian War Ship Off
Canea
GREEKsWERE NOT TOBLAME
A Careless Gunner Causes . Score Of
Deaths
There Are Oceans Of Talk and Of Threats
but the Powers Blockade 1s
Not Begun

LONDON, March 15.-The correspon-
dent of the Times at Canea says that
while gunners Of the Russian ironclad
Cessoi Velilki were practicing yesterday
a gun burst. blowing the top off tur-
ret. Fourteen men and one officer were
killed, sixteen were wounded. five fa-
tally
1t Is believed that the bursting Of the
gun was due to an ill-closed breech. The
occupants of the turret were killed, while
the flying debris of the massive structure
killed and wounded many others.
ADMIRAI.S' ORDERS
ROME, March 15-1t Is semi officially
stated here this afternoon that all the
foreign admrals have received orders
to blockade Crete. 1t is added that the
blockade of Greece would soon occur IL
the Cretan blockade should prove mad
equate. The Greek fleet is expected to
leave Crete. otherwise It will be escorted
cAtsid the Cretan waters.
1T MAY BE TRUE
ST. PETERSBURG. March 15.- All
the admirals except the French and Ita!
ian commanders have been ordered to
Immediately blockade the principal
Greek ports. esIfcially the Plraeus port
Athens). Syria and volo. The ultima
tum will be addressed to Greece by the
admirals of the foreign fleets.
FINANCIAL OBJECTION
VIENNA. March 15.-The proposal of
the powers that France and Italy oc-
cupy Crete with a mixed force of 25, 900
has been declined by the governments
of those two countries on the score of
expense. The occupation of Crete.
therefore. will be undertaken by the
forces of the six powers. although Ger
many and Austria will only nomnally
take part, to show they are agreeable
to the measure. The powers are dis
cussing the details OF the autonomous
government and the choice of governor,
who will. 1t is said. be Frenchman.
FRENCH FRIENDSHIP.
PARIS, March 15-Ex- Minister Cob
bet, in the chamber of deputies today,
questioned the government on Cretan
affairs and urged that France should
support Greece, claiming that the for
mers withdrawal from the European
concert would not affect the Russian al
lance. which he asserted did not oblige
aASt " JUN III diA tAPCdllioi III W0iCI
she was not interested.
Mons. Hanotaux. minister of foreign
affairs. recapitulated the reply of Greece
to the Identical notes of the powers. and
added: "rhe powers have decided, in
order to insure order and security, that
each of the powers shah reinforce its
contingents already landed by 500 or 600
men. If Greece continues to support
Col Vassos, then the admirals will take
immediate measures of coercion of
Crete. and the Greek ports will also be
blockaded."
Referring to Mons. Goblet's sugges-
tion, Mons. Hanotaux pointed out that
the British were now in Egypt as a re-
suit Of previous abstention on the part of
France, adding that the continuance Of
such a policy meant preventing France
from taking any role in the Mediterra-
mean. and in that case, besides recalling
her warships from Crete, she should
also dismantle them.
Continuing, the minister remarked:
"The Cretan imbroglio can be arranged
with us, but 1t can also be arranged
without u.s."
He concluded with an appeal to the
chamber to support the government in
. concert of the powers. The chamber,
by a vote of 1856 to 143, approved the
governments declaration on the Cretan
question
GREECE WILL FIGHT.
ATHENS. March 15.-The receipt of
the news from Paris has caused q pessi-
mistic feeling here. but the government
10 determined to maintain its opposition
and await the blockade.
1t is generally believed that the en-
forcement Of the blockade will be a
signal for conflict on the frontier.