Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-11
WAR CLOUDS LOWERING NEAR
situation in the East Appears More
Critical Than Ever.

Critical Than Ever.
Copyright, 1891 by the Associated Press')
LONDON, April 10.-Short of an actua
declaration of war between Greece and Tur
key. the situation could not possibly bt
grayer than it is. Tomorrow is the seventy
fifth anniversary of day the Greeks have
only too great cause to remember with hor'
ror-the massacre by the Turks of 10000 ol
the inhabitants CT the island Of Scio during
the war, OF Independence. The memory Of
this in connection with the little the power;
have done by their vaunted concert, is not
likely to put the Greeks in the humor to
withdraw now, even though King George
and his ministers are surprised at the i'm
mense army Turkey has Unexpectedly put
upon the frontier well armed and organized
in spite of her supposed want of resources
and many foresee the futiity of fighting Tur-
key il the powers are determined, as they
threatend. that neither combatant shall get
advantage therefrom. Whether, once the
fighting commences, the powers VIII be apie
to execute their threat, Is question CT
the future. The danger OF the situation
is in the fact that Turkey Is undoubtedly
anxious to give the Greeks lesson and has
only thus far been prevented from doing SO
by the influence of the powers.
Tho orders which Edhem Pasha, the Tur-
kish commander in-chief received from Con-
stant!nople when the invasion became known
were to speedily ascertain whether any SOL
dIers of the regular Greek army were among
the insurgents who crossed the waters. Tele-
grams conflict upon this point, but 1t may be
supposed that Edhem will not stop to in
.s,,lt, how tod
Greek officers among them. The country
around Krania and Grevena is very fertile,
well wooded and watered and crossed by
narrow roads or bride paths, where 1t is i'm
possible to move large bodies of troops, but
extremely favorable to guerrilla warfare. The
Turks have an entire division of infantry,
cavalry and artillery at Grevena, under the
command of Hakki Pasha. Their positions
arc much stronger than those of the Greeks
opposite and it is believed 1t will tax Prince
Constantine to the utmost to prevent some
of his troors from flying to the help of their
compatriots.
Interest in Crete itself will now lapse and
should war break out the Greek fleet will
proceed to attack the Turkish
islands The warships of the European
fleets now there will hardly suffice to pre-
vent the Greeks from taking action.
oMINOUs RUMoR.
An ominous rumor, received in London to-
lay Is that the duke OF York, who is cap
tain in the royal navy, is TO join the British
Channel squadron, after leaving Lord Woes-
ley at Gibraltar The channel squadron
was intended to form the mainstay of the
Jubilee review, but In the event of war, 1t
will be impossible for the war ships compos
ng it to take part in the celebration.
The duke of Connaught. who commands |
he Aldershot district, while inspecting the |
suffolk regiment today, previous to its de-
,arture for the island OF Malta, to replace the |
roops which have been sent to the island OF |
Jrete, exhorted them under any circum- |
tances to uphold the prestige OF the British |
Irmy.
So far as the powers In the concert are |
oncerned the position today appears un-
heeked from what 1t has been during the
week. II Is understood that the blockade
Il Greece hangs fire because some OF the
'owers decline to send the necessary war
hips. saying that as Great Britain possesses
he largest fleet, she ought TO endure the
runt OF the work. Great Britain, how
ver is reluctant to constitute herself the
oliceman Of Europe and discharge a dis
asteful duty. This state OF affairs applies
D France and Italy. and certainly to Admiral
anavero. the Italian officer In command OF
he allied fleets. who offered to resign rather
han take part In the blockade In SO
Ding. he represented the feeling of the Ital-
IN nation, but in the interest OF the con-
ert of the powers, he was advised to remain
his post.
Great Britain France and Italy favor con-
assions which will enable Greece to recede
ON her present situation. Russia and
ustria appear TO be rather undecided as to
hat course to pursue; but Russia is cred