The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-08
THE CREEKS ANSWER
Will Probably be Delivered to the
s&. Powers Today.
NOT ANXIOUS FOR A BLOODY WAR.

The Greeks, However, VIII Not Yield to
the Demand of the Powers Unless Some
Other Proposition Is Made In the In
terest of Pence.
!, Athens, March S.-The answer of
Greece to the Identical notes of the
powers was discussed at meeting of
.he cabinet and approved by King
. George yesterday. 1t is reported that
the reply is a refusal to recall the Greek
feet and troops from Crete, on the
ground that the recall would be a sig
nal for pillage, incendiarism and MUIR
der. The complete text will not be
known until it is presented to the am
bassadors of the powers today. In dip
lomatic circles it Is said that the Greek
answer may lead to negotiations to
agree on a proposal for cooperation
which has been presented to France.
Though the exact character of the
Greek reply is not yet made known, it
Is understood that, in addition to the
ground Of refusal to comply because
of the fear of pillage, incendiarism and
murder in Crete, the note points out
that the Cretans. who alone should be
regarded as entitled to determine their
fate, have declared their unalterable
resolution to be annexed to Greece as
the only solution that will finally pac-
ify the island
The situation of affairs here remains
grave. although there are few signs
s that a pacific solution of the Cfetan
- crisis is yet et-posslble. This Is more par
ticularly SO IN the ease. of Greece. 1t
is believed that the government 10 sin
/. cere in not desiring to start any con-
. Migration which may spread far and
wide. The gravity Of the situation is
recognized on all sides, and those inter-
ested seem willing to arrive at a peace
full settlement of the difficulties if pos
sible.
r Greece is displaying undiminished
firmness as to her intention to carry
out at all costs the program which she
has mapped out for herself in regard
to Crete, while at the same time sup
porting the pacific intentions of her
advisers.
1t is stated that Prince Maurocor-
dato, the Greek minister at ConStanti-
n0ple, has addressed a not to the
Turkish government, PROPOSE. {, to re-
call the Greek troops from tEe from
Tiers of Macedonia and Albania if the
Turkish troops near the Greek frontier
are simultaneously withdrawn. The
porte, however, has not shown any
haste to accede to this proposal.
At the same time this note was sent
to the Turkish government stringent
orders were issued to the commanders
of the Greek troops in Thessaly to do
everything possible to avoid anything
calculated to provoke a conflict, while
the hope was expressed to the Turkish
on ioJ, Of TO M the
porte would issue similar instructions
to the commanders of the Turkish
troops in Macedonia
Dispatches since received here from
Thessaly indicate that the wishes of
King George will be carried out 1t
was stated in these messages that al
though the Greek troops are animated
with unabated enthusiasm nothing will
he done to needlessy irritate the Turks
An incident showing this to be the
ease has occurred near Melun. A
Greek officer of engineers was engaged
In supervising the work of repairing
rpad close to the frontier, and was pre-
vented by some Turkish officials from
Rf6e6edlRg WITH the task. The Greeks
have not taken any action in the mat
ter. although it is claimed they were
well within their rights in proceeding
with the repairs.
On the other hand, dispatch re-
ceived here from Canea at $50 this
morning state that Colonel Vassos,
who is in command of the "Greek army
of occupation" as 1t Is termed at
Athens, has received at his camp, near
Platania, instructions from King
George to be prepared to resist CO.
encion to the end.
This spirit, which pervades all the
orders sent to the Greek commanders
In Crete, is further shown in a Canea
dispatch referring to the incident which
occurred at Selino yesterday. Before de-
gliding to land the mixed detachment Of
marines the admirals pour-parleyed for
O. long time with the Greek commodore,
Colonel Vassos, and the Greek vice
consul Evasive answers only were re-
turned to the admirals. the Greek COM
modore protesting against the obstacles
which Europe placed in the way of his
action and Colonel Vassos asserting
that he had no authority over the in
surgents who were investing Selino.
These replies, coupled with the in
sistence of the Greek vice consul that
he would only consent to go to Seino
on board Greek warship and in the
name of King George of Greece, COM
PEELED the foreign admirals, in defer
eace to their instructions, to de-
eide to themselves deliver the i'm
prisoned Moslems even if they had to
use force against the insurgents or the
Greeks in order to do 50. Therefore a
detachment of marines was landed at
selino from the foreign warships, and
II set out forthwith for Candamo.
The Greek vice consul, NJ. Baraclis
thereupon informed the admiral that
the Greek government declined all re-
BpOnsibility for what might take place
1t is said that there are 5000 Mosems
besiegcd at Candamo, where the earth
works of the Turks have been partly
destroyed by the fire of the insurgents
many men being killed on both sides
Additional -advices from Crete say
chat the insurgents have formed a cor.
don around Canea, and that Saturday
evening the insurgents attacked the
Turkish positions at Malaxa and Ker.
t. III atidi, where they attempted to destroy
the blockhouse with the use Of dyna
mite The fighting, however. was of G
desultory nature, and yesterday hos
tilities were reported to be at stand
still
A Canea dispatch says that the ad
nirals have forwarded to their re.
gpective governments their suggestions
for the coercion of Greece. The com
mander Of Russian cruiser which has
Sust arrived at Canea from Selino re
; ports that the foreign vessels free
guns there to intimdate the insur
gents The military governor of Canes
has informed the dragoman Of tn,
Greek consulate that orders have beer
received to ire on the Greek cavass /
he leaves tn consulate, The Greeks ii
i. the town are menaced by the Mussul
man populace, and the commander o
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