Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-05-27
TURKEYS DEMANDS.
Reply 70 the Request Of the Pow
ers for an Armistice.
Porte Demands Annexation OF Thes-
sally and Payment OF "a Heavy WAR
ndemnIty-POwers Not Like
~ TO Consent

Constantinople, May 17.-The porte
has replied officially to the note of the
powers and declines TO agree TO an
armistice until the following conditions
are accepted: The annexation of Thes-
sally, an indemnity of { 10, 0O0, 900 Turk
ish and the abolition of the capitula-
tions. The porte proposes that pleni-
potentiaries of the powers should meet
at Pharsalos to discuss the terms Of
peace. and declares that if these condi-
tions are declined rAe Turkish army
will continue to advance. The demand
for the annexation of Thessaly is based
upon the fact that the province was
originally ceded to Greece on the advice
of the powers with the object of ending
brigandage and Greek incursions into
Ottoman territory, the porte believing
at the time that the cession would at
tain these objects, but the recent in
cursions of Greek bands and the events
Immediately preceding the war have
proved to the contrary. This is the sub
stance Of the reply.
Raises Grave Issue
The ambassadors met to consider tbs
portc's answer, which is regarded as
raising an extremely grave issue. 1t is
believed that representations will be
made to the sultan personally to induce
a modification of these terms. but it is
foreseen that this will be very difficult,
owing TO the attitude of the powerful
old Turk war party. If the porte should
prove obdurate European conference
is not improbable, although at present
Russia is opposed to this.
Powers viii Not Consent.
tits regarded as quite certain that the
powers will not consent to a retroces-
sion of Thessaly. Even Germany is be-
lieved TO be resolute on this point, be-
cause il would involve violation of the
Berlin treaty and imperil the peace of
the Balkans. Altogether the reply of
the porte has caused the greatest sur
prise. 1t appears that during the dis
cussion of the note from the powers by
the council of the sultan's ministers,
news reached the council that 5000
Greeks had landed at Palona and were
marching TO Janina with the intention
of cooperating with other forces from
Arta. This created bad impression
among the ministers.
Another Demand.
London, May IA dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Constantlcople says the !
porte's reply demands in it's conclud-
ing paragraph an eXtradition treaty
with Greece, and that the ports of Volo
and Prevesa be kept open for vessels
carrying food supplies TO the Turkish
troops.
Turks Give Up Prevesn.
Athens, May ia private dispatc
from Arta, just received here, says that
the Turkish garrison at Prevesa, at the +
northern entrance of the gulf Of Arta, /
which has been besieged by the Greek
land and sea forces almost from the
outbreak of the war has sent the Greek +
and five notabiIities of Pre-
vesa to the commander of the besieg1ne
Greek army with a message saying
that the Turkish force is ready to ca
pitulate to the regular forces OF Greece.
Uiii Maintain the Defensive.
Athens, May 11.-Sunday N. Ralli, the
premier, visited the various legations
and obtained assurances that the pow /
ers would undertake q prevent any OF +
lensise action on the part OF the Turks,
the 6rerk forces maintained +
u strictly defensive attitude. On this +
understanding he Immediately wired
to the commanders OF the three creek +
divisions ut Domokos Sourp and Arta, /
instructing them TO abstain from all ]
hostile action unless attacked by the I
enemy.