Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-02-25
WAR CLOUDS GROW.
CRETAN TROUBLE Is CAUSING
SERIOUS THREATS.
British Refuse to Join the Powers In u
Blockade of the Port of Athens
Geeks Continue to Send Troops and
Supplies to Crete-Hot Fighting.

Ismail Bey has been appointed the
new Turkish governor of Crete and
the commanders of foreign warships
have notified him that they have adj
dressed an ultimatum to the commo-
dore of the Greek feet requesting him
to withdraw from Cretan waters.
They requested Ismail Bey to find
way of notifying the insurgents of this
fact, and of summoning them to yield
up their arms, also of informing them
that the powers had taken measures to
prevent Greece from interfering in the
affairs of Crete. The insurgents re-
piled that they would not surrender,
but would continue the fight. They
have sworn loyalty to Greece and be-
lieve that Greece will take care of
them. Over / 400 more Greek troops,
with six field guns, have landed at
Kolunbari, seven miles from Canea,
and have been joined by 5000 Cretans.
An Athens dispatch says that the
Grecian government has officially in
formed the powers that Greece is un-
able to reverse her policy in the mat
ter of the occupation of Crete.
British Block the Plan of the Powers.
The powers addressed a collective
note, originating with Germany, TO
Greece demanding the withdrawal of
her naval and military forces from the
island of Crete within as hours, failing
which, the port of Piraeus (Athens)
would be bloclladed and general hos
| tilities commence. Later however the
scheme was vetoed by Great Britain,
and there is little prospect of its being
adopted.
The newspapers OF Berlin reflect the
bitter resentment felt by Emperor
William at the rejection by the mar
quis of Salisbury of his inajesty's per-
sonal.
NJ. Skouses, the Greek minister for
foreign affairs, has replied to the last
communication from the represents
tives of the powers, saying 1t is impos-
sible for Greece To recall her torpedo
fleet, so long as the excitement contin-
ues in Crete.
| Greeks Capture More Towns.
Notwithstanding all the outward
show of opposition on the part of the
powers the Greeks continue To send
troops and supplies TO Crete and they
are steadily driving the Turkish troops
to the three points occupied by the
warships of the powers. Col. Vassos,
commander of the Greek troops, has
captured another important position,
the village and fort of Nouklies. Col.
/ Vassos in the name of King George, is
establishing a system of administra-
ton. The municipal elections are al
ready proceeding and mayors have
been installed in the towns and viii
lagos outside of Canea. Heraklion,
Retimo and Sitia.
Col. Vassos has been ordered by
King George not to retire unless the
powers fire on him, when he must re.
tire inland without replying To the fire.
He is, however, to resist the Turkish
troops. The government sent instruc-
tions to the consul at Canea declaring
that as the four towns which the pow
ers occupied were not held in behalf OF
Turkey they must, like the rest of
Crete, be regarded as Greek territory.
Powers wsrships Fire on the Cretans
A dispatch from Canea says: At 4:30
p. m. Sunday signals were made to the
British warships Dryad, IIarrier and
Revenge, together with one Italian,
one German and one Russian ship, to
open fire on the Cretan position on the
hills above Canea where the Greek flag
was hoisted some days ago The Brit
ish ships fired 40 and the foreign ships
30 shells at the village and ruined the
house held by the Cretans. The flag
was soon lowered and the order. cease
fire." sounded after 10 minutes.
Thereupon the flag was rehoisted.
The rocks around were crowded with
Cretans. The Turks, encouraged by
the fleets, now opened lively fusil-
lade, while the Cretans were removing
the wounded. The Cretans had not
replied during the whole performance.
IL was a somewhat melancholy and de.
grading spectacle.