Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-29
FIGHTING IN CRETE.
Insurgents Made a Successful At
tack on a Fort at
Malaxa.


tack on a Fort at
Malaxa.
Canea. March %, 6:30 .. m.-The
Christians still occupy the fort at Ma
laxa, from which they drove the Turks
by bombardment this morning, in spite
of the shells which fell around it and
which set fire to the blockhouse.
Copyright, 1897 by the Associated Press)
Canea, March 25-'rhe insurgents
made determined attack upon the block
house, or fort, at MalaXa. outside of
Suda, today. During the night the in
surgent forces were pushed forward until
they occupied convenient positions for at
tack, and about 6 a. IN. the artillery
opened fire upon the Turkish blockhouse.
The pieces of the Christians were
served with such admirable promptness
and precision that in short time nothing
remained to the Turks but determination
or evacuation. The Mussulmans, prefer
ring the latter, left the fort and COM
menced retreat on Suda. relying upon
the Turkish warships in the bay to save
them from the Christians.
Trying to Cover Retreat.
The Sultan's fleet opened badly
Judged fire upon the insurgents in order
to cover the retreat from the blockhouse.
Shells either fell short or far beyond the
insurgent forces. Consequently the
Christians pushed forward steadily,
pressing hard upon the rear of the
Turks and keeping up continual sklr-
mish fire. The Turks made a stand
now and then, pouring Il few yolleys IN
the direction of the insurgent skirmish
lines. The insurgents succeeded in push
ing on as far as the village of ISlkala-
ria, where they set fire to some houses.
While this fighting was i'll progress
detachment of Turkish troops, being I'M
aware of the fact that the garrison OF
the fort at Malaxa had evacuated that
place and was retreating upon Suda closely
pursued by the Christians. made a sortle
from Canea with 4 convoy of provisions
intended for the garrison of MalaXa.
From the route followed by the Turks
nothing could be seen or heard of the
fighting in progress between MalaXa and
Suda and the Ottoman troops advanced
half way up to the heights upon which
the blockhouse of Keratidi is situated.
But while the Turks were unaware
of the insurgents dOings. the latter had
closely followed the movements of the
Turkish column escorting the provision
and ammunition train.
Turkish Advance stopped.
Near Keratidi the Turks were met by
q body of insurgents, who, from we'll
SClcCI0u pOSlUlOIlS, Opcu6u H6ICc uIc
upon the advancing troops. The fire of
the Christians stopped the advance of the
column and the Turkish commander took
up the best position possible in order to
protect the convoy and send it to the
rear if necessary.
At noon, as this dispatch is sent, the
fighting between the Turks and Chris
tians near Keratidi was still in progress
and the result was uncertain.
The Turkish garrison at MalaXa lost
heavily during the retreat from that
place.
The insurgents are numerous and oc-
cupy all the heights in the vicinity of
Canea as far as Perivolia, having cap
tured the two last Turkish fortresses.
vent the entire success of the insurgent
cause.
Politically there is no change in the
situation The Cretan chiefs have def
initely decided to refuse autonomy and
will continue the struggle until the union
Of the island with Greece is an acknowl-
edged fact.
The blockade is in progress all along
the Cretan coast, but this has not pre-
vented several small Greek vessels from
landing ammunition and provisions.
The Greek vessel which was accidental
ly captured by Austrian gunboats, which
put into a harbor owing to the severity
teers and a quantity of ammunition.
At $3.50 p. M. this afternoon while the
Turkish reinforcements were vainly
struggling to capture the heights above
Nerakourou, the Christians from Akrotiri
attacked the Turkish Gordon at Halepa.
which was keeping them at distance
with mountain artillery.
The Fighting Continues.
The fighting continues as this dispatch
IS being forwarded, the shots of the in
surgents reaching Mortevardia and Ha
lepa.
Desperate fighting continued between
the Turks and the Christians until
quarter past 3 this afternoon in and
about Tsikalaria not far from Suda, to
which point the insurgents succeeded in
pushing forward this morning while in
pursuit of the retreating garrison of Ma
Taxa.
The insurgents burned several more
houses of Tsikalaria, whereupon the war
ships of the foreign powers at 3:15 p. m.
began firing at the Christians. The bonn
bardment, however. only lasted ten min
E1fpS