The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-04-02


throughout the day. IL was especially
desperate at three o'clock this after
noon in the village of Tsicalaria, where
the insurgents set fire To number OF
Turkish houses.
The insurgents are now occupying
Malaxa. The European war ships
shcllcd them this afternoon, the firing
lasting ten minutes. The insurgents,
however, held their ground close To the
ruins of the blocl<housc, from which
they drove the Turkish garrison last
night, and did not seem to greatly
mind the bombardment.
When the Turkish troops evacuated
the block house they set fire to it in or
der that it might not furnish a shelter
to their enemies. 1t had been, how
ever, badly wrecked by the fire of the
rebels.
! 1t is evident that the Turkish troops
here are no match for the insurgents.
A body of troops made an attempt to-
day to gain the heights above Merck
Oura, where the Keratidi blockhouse
is situated. With this position and the
one at Malaxa in their possession the
insurgents would be able To COM
plctcly blockade Canea from the land
side.
The troops had gone only a little dis
| lance when they were attacked by in
surgents. who drove them back. Later
another attempt was made to reach the
heights, but this, too, proved unsuc-
cessfu.
Il. a4t Il
upon the Turkish Gordon at llalepa.
The Turks had number of mountain
guns, and the fire from these prevented
the insurgents from coming to close
quarters. 1t was this alone which
saved the Moslcns from defeat
Montevardia and lIalepa are both
within range of the guns of the insur
gents, who continue to shell both
places
This evening part of Malaxa was
blown up with dynamite and the rest
of the town is burning. The Turkish
war ships in Suda bay are bombarding
the insurgents, but their fire appears
to be wholly ineffective.
Malaxa is one of the towns mentioned
by the foreign adrnrals in their proc
lamation issued on Tuesday that must
not be attacked by Greek troops or in
surgents. The admirals declared that
the Notifications. which were needed
TO maintain security and quiet" must
not be fired upon; otherwise they
would use force against the attackers.
1t was the disobediencc of the insur
gents to this proclamation that led the
foreign war ships to lombard them.
These vessels fred ninety shells, three
of which fell within the forts.
After the place had been evacuated
by its Turkish garrison. which mum.
bered g. men, the troops scattered in
any direction that led To the coast in
order To escape from their pursuers.
One of them reached Nerol<-Ouru and
Is managed to make their way TO Suda
The others have not been heard from.
and it is supposed that they were
killed.
The Mussulmans here. and they com
prise almost the entire population. are
in state of great excitement. They
fear that the insurgents. clated by
their capture and destruction of Ma
Taxa, will attack IIeratidi.
A force Of 500 Highlandcrs were
landed at Gambia to-day. and their ap
pearance in the city caused the most
intense excitement. The popuac,
were evidently ignorant of their com
ing until they were in the town.
The Turkish troops were also at
loss TO account for their pres
ence, and apparently thought that
they were about TO be attacked.
The Turkish officers had much diff
Guilty in preventing their men from
firing on the British troops. The gar.
rison troops rushed to the shore from
all directions. loading their rifles a.
they ran and uttering threats against
the British. The latter remained per-
fcctly cool and eventually the irrita-
ton was calmed. All danger. how
ever, is not over. The Turkish troops
do not appear TO grasp the fact that
the presence of the foreigners Is
practically the only thing that
saves them from humiliation. Swarms
of Turkish soldiery. armed to the teeth,
are parading about the streets. giving
voice to their fierce hatred of all inf
dels- The slightest spark may at any
moment produce fatal outbreak.
The British VIII Take No Active Part In
the blockade.
CoSsTANTINoPLE March 26.--It is
stated here that in the event of block
ade of Greek ports by the warships of
the powers, the admiral commanding
the British squadron is under instruc-
tons To acquicsce therein. but the
British feet will take no part in the
actual blockade.
1t is reported that the Turkish squad
ron. which sailed from Gallipolis
Wednesday ostcnsibly for Smyrna and
Salonica. has been ordered to cruise in
the Aegean sea.
Captured Greek Blockade Runners.
CANEA. March 20. - The Austrian
cruiser Satellit has arrived in suda bay,
having in custody a Greek steamerwith
60 volunteers on board. and a Greek
sailing vessel laden with ammunition
intended for the Cretan insurgents.