Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-03-15
COME TO A HEAD.
Pour PaFlers Of the Powers in the
Case Of Crete.
BLOCKADE OF THE 0RETAH PORTS

Ordered to Begin at Once and the F1cets
Wm Go on Duty Today -Russis's Original
View Of the Matter Finally Adopted
Forces Also To BE Landed to Maintain
Order-Another Big Greek Sympathy
Meeting at London.
Rome. March 15.-It Is officially an
nounced here that the rtsult Of the pour
parlers Of the powers Saturday is q
definite agreement not to reply to the
Greek note. but to issue orders to the
foreign admirals to establish an i'm
mediate blockade Of Cretan ports, which
will probably be in full operation today.
This agreement Is somewhat in the ma
ture Of a concession to Russia and
France. Russia during the middle OF
onding the proposal. another Joint note
to Greece insisting on the withdrawal
OF the troops. instead Of an immediate
resort OF the powers to force. Russia s
action was inspired. 1t is officially stated,
by certain sympathy for Greece. but
20 many objections were raised by each
power in turn to the suggestion that the
other course has finally been agreed up
on. 1t is thought that the simplest way
to carry out the threat made in the iden-
teal notes will be the blockading Of the
Cretan ports and the landing Of forces
sufficient to insure the maintenance OF
order. leaving future action es the fate
OF Crete to later negotiations. This was
the view Of Russia at the outset.
Greece Continues to Grind Her Knife.
Athens, March 15.-Everything re-
mains in statu quo pending the action
OF the powers. But the minister of wa1
Is Fastening in every possible way the
military preparations. precisely as II
war were already declared. Great un.
easiness h caused by the strained sit
uation ON the frontier. Graver advices
are being received from Larissa. A
dispatch states that 1900 troops have
been concentrated near Elassona. The
Turks have formed two irregular bat
talions to guard the Thessalian passes
through which tnssFgent bands could
enter Macedonia. The Turkish forces
in Epirus were reinforced Saturday
Among the Greek troops on the frontie,
there Is an Increasing desire TO try con-
illusions with the Turks. A declaration
OF war IS awaited with impatience in
military circles at Larissa.
More Reserves To he Called Out.
A royal decree summoning the re-
mainder OF the reserves is imminent
Prince Nicholas with his battery has
been stationed on the centre line The
king has consented that the war office
should undertake the formation of q
fort legion in the event Of the out
break Of wsr. Thousands Of horses and
mules are arriving from abroad, the
gifts of rich Greeks, who are sending
also large Gums to the national treasury
for patriotic purposes. For the present
the government does not seem embar-
rassed for money.
Turk Is Very ComplAisant.
Constantinople. March 1.-THE porte
continues to adopt an acquiescent tone
In answer to the requests OF the powers
Replying to the collective note Of the
ambassadors Of the 6eh inst, the porte
yesterday announced In writing its in.
tention to concentrate the Ottoman
troops in Crete in the fortified towns
as soon as the Greek troops have
evacuated the island. The porte has
aAso sent an identical request to the
ENJOYS Of the powers, begging them tc