THE RISING IN CRETE.

Evening Star, Issue 10243, 19 February 1897, Page 2

THE RISING IN CRETE.

[Per PtttsßS Association.]

ATHENS, February 17. The Greek Government have instructed Colbriel Vassos not to attack Canea', or coirie into collision with the lowers ill any war. CONSTANTINOPLE; February 17. The Siiltah has ordered military measures to be taken 1 bii the Greek frontier, and is also calling out further regiments of redifs or militia. The operations on the Greek frontier will, be conducted under Commander Edhem Pasha.

Turkey has decided to leave the Powers to pacify Crete, while Paratheodoro Pasha, formerly Governor of Crete, has been sent to represent Turkish Imperial interests there. ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS. ATHENS, February 18. Admiral Canevaro, senior Admiral in the Italian Navy, has been appointed commander of the combined squadron at Crete. The Admiral has urged the Greeks and Turks to remain quiescent, pending a settlement of the difficulty being arrived at by the Great Powers. . The Great Powers have occupied thq towns of Candia, Retimo, and Sitia, on the northern coast of Crete. A thousand Cretan rebels, who have joined Colonel Vassos, are occupying the interior of the country. The Greek Consul at Canea rehoistod the Greek flag, but was directed by the Great Powers to lower it.

TURKEY PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES.

CONSTANTINOPLE, February 18.

Turkey is equipping ten ironclads and twenty torpedo boats. One-half of this force will sail for Crete in five days. Fifty thousand men of the Turkish Naval Reserves have been summoned fox* service.

Hassan Pasha, Minister of Marine, has asked for a credit vote for half a million sterling. Reports from Berlin state that three Russian warships have arrived at Kila, a seaport of Roumania, situated at one of the mouths of the Danube.

At this juncture it may be of interest to state that all able-bodied males in Greeoe are liable to service in the army, and that the total period of service is for nineteen years, of whioh two years (with considerable terms of leave) must be passed with the ooloro, eight years in the reserve, and the remainder in the militia or Ltndwehr. By the terms of a law passed by the Boute in the session of 1887 the numerical strength of the army on the peaoe footing was fixed at 24.076 men, comprising 16,136 infantry, 4,877 cavalry, and 3,063 artillerymen arid engineers. On the war footing the strength could be mobilised to 100,000. The reserve forces alone give a total of 104,500, and behind these is what is called the territorial army, numbering 146,000. The navy consist* of 5 armor-clad vessels, 17 torpedo boats, 2 Nordenfelt submarine torpedo boats, and the following unprotected vessels: corvettes, 2 cruisers, and 12 gunboats. The personnel of the navy includes about 185 officers and cadets, 247 employed, 587 pettyofficers, 1,643 sailors, 503 stokers; total, 3,165 men. The navy is manned partly by conscription from the people oi the sea coast and partly by enlistment.