THE EASTERN CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10409, 6 April 1897, Page 5

THE EASTERN CRISIS.

FURTHER FIGHTING IN CRETE.

A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.

THE?' BODIES OF THE SLAIN

MUTILATED.

THE ATTITUDE OF THE

ADMIRALS.

STATEMENT BY THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER. Pros* Auociation.—Electric Teleerapli.—Copyi ight. Athens, April 5. Further severe fighting has taken place in Crete. An unfounded report having gained currency that the Admirals have authorised the Christians to leave Akroari, a thousand Moslems from Canea attacked the Christians and sharp fighting followed, lasting three hours. The Moslems finally retreated after losing fifty of their number. Many Christians were killed, and their bodies were mutilated.

The Admirals refrained from shelling the Moslems on observing the approach of the Turkish warship Assari-Tewfik.

In future the Moslems are to be disarmed by European guards at the gates ot Canea,

London, April 5.

The Times, commenting on the fight, says the admirals lost a good chance of showing an impartial policy. Paris, April 5,

In the Chamber of Deputies M. Hanotaux stated that the Powers, as asked by the admirals, have decided to extend the blockade to Greece.

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY MR.

CURZON.

A MERCIFUL LESSON TO GREECE.

THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR.

THE EXISTING EUROPEAN

CONCERT.

A GREAT STEP IN ADVANCE. London, April 5. Mr. Curzon, Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office, in the course of a speech at Southport said he did not think the resistance to the scheme of autonomy for Crete as proposed by the Powers was real or permanent. The blockade was a merciful way of teaching Greece not to fly in the face of Europe. If Greece proclaimed war in order to revenge herself upon the Powers, a more wanton and wicked war could never be waged. The Powers had created and alone could modify the integrity of Turkey, The concert agreed upon by the Powers was the greatest advance in international concord the nineteenth century had seen. A breach of treaty obligations would be both cowardly and unwise.