WAR DECLARED BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10421, 20 April 1897, Page 5

WAR DECLARED BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE.

BOTH ARMIES ORDERED TO ADVANCE. OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES. SERIOUS FIGHTING ON THE FRONTIER. HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. FIVE TURKISH OFFICERS KILLED. A GREEK STEAMER SUNK. THE GREEK WARSHIPS OPEN FIRE. BOMBARDMENT OF A TURKISH FORT. THE POWERS AND THE BLOCKADE OF GREECE. The restoration of telegraphic communication with the outside world has brought us the grave news that war has been declared between Turkey and Greece, The cable messages which we print below give a clear though necessarily concise account of the declaration. Finding it impossible, consistent with her national honour and interests, to remain inactive any longer while her territory was being invaded by the armed troops of a hostile State, Turkey has resolved to appeal to force. Her Minister has been recalled from Athens, the Greek Ambassador at Constantinople has received his passport, and the Turkish army on the frontier has been ordered to assume the offensive against the Greeks. The latter have also been commanded by the King to advance and already serious fighting lias taken place. Both sides are reported to have suffered heavy losses, while the list of those killed include five Turkish officers. The Greek Chamber of Deputies has voted a war credit of nearly a million pounds. Anticipating what has happened Russia and Austria have, it is announced, secured the neutrality of the Balkan States, but it is exceeding doubtful whether these States will be able to prevent their being drawn into the vortex. With regard to the attitude of the Powers towards Greece, it is stated that while Russia, Germany, and Austria are in favour of the allied fleet blockading her ports, Britain, France, and Italy hesitate to take that step, and for the present it has been decided to postpone the blockade of Piraeus.

GREECE READY TO FULFILL HER MISSION. Press Association.—Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. Athens, April 15. M. Delyannis lias asked the Chamber of Deputies to pass a war vote of twenty-three million drachmai (£920,000). He stated that the situation on the frontier was clue to the singular conduct of Turkey in massing troops. He expressed the hope that the Powers would consent to a peaceful solution of the difficulty, failing which the Greek army would soon be ready to fulfill its mission. The Chamber will vote three months supplies. London, April 15. The Times correspondent at Athens wires that the main body of the National Leaguers entered Thessaly to avoid being surrounded by the Turks. Small detached bands are concealed in the mountains near Grevena. The populace of Athens is dispirited. The King of Greece lias had an audience with Gousio, the chief organiser of the League.

THE SULTAN AND THE CZAR AND KAISER. Constantinople, April 15. The Sultan, is constantly wiring to the Czar and the Emperor of Germany, who are reported to favour an advance on the Greek frontier. The Turks prevented a hundred and fifty Greek regulars surprising Turkish blockhouse on the frontier at Damai. The Greeks explained they had lost their way. The Turks are willing to evacuate Acrosria, in Crete, on condition that they are replaced by British troops. THE BLOCKADE OF GREECE. London, April 15. The Czar and the Emperors of Germany and Austria favour the blockade of Greek ports by the allied fleets, but Britain, France, and Italy hesitate to join the movement. London, April 16. The Powers have postponed the blockade of Piraeus, thus depriving Greece of any pretence for breaking the peace. THE NEUTRALITY OF THE BALKAN STATES. London, April 16. Russia and Austria have secured the neutrality of the Balkan States in the event of war between Turkey and Greece, unless Co-Nationalists are attacked. REPULSE OF THE LEAGUERS. Athens, April 17. The Turks have re-occupied the outposts on the TurcoGrecian frontier captured by the National League forces. The Leaguers are furious at the regular troops of the Grecian army not coming to their assistance. They admit they are unequal to the Turkish regular troops. A body of Italian volunteers who were raiding Turkish territory at Kiania, have been disbanded.

FEELING IN ATHENS. Athens, April 17. A spirit of pessimism prevails in Athens, although the populace insist that the honour of the country demands sacrifices for unity. The King and Government despair of being able to control the war spirit. A member of the National League, who was captured by the Turks, admitted to being a soldier and that Greek officers commanded the Leaguers and that the Government supplied them with arms. THE POPE AS MEDIATOR. London, April 17. The Pope has oflered to act as mediator in the Cretan trouble. MR. GLADSTONE'S DENUNCIATIONS. London, April 17. Mr. Gladstone, in a letter to Dampzes, a Macedonian chief, says a two-year-old and a few full-grown despots, who have not earned the confidence of Europe, are directing the Eastern policy of Great Britain, whose degrading office it is to supply ships, soldiers, and sailors to suppress liberty in Crete. DECLARATION OP WAR. Constantinople, April 18. The Sultan has ordered Edhem Pasha to assume the offensive against Greece. The Turkish Ambassador at Athens, Assim Bey, has been recalled, and the Greek Minister at Constantinople, Prince Maurocordats, has been handed his passport. The Porte has issued a Circular Note to the Ottoman Embassies in the European capitals declaring that Greek regular troops are at Krania, on the frontier, and that they have taken part in more recent incursions across the frontier. The hope is expresed in the Note that the Powers will recognise that Greece is responsible for the war. Turkey, it is added, has no idea of conquest, and is willing to withdraw her troops on condition that Greece withdraws her troops from the frontier and from Crete.

COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. Athens, April 18. M. Delyannis received information that hostilities broke out between the Greeks and Turks on Friday evening. The Turkish troops made an attempt to occupy Analipsis, a neutral position near Negeros, but were repulsed. Fighting was renewed on Saturday. The outbreak of hostilities has also extended to Klephtika and Gentekia. After a march of an hour and a-half in the afternoon the Greek artillery forced the Turks to abandon Tsemteje and other outposts. The Turks after being reinforced again attacked Analipsis on Saturday night. Fighting is also proceeding at Gritsovali and Moliina. M. Belyannishas sent a protest to the Powers declaring that the Turks are the aggressors. A general advance of the Greek army has been ordered with a view to repelling the Turkish invasion. THE GREEK FLEET IN ACTION. Athens, April 18. The Turkish fort at Prevasa fired upon and sank a Greek mercantile steamer. The Greek fleet iu the Gulf of Arta opened fit-e upon the fort, keeping up a heavy bombardnient.

THE LATEST. Constantinople, April 18. Latest reports show that fierce fighting is proceeding between the Turks and Greeks. Very heavy losses have occurred on both sides. The killed include five Turkish officers. A general advance of the Turkish troops has been ordered for to-morrow. Greek merchants are being ordered to quit Turkey within a fortnight. Athens, April 18. The Greeks have captured Menexi, in Macedonia. Murderous firing is proceeding along the whole frontier.

The Turks are massing in the direction of Furnavas, and occupying passes leading on Larissa, preparatory to a general advance of the army into Greece.

A GREAT BATTLE. FIFTY THOUSAND TROOPS ENGAGED. TWO DAYS FIGHTING, A TURKISH VICTORY. Athens, April 19. Further details from the seat of war show that fifty thousand troops took part in the fighting 011 Saturday and Sunday, and were mostly without food and sleep the whole time. The chief points of conflict were Karya, Darrusi, Shumpa, and Maluna. In the battle at Maluna Pass, which commands the road to Larissa, 20,000 troops were engaged. The fighing lasted throughout the whole day and night. At first the Turkish forces, under Edhim Pasha, were successful. They succeeded in repulsing the Greeks and rescuing the garrison at the Turkish blockhouse, which the Greeks had surrounded. They stormed a Greek blockhouse at the point of the bayonet. The defenders offered a desperate resistance, and the artillery Caused great execution, and eventually the Turks succeeded in clearing the greater portion of the pass. The Greeks, however, captured a Turkish battery. Amongst those killed was Hafid Pasha, a leading Turkish officer. Latest telegrams state that the chief officers (presumably Turkish), and. a large number of men were killed and wounded. Nine Turkish battalions were engaged against 15,000 Greeks. At Karya, from an opposite hillside, a heavy artillery fire was kept up. The intention of the Greeks was to secure the road to Larissa. Both tides lost heavily.

Greece has called out the last of her reserves. The Turks have destroyed the Aclium fort, opposite Previsi. The Greeks have silenced one battery at Previsa. Severe fighting is taking place in connection with the defence of theSalouica railway. Edhim Pasha is holding a council of war with his officers. It is believed the object is to arrange a decisive attack on the Greek positions. The efforts of the Turks to seize Malapsis failed. CANADA PREPARING. Ottawa, April 15. In the course of a speech, Sir 11. S. Cartwright, Minister of Trade and Customs, said there would probably be war in Europe, and it was desirable that Canada should have between 20,000 and 30,000 troops ready for service. The volunteers would possibly soon have a chance of proving their attachment to the Empire.