Trouble in Crete.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 22, 19 March 1897, Page 2

Trouble in Crete.

Athens, March 16.

The Powers have decided to blockade Crete forthwith. They will extend the blockade to Greece in the event of that country proving .obdurate. France alone hesitates to enter upon coercion. , .Admiral Beineck, the Greek naval commander, denies that he abstained from warning the Cretan insurgents that the Powers would bombard their position if they threatened Canea. King George of Greece has ordered the Greek gunboats to resist expulsion from Cretan waters by the vessels of the British. The British Consul at Candia has been ordered to proclaim autonomy in Crete. The Porte declares that it is willing to withdraw the Turkish troops from towns of Crete protected by the troops of the Powers as soon as the Greek troops have evacuated the island. The Turks are pillaging the houses of Christians in Crete.

J . Later. England, France, and Italy are making unoiiicial endeavours to induce Greece to yield to the demands of fhe Powers. The blockade of Grejte commences on Wednesday. ■■'■■■ Greek subjects in Bulgaria, London, and Paris are starting to join their regiments. Owing to Moslem excesses at. Heraklion (Crete), the Consuls have asked the Admirals to land marines. March 17. Russia advocates Danilo, heir apparent of Montenegro, as Governor of Crete. Further details show that the Mosque at Dafins was fired by means of straw stepped in kerosene. The Moslems trying to escape were shot or stabbed to death. Similar atrocities were committed in othes villages. i

Later. One hundred and sixty Moslems took refuge in the Mosque which was set on fire, the inmates being burned to death. Eight hundred Moslems are missing from Sitia, and it is feared they have been massacred. : Twenty Moslem women took refuge in a cave. The Christian mob tried to suffocate them, filling the cave with fumes of paraffin, but they were rescued. Paris, March 16. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Hanotaux submitted a motion in favour of France acting with the other Powers in reference to Crete. He said the concert of the Powers remained unbroken, each sending 600 troops to Crete. M. Mellin urged that a policy ot isolation was dangerous to France. The Chamber approved of the resolution.