The Cretan Trouble.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8622, 29 March 1897, Page 2

The Cretan Trouble.

(Per Press Association.)

. Athens, March 26. The insurgents have surrounded the Moslems at Sitia and are attempting to starve the garrison into submission The Greek Court newspaper states that the Powers have stopped friendly parleying with Turkey. The Czar has donated six thousand roubles and tho Pope ten thousand francs to the Cretan refugees. The Turks made another attempt to convey provisions to the besieged in the fort at Malaxa but the insurgents prevented them pursuing the convoy as far as Suda. Gunboats then shelled the iusurgents and compelled them to retreat.

An Austrian ironclad stopped a Greek steamer and a sailing vessel, which were attempting to ruu the blockade-

Admiral Sir Augustus Phillamore declares it is illegal to blockade British traders in Crete before war is declared. i. London, March 27.

A later telegram states that the Czar sent 55,000 roubles to Cretan refugees instead of the amount first named.

Great Britian has made a proposal to the Powers that Turkey and. Greece be induced to form a neutral zone, and that the troops be withdrawn from the ThessalianVf ron'tier^.:, The AdpniraJf in^coinmand of the British fleet has* been instiucted to acquiesce in the action of the other Powers in event of Greece being blockaded, but the British warships are not to take an active part in the blockade

| Athens, March 27. The Christians attacked the garrison at Malaxa, but sustained heavy losses. I The Turkish warships fired on the insurgents in order to cover the retreat of the Moslems. The fighting, which was of a desj perate character, lasted many hours. The foreign warships bombarded Malaxa. Despite the shells which were thrown amongstthem, the Christians succeeded in blowing up a portion of tho Turkish I Blockhouse, and the remainder of the j fort was burned down. The maxim guns stopped an attack made upon the Turks at Halepa. Prolonged fighting has taken place at Keraticli. The Christians hold tho Turkish forts at Canea.

The Turks lost 60 in the fight at Malaxa and the insurgents 200.