Crete.

Manawatu Herald, 20 March 1897, Page 2

Crete.

I The Porte has declared that it is i willing to withdraw its troops from the towns protected by the troops of the Powers as soon as the Greek . troops have evacuated the island. The Powers have decided to blockade (3rete forthwith, and will extend the blockade to Greece in the event of that country persisting it iti present policy with regard to the island. Russia advocates that Danilo, the Heir Apparent of Montenegro, should be made Governor of Crete. i The Frst Battalion of Seaforth Highlanders, stationed at Malta, has been sent to Crete. , The Athena correspondent of the Times states that the conviction prevails in that city that a general war is inevitable. The populace insists that Colonel VasßOs, commander of the force eent to Crete, shall resist the demands of the Powers, and that Turkey ba attacked if Greece be blockaded. The Daily News states that Greece offers to confine Colonel Vassos to a point on the coast away from the insurgents if the TurKish troopa are likewise dealt with ; both the Greek and the Turkish troopa to evacuate Orete in the event of the Cretan's accepting autonomy. The Grown Prince of Greece has been placed in command of the Greek troops in Thessaly. The insurgents and Greeks hold the entire interior of Crete. Colonel Vassos has been ordered to entrench at Sphakia, a small island close to the south coast of Greece.