Greece and Turkey.

Manawatu Herald, 15 April 1897, Page 2

Greece and Turkey.

Further details of the fighting on the Turko-Grecian frontier show that 8000 irregular Greek troops, equipped by the National League, armed with cannon and commanded by ex military officers, attempted to seize the passes between Macedonia and Epirus. The Times correspondent at Elas-< sona reports that the irregulars obtained slight successes at first, but were ultimately repulsed, and driven over the frontier with the loss of 50 men. The Greeks declare that fighting still continues, and that 800 Turks have besieged Baltino. The Daily Chronicle states that Greece warned the porte of the intended invasion by the National Leaguers. M. Delyannis, the Greek Premier, states that no regulars were concerned in the fighting, and that it is impossible to restrain the Leaguers. The Porte has protested to the Powers against the invasion of Turkish territory, and has denounced the Greeks as aggressors. The Porte insists that regulars were concerned in the invasion at Krania, near Geneva, and were repulsed. The Porte further states that the Turks are willing to retire when the Greeks withdraw from the frontier and from Crete. The Greek irregulars have burned four Turkish outposts. The Greek Government denies that it had any prior knowledge of the incursion of the irregulars into Turkish territory. A portion of the National League irregulars continue operations at Baluno, which is being besieged by 800 Turkish troops. The remainder have advanced into Turkish territory, but the direction of the advance and the object is not known. In the House of Commons, Mr Curzon stated that if the Greeks did not repeat the raid into Turkish territory, Turkey did not desire to regard the Erania raid as a casus belli. He added that, without los 3of dig* nity, steps might be taken which would lead to a peaceful conclusion of, the difficulty between Greece and Turkey.