The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 26, 1897, Page 1

A VOLUME L SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDA MORNING, MARCH 26, 1897. CE FIVE CENTS. MALAXA LAID WASTE BY THE INSURGENTS Cretan Christians Rout the Turkish Troops at the Garrison. PROTECTING FIRE OF WARSHIPS - PREVENTS ANNIHILATION. 14 g A Again the Combined Fleets of the European Powers Bombard the Brave Men Who Are Fighting to Throw Off the Yoke of Turkey. CANEA, Crere, March 25.—The artil- lery of the insurgenis surrounding the town of Malaxa having renderea that piace untenable to the Turkish troops comprising the Malaxa garrison, the lat- | ter began a retreat to Suda Bay last even- ing. They were pursued by the insur- gents, who kept up a heavy fire upon the Turks, inflicting a heavy loss uvon them in killed and wounded until the Turkish warships opened fire upon the insurgents, causing them to retire to the mterior. But for the timely assisiance of the warships the Turks would have been well nigh an- nihilated. The attempt to revictual the garrison at Malaxs which was made last night was as | disastrous to the Turks as was the effort they made yesterday. [Ihe detachmertof troops carrying & supply of provisions was ‘met by a strong force of insurgents and compelled to retreat with considerable 1o Ehe fighting in the vicinity of Mulaxa continued throughout the day. It was especially desverate at 3 o'clock this awér- seon in the village of Tsicelaris, where the insurgents set fire to a number of Turk- ish houses. The insurgents are now occupying Malaxa. The European warships bom- barded them this. afternoon. The insur- gents, however, held their ground close to | the ruins of he blockhouse, from Which | they drove the Turkish garrison last night, and did not seem to greatly mind | the bombardment. ‘When the Turkish troops eracuated the | blockhouse they sei fire to it in order that it mizht not furnish a shelter to their enemies. It was, however, badly wrecked by the fire of the rebels. 1tis evident that tne Turkish troops here are no match for the insurgents. body of troops made an attempt to-duy to gain” the heights above Nerok-Ouru, where the Keratidi blockhouse is situated. With this position and the one at Malaxa in their possession the insurgents would be. able to completely blockade Canea from the land side. The troops bad gone only a little dis- tance ‘when they were attacked by in- surgents,” who drove them back. Later another attempt was made to reach the beig. ts, but this, too, proved unsuccessful. A body of insurgents made an attack upon the Turkish cordon at Halepa. The Torks had a numberof mounted guus and the "fire from them prevented the in- surgents from coming to close quarters. | that Al | | attackers. It was this alone which saved the Mos- lems from defeat. Montevardia and Halepa are both within range of the guns of the insurgents, who continue to shell both piaces. This evening part of Malaxa was blown up with dynamite and the rest of the town is burning. The Turkish warships in Suda Bay are bombarding the in- surgents, but their fire appears to be wholly ineffective. Malaxa is one of the towns mentioned by the foreign admirals in their procia- mation issued on Tuesday that must not be attacked by Greek troops or mnsurgents. The admirals declared that the fortifica- tions which were needed to “maintain se- curity and quiet”” must not be fired upon, otherwise they would use force against the It was the disobedience of the insurgents 1o this proclamation that led the foreign warships to bombard them. These vessels fired ninety suells, thres of | which fell within the forts. After the place had been evacuated by its Turkish garrison, which numbered sixty-four men, the troops scattered in any direction that led to the coast in order to escape from their pursuers. One of them reached Nerck-Ouru and eighteen managed 1o make their way to Suda Bay. The others have not been heard from, and it is supposed that-they were killed. The Mussuimans here, and they com- prise almost the entire population, are in a state of great excitement. They fear that the insurgents, elated by their cap- ture and destruction of Malaxa, will at- tack Keratidi. A force of 500 Highlanders was landed at Candia to-day, and its appearance in | the city caused the most intense excite- ment. The populace evidently were ignorant of the Highlanders coming un- til they were in town. The Turkish troops were ata loss to account for their appearance and apparently thought thay they were about to be attacked. The Turkish officers bad much dimeculty in preventing their men from firmg on the | British troops. The garrison troops rushed to the shore from all directions, leaving their rifles as they ran and uttering threats against the British. Thbe latier remained perfectly cool and eventually the irritation was calmed. All danger, however, is not over. The Turkish troops do not appear to grasp the fact that the presence of the foreigners is practically the only thing saves them from annihilation. ADMIRAL NAPOLEON CANEVARO, ‘Whom seniority of grade has placed in chief .command of the mixed fleet of war vessels of the powers in Cretan waters, isan American by birth, having been born in Lima, Peru, July 7, 1838, After having passed throuch ali the lower grades in the Italian navy he wa and is now one of the most distinguished officers in the service. appointed vice-admiral in June, 1893, He com- manded the Christoforo Colombo in the voyage of circumnavigation of the world made by that vessel in 1877. ceived promotion. His experience in war wi campaigns of 1859, 1860-61 and in 1866, in each of which he Since 1894 he has been & member of the Superior Council ained in the rned ana re- of Naval Affairs, and commandant-in-chief of three maritime departments. \ \ «. 5 +4++4 Aieaqly wioJj Us3e} o9 Swarms of Turkish soldiers, armed to the teeth, are parading about the streets, giving voice to their fierce hatred of all infidels. The slightest spark may at any moment proauce a fatal outbreak. It would be a queer commentary on the Turkish gratitude to find the Moslems and their Christian allics engaged in a bloody religious feud, and it would further complicate the sitnation. A number of Italian troops have also arrived at Candia. The foreign admirals to-day issued a general order to the inter- national re-enforcements exhorting them to set an example to the Cretans, whom the powers have charged them to protect from the horrorsof a civil war. The or- der concludes: “The enterpriss we are embarked upon will be difficult ana often painful. We rely upon you to defend the interests of humanity and the honor of our flag.” Crown Prince will start at 4 o’clock to- morrow morning for Thessaly, where he will take command of the Greek troops. The early hour at which he will leave the city is due to a desire to avoid a demon- stration, Advices received here show that the Turks, in accordance with instructions from Constantinovle, bave begun to dis- mount guns placed by them upon the fortifications at Previsca on the Turkish side of the Gulf of Arta, These fortifica- tions were constructed in direct violation of the provisions of the treaty of Berlin, and the commander of the Greek fleet a few days ago notified the Tarkish com- mander that if the guns were not dis- mounted he would bombsrd the works. LONDON, ExG., March 25 —The Athens correspondent of the .Chronicle declares that the departure of Crown Frincs Con- stantine for Thessalv is of the most seri- ous import. It can only mean that Greeco believes that war is probable and declines to further handicap bersell by delaying the final step of preparation. The Prince’s arrival on the frontier will mesan & new disposal of the forces and will give a new impetus to all the arrange- ments for transportation of troops, etc. — LIABLE T0 BE SEARCHED, British and American Fersels Alsle by the Blockada. LONDON, Exc., March 25.—In the House of Commons to-day Right Hon. George N. Curzon, Under Foreign Secre- tary, said in reply to an inquiry on the subject that British and American mer- chantmen and ves-el the same class of other nationalities ‘ignod to agents at points in Crete were liable to be searched should they attempt to reach their des- tinations despite the blockade of the island, and would also run the risk of be- ing prevented from delivering their car- oes at the discretion of the admirals com- manding the foreign warships in Cretan Buffer rs. The blockade, he said, was a measure of policy, enforced with the consent of the sovereign power. Curzon also said thay 8ir Pnilip Currie, British Embassador at Constantinople, had been instructed to urge upon the repressntatives of the pow- ers, as well as upoa the Porte, the ides that the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from Crete would greatly facllitate the withdrawal of the Greeks from the island. ey ok PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. Turkish Consuls Leave Their Posts and < vtillery Nemt to the Fronmt. BALONICA, Grerce. March 25.—The Turkish Consuls are leaving their posts in Thessaly, and the siege artillery is go- ine to the front. Chis augurs an advance of the Turkish army. ATHENS, Grekc, March 25.—The reso- lution recently adopted by the Senate of the United Stales expressing sympathy with Greece in her struggle in behalf of the Cretan Christians arrived here to-day. ——— BATTLY OF LISSA. First Encoun’er of I-onclads After the American Civst War, The battle of Lissa is memorable as be- | ing the first fight with ironclad war vessels ! after the close of the American Civil War. | It was fought on July 20, 1866, in the between Austrian and Italian warships. Ttaly since 1860 had devoted great atten- tion to naval matters and had spent since that time £12,000,000 on her fleet. - Her two finest ships, the Re d'Italia and the Re di Portogallo, cust £325,000 each and had been built at Webb's yard, New York. They were of 5700 tons (ola measurement) with seven inches of armor, the first car- rying two 150-pounders with thirty 6-inch guns and four smooth bores, the second two 300-pounders with twenty-six 6-inch gans. But they had been built with green wood and were weak in the ribs. They lacked buoyancy and maneuvering power and their radders were exposed, a fault which lea to grave results at Lissa. Next to them was the Affondatore,a turret-ram of 4070 tons, built at Milwail on the Thames. She carriea five-inch armor and two 300-pounder Armstrong guns, placed in two turrets. Her enor- mous ram projecting twenty-six feet and ber powerful armament led the Italians to consider her as their best ship, while Per- sano in particular put almost chil faith in her. Yet she, too, wasa bad boat, plunging very heavily, owing to the great weigkt of turret aud belt forward, and her steering was clumsy and at times irresponsible. The two small rams Terrible and For- midable, of 2700 tons, had been built in France. They carried 4)¢-inch piating and 6-inch rifles as their primary arma- ment. The Maria Pia, Casteltidardo, An- cona, Ean Martino and Principe Carig- nano were broadside ironclads of over 4000 tons with an end to end armor on the water-line. Two armored gunboats, the Palestro and the Varese, each carried two Amstrong 150-pounders with some smalier gons. Besides these were numerous frigates and steam corvettes. There were nine of th at Lissa carrying from fifty to twenty-four uns. - E Thia fie fiaet wan.placed:andar com: mand of Admiral Count Carlo Pellion di Persano, who had ‘spent his. life in the Sardinian navy. He proved to be vacillat- ing and lacking in dash-and bravery, and bis conduct before and during the battle exhibited incapacity and cowardice. Hisdisinclination to attack the Austrian’ Adriatic Sea, off the island of Lissa, and | fleet which was waiting for him stirred Minister Depretis to send him a stinging dispatch. *Would you tell the people,” he wrote, “tne people who in ‘their mad vanity believe their sailors the best in the world—that in spite of the twelve miilions we have added to their debt the squadron that we have collected is one incapable of facing the enemy? Weo should be stoned. And who has ever heard the Austrian fleet mentioned except with contempt?”’ On the 7th of July the wobbly admiral was driven out to sea by an imperative or- der, but he did not find the Austrian fleet. The King ordered him to capture the island of Lissa, thirty miles from the Dal- matian mainland. Tneadmiral put tosea on the 16th with 500 marines and 1000 woldiers. He had begged for & landing force of 5000 men. Disaster and defeat followed in the wake of cowardice. Albini attacked Porto Manego with his wooden ships. W hen three shells pierced his flagship, killing two men and wounding three, be dis- obeyed oraers and retreated. Fifty of the Formidable’s crew were killed and wounded, her funnel and upper worksout- side her armor were riddled, her rigging and bulwarks cut to bits. The order of the Austrian commander Tegetthoff was “Ram everything gray,” and h\ made a valorous assault on the Italiand at close quarters. The Reditalia was rammed and sunk by the Ferdinaud Max; the Palestro was blown up. The Austrians won the battle after hav- ing inflicted serious loss upon their Italian opponents. SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. Broad-Gauge Address by Canada’s Gov- ernor-General on the Opening of Parliament. OTTAWA, Oxr, March 25.—The Do- minion Parliament was opened at 3 o’clock this afternoon by his Excellency, the Governor-General, with a speech from the throne. 3 His Excellency expressed his gratifica- tion at the evidences throughout the Dominion of loyalty and affection for the Queen and the empire in celebrating the diamond jubilee, and announced that arrangements are being made for an ef- fective representation of the Dominion in connection with the commemoration of the historic occasion in London. His Excellency also hoped that the setilement of the Manitoba school question will put an end to the agitation which has marred the harmony and impeded the develop- ment of the country and will prove the beginning of & new era, 1o be character- ised by generous treatment of one another, mutual concessions and reciprocal good- will. Conticuing, his Excellency said: “A measure will be submitted to you for a revision of the tariff, which it is believed will provide, the.necessary reveriue and, while having due regard for the industrial interests, wil! make our tiscal system more isfactory to the masses of the peopte. “‘The Government has determined that advantages to accrue both toour Western producers and the business interests of the whole dominion from the completion of tne works for the enlargement of the St. Lawrence canals, should no longer be deferred, and has, subject to the approval of Parliament, taken the initial steps for a vigorous prosecution of those works and for the perfecting of tie canal system by the close of the year 1898. “The Bering Sea Claims Convention, to adjust the damages payable to the own- ers of the British sealing vessels seized by the cruisers of the United .States on the bigh seas, has comrleted taking the evi- dence submitted to it by the respective Governments of her Majesty and the United Ststes, and has adjourned fora time to hear the arguments thereon in be- baltof the governments. L induige the bope thata final and satisfactory adjudi- cation of those long delayed claims will now speedily e reached.” His Excellency then referred to the calamity in India, and the generous re- sponse of Canad o the appeal for aid, and concluded wiih a notice of the esti- mates for the coming year. DEMOCRATS DIFFER FROM [ Last Day of the General Debate on the Tariff Bill. FREE TRADERS PRESENT THEIR VIEWS. Champ Clark of M ssouri Makes One of His Peculiar Orat:oas. TRIES TO DFFEND THE WEAK WILSCN BILL. Dalzell Makes a Rousing Speech, in Which He R futes the State- m-nts of the Minority. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 25.—This was the last duy of general debate on the | tariff bill in the House under the order adopted last week, but because Bailey's throat would not permit him to speak this afternoon, an agreement was made to give two hours to general debate just be- fore the vote next Wednesday, which will be occupied by Bailey and Dingley. The proceedings wore listened (o generally by a large number of members and crowded galleries. Speeches against tie bill were made by Talbot (D.) of South Carolina, Clark (D.) of Missouri, Maguire (D.)of California, Gunn (Pop.) of Idaho, Simp- son (Pop.) of Kansas, Cox (D.) of Tennes- see, McRae (D.) of Arkansas, Burke (D.) of Texas, Lentz (D.) of Ohio, and DeAr- mond (D.) of Missouri, and in its favor by Tawney (R.)of Minnesota, Dalzell (R.) Peunsylvania, Russell (R.) of Connecti- cut, and Payne (R.) of North Carolins, members of the Ways and Means Com- mittee, and Grow (R.) of Pennsylvania, | Curtis (R.) of Kansas, Colson (R.) of Ken- tucky and Hawley (R.) of Texas. At 5 o’clcck the House took s recess untit $0'cicek to-night, the night session to witness the last of the ceperal debate except the two hours on Wednesday next, | just prior to taking the vote on the bill. The fourth and lest day of the general debate on the tariff bill brought forth a request at the opening of the session by Bailey (D.) of Texas, for an extension of two hours of the debate. He stated that he had been under treatment for sore throat, and it would be impossible for him to occupy the floor for an hour to-day. Payne (R.) of New York objected to the request. Talbot (D.) of South Carolina opened the discussion in a fifteen minutes’ speech against the bill. Champ Clark of Missouri made one of his characteristic speeches against the bill. As an Awmerican citizen and in sym- pathy with the people whom he repre- sented he was dead against the bill. Asa Democratic politician he would rejoice in its passage, for it would compel every mercuant every time he made a sale across his counter to make a Democratic speech to the purchaser. Unless the Sen~ ate radically amended the bill the Demo- crats would have 100 majority in the House in the next Congress and in 1900 would elect their President, the people thus again coming into their own. Clark said that ordinarily he was a peaceable man, but charges had been made on the other side in the course of this debate that made him regret the law against man- Position of the Italian and Austrian Fleets in the Adriatic During the Battle of Lissa. Q 000 AUSTRIANS 9ot 10AM. @CASTELFIDARDO 3 @ANCONA & -