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t 7 1 INDIANA JOITBNAI ESTABLISHED 1S23. INDIANAPOLIS, 3IONDAY MORNING, APRIL 19, 1897. PRICE 3 CENTS. AT K A ILWAY NKWS STANH. OX TlUI.N.i AM) bl'.NDAYS 5 CK.'iTS. PLIS Mtoneri, followed by fntr nnil colder. There Ijs A diversity of opinion as to the best make of wheel. Every wheelman thinks he has the best the only wheel made. There is iVo Disagreement Among- riders as to where to fjet the best Bicycle Suits. All Are Agreed That the largest stock, the greatest variety and the lowest prices are to be found at Wc will sell to-day and to-morrow (if t'jey last), one hundred Men's All-Wool Bicycle Splits In fancy Cassimeres and Cheviots, for $3.98. They are well made, stylish suits and Are tlie Best Value ever shown for the price. They arc worth $5.00, but you can get them for $3.98 to-day and to-morrow at The When Linings For Are quite as im portant in the proper making up of spring and summer costumes as the mate'!. The weight of the Lining, color, width and Mieerness must all have due Consideration. We have in stock VI distinct qualities which can be profitably retailed at from Cc to 20c in all the styles and new colorings Orchide, Ophelia, Dahlia, Charmilli, Olga, Neva, Crocus, Violette, Petunia, Coquelicot, Ombrees. SAMPLES IF REQUESTED. EXCLUSIVELY WHOLESALE. MURPHY, HIBBEN & CO. BIG ROUTE New York and Return ONE AND ONE-THIRD FARE On account of the Dedication of the Memorial Monument Erected to the Memory of General U. S. GRANT The Grandest Military and Naval Pageant since the Grand ReYiew of the United States Armies AT WASHINGTON, At the close of the War of the Rebellion. Tickets will be sold to the public at the above rate, and to organized bodies in uni form, twenty-five or more, on solid ticket, One First-Cia$s Fare for th3 F.oand Trip Tickets will be sold April 23 to 2(5, good to return till May -1. Call at tig Four Offices, No. 1 East Wash ington street, Massachusetts aveuue and Union Station. II. M. BRONSON, A. G. P. A. Cincinnati Trains C, H. & D. R'y. Leave Indianapolis : Arrive Cincinnati : " 3:40 a. m. " 7:AS a. in. 10:ia. m. . 2t4."p.ra. " 4:tp. m. 7:Uri p. m. 7:C0 a. m. II:-) a, m. -Z p. in. 6:00 p. m. 7: IS p.m. lftW p. ra. u DAYTON TRAINS, C. H. & D. RY. Leave Indianapolis : Arrive Dayton : 3:40 a.m. 10:4a. m. tf p. m. 4:45 p. in. 7:0") p. m. 7:40 a. m. 2:2."p.m. 6.20 p.m. 7:ft3 p. m, 11:00 p.m. TOLEDO AND DETROIT TRAINS, C, H. & D. RY. Leave Arrive Arrive Indianapolis: Toledo: Detroit: 10? 45 a.m. 6:40 p.m. S:40p.m. 7:05 p.m. 4:09 a.m. 6:15 a.m. Except Sunday. Ticket OCice. Union Station and No. 2 West Washington s trcct. comer Meridian. Tlio I'optiinr MONO IN ROUTE un f.be",CfflCAG0Sid1S42 HOURS FOUR DAILY TRAINS Leave Indianapolis 7:00 a. m., 11:59 a. a., 3:33 p. iu., 12:U night. Trains Arrlvs Indianapolis 3:30 a. m., 7:45 a. m.. 2:2i p. m.. 4:27 p. m. Local elepr in Indianapolis ready at 8:30 p. m. Leaves Chtufo. returnlrg. at 2.4i a. m. Caa b taken any time fter 9:20 p. m. Ticket offices. 2 Weit Washington street, Unloa Station and ilasnrhusettK-avenuc Depot. GEO. W. IIAYLER. D. P. A. SURGICAL lNSTKlMLMS. Deformity Apparatus. Trusses, Elastic Hos iery. Largest stock ot Artificial Eyes In th State. Invalid Chairs ot ail kinds and acces sories for the sick room. Trusts made and properly adjusted. Store open every Saturday night. WJf. II. ARMSTRONG A CO. 77 South Illinois Street. Indianapolis. Ind. TENNESSEE CENTENNIAL Proerrnmnir for the Opening Pay of the Nahvllle Kxpualtlou. NASHVILLE. Tenn.. April IS. This Is the programme to be followed on the open ing day. May 1, of the Centennial Exposi tion. The exercises will be brief and sim ple. The Legislature. Goveu.or Taylor and his staff and the executive committee of the Centennial Company n' tr,s Supreme Court will assemble ut Auditorium, where they will bo seieC n the stage, whero the? women's board ' ill ulv have scats. President John W. Thomas will be gin the exercises with an addrets upon the purposes of the centennial: Governor Tay lor will fol'.ow. speaking of th; imiortance of the celebration and its mtaning; Direc tor General Lewis will Rive a brief review of the work accomplished and. with the de livery then of the- 'hoys to President Thomas, he will declare the Centennial Ex position oi-ru At the fame time President McKlnley. in Washington, will press a but ton, starting the machinery and one pun will be tired to announce the event. aBBM a THRONG AT RIVERSIDE Grant's Tomb Malted ly Over 100,000 People on Sunday. NEW YORK. April 13. Pedestrians, car riages nnd bicyclists thronged Riverside drive to-day, and it Is estimated that over a hundred thousand people visited Grant's tomb. Tho crowd came early and stayed late, and not until the bronze doors of the mausoleum were closed, at half past h, did the crowd diminish to any extent on the plaza, lit front of the monument. Th weather was rerfect and the crowd most orderly. A number of prominent ptoplu had tickets admitting them to the interior of the monument. Wash Dress Fabrics DR. HUNTER IS SILENT HE STILL DECLINES TO DISCISS EITHER II IS INDICT3IENT Or HI Plana In Regard to the Sena, torlal Content Middle Iloudcr Begin War on Ilutler. FRANKFORT, Ky.. April 18.-Only about half the members of the Legislature were in the city to-day, and an unusually quiet Sunday was passed. Dr. Hunter still de clines to discuss the recent developments, or to say what are his plans. Many of his friends are urging him to demand an Imme diate trial and that he stay in the race at least till he Is vindicated, as they do not bellevo there is any danger that the indict ment for conspiracy to bribe will stand the test of judicial scrutiny. Others, however, declare that any jury that- might be se cured In Franklin county would be preju diced against Hunter, and that ho should let the matter go over till September. Mr. E. T. Franks, who Is Jointly indicted with Dr. Hunter and the rest, said to-night that they had not yet had a consultation on this point, and. that he did not know what conclusion would be reached. There Is still a good deal, of talk about a new caucus, but Hunter's personal friends are not among those who are indulging in it It is evident that if he is to be withdrawn at all he must not only be allowed to take his time in doing so, but to practically dic tate his succesesor. Only a formal ballot will be taken to-morrow, but interesting devclopmcuti are looked for Tuesday. AVAR OX BUTLER. SHddle-of-the-Rood Populist Gun ning: for the National Chairman. GIRAP.D, Kan., April 13.-A committee of the National Reform Press Association meeting, held here in accordance with a revolution adopted at the recent conven tion in Memphis, has decided to wage war on Marion Ilutler as chairman of the Pop ulist national committee, and also to at tempt a reorganization of the Populist party. In accordance with this decision the committee issued a call for a national convention, to be held at Nashville, Tenn., on July 4 next, the representation to be one delegate for every 250 middle-of-the-road Topulist votes cast, at the recent pres idential election. This call for a national convention bears the signatures of Milton Park, W. S. Morgan. James H. Ferris, Abe Steiberger. W. P. D. Mays. Jo A. Parker. Jacob S. Coxey and Frank Burkitt, who participated in the conference here. The call reviews some of the recent dif ferences between the two wings of the party, but asserts that these differences aro not so wide but the party may again be brought together in harmony as it Is asserted, the great majority of the Popu lists still believe in the declarations of the Omaha and St. Louis platforms. Tho ne cessity of avoiding fusion with one of the old parties in one section of the country and with the other old party in another section Is urged at considerable length, and it Is stated that fusion on those lines Is "too absurd to admit of argument." The future usefulness and the very life of the party. It is declared, depends upon the coming together of the rank and file of the party in a spirit of patriotic fraternity for the formation of a definite plan of ac tion. The various state and county com mittees of the people's party are urged to sec to It that the Populist voters of their respective districts are given a Just and proper representation in the convention, and should the state and countv commit tees, as at present constituted, fail or re fuse to net. the Reform Press or other Populist workers in such States or counties are requested to assume the authority to poll the vote of their party for delegates, and make returns to the president of the National Reform Press Association at Ok alona, Miss. DR. MGELL'S MISSION. He "Will rronecute datum of Amer icans Against the Fortr. CHICAGO, April 1S.-A special to the Times-Herald from Ann Arbor, Mich., says: It has come to bo understood in this city that the appointment of Dr. James B. An gell as minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary to Turkey has a considerably greater significance than usually attaches to tho selection of representatives from this to foreign governments. If the information of his Intimate friends and associates in the faculty of the I'niverslty of Michigan, of whkh he is president, be correct. Dr. Angell will go to the Turkish capital with a spe cial mission to perform, and that mission the vigorous prosecution of the claims for indemnity brought by American citizens nnd American missionaries against the Sultan's government. Tho appointment N suppposed here to mean that President McKinley's administration intends to bring to ti speedy end the dawdling negotiations that have been dragging through many months with reference to the pavment of damages for the destruction of lives and property of American citizens. Priest Accidentally Killed. ST. JOHNS. N. R., April 28. Rev. I. Corbett, a Roman Catholic priest, at tached to the Cathedral parish, fell from the third-story window of the bishop's res idence, early this morning, and was in stantly killed. It is presumed he was taken with a weak spell, raised the window to get air, lost his balance and fell out. HARD FIGHTING SEVERAL RATTLES DEnVEEX TURKS t AXD GREEKS OX SUNDAY. Latter Reported to Have Deen De feated and to Have Loat Heav ily In One Engagement. ABOUT 50,000 MEN ENGAGED IX A DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF MILOUXA rASS. 31 any- Killed on Doth Sides, Three Greek Ofllcern and Hnflx Pasha. Doing: Anions the Slain. MENEXfl TAKEN BY GREEKS AFTER SEVERE FIGHTING ALL SUN DAY AND PART OF LAST NIGHT. Turkish Forts at the Entrance of the Gulf of Arta Destroyed ly the War Ships of Greece. PEOPLE OF ATHENS EXCITED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS SEVERED. Greek Minister to Tnrkey Sent Home and Turkey's Minister at Athens Given His Passports. (Special Cable Letter.) LONDON, April 19. The war cloud which broke over Macedonia and Thessaly Satur day, has let loose a flood of death and de struction. The armies of Turkey and Greece are battling with a determination that promises to make plenty of work for sur geons and nurse. The Greeks seem to be imbued, with a patriotic zeal that deserves success, while the Turks are fighting with all the fanaticism for which Mohammedans are noted. Several battles were fought Sunday and both sides claim to have secured advan tages. In one encounter in the pass of Milouna-between so.000 and 50,000 men were engaged, and the casualties were heavy, several prominent Greek officers and a Tur kish pasha being among the slain. The Greeks suffered severely In this encounter. Menexa, a strategic point, -which was he roically defended by the Turks, Is reported to have fallen into possession of the Greeks, but the report was not confirmed at mid night. A Greek steamer was fired on by tho Tur kish forts in the Gulf of Arta, and the Greek war fleet retaliated by destroying tho Turkish forts at the entrance of the gulf, and occupying Prevcsa, an important town. It Is reported that Turkey yesterday for mally notified the powers that war had been declared against Greece. Tho Turkish minister at Athena waa given his paisports Sunday, and the Greek minister at Con stantinople received his walking papers, so that diplomatic relations between tho two countries have been completely severed. TURKS HAD THE ADVANTAGE. The Times correspondent at Elassona, the Turkish headquarters, says: "I visited the hospital Sunday and found all admirably conducted. But the scene was most dis tressing, jthe wounded screaming in their agony and feverishly tearing the bedding In their delirium. In Saturday's hill fight ing the Turks had the advantage. They wero judiciously ambushed behind the rocks, and from their sheltered positions maintained an Incessant fire. To-day's (Sunday's) fighting at Milouna Pass took place around three outlying blockhouses, which were captured, then re-taken, cap tured again and again re-taken. The Greek positions suffered severely from the splen did shrapnel practice of the Turkish bat teries at a range of 3.S0O metres. Columns of smoke could be seen rising in every di rection 'from tho Greek positions, caused by the Turkish shell lire. The Greeks de fended with the greatest courage, but were not able to stand against the slow but steady advance of the Turks. As evening camo on three of the Greek outworks sur rendered and asked the Turks to cease the shell fire. The latter now hold the ad vanced line except at one spot. The prin cipal fighting done by the Turkish infantry was at Skumba and Dumenle, to the right of tho pass. "The position of affairs seenvj to be that the Turkish move on Nezeros is a feint to draw attention from Milouna. where, it is evident, Edhem Pasha intends to advance in force on Larissi. This attempt will lead to severe fighting. The results of even yes terday's fighting are Indecisive. Accounts of it aro biased according as they como from Greek or Turkish sources. It appears, however, pretty certain that the Turks had the advantage. The Greeks were partially succcessful in their movement at Karya, which was aimed at cutting off the Turkish communications with Salonica, whero the Greek fleet is expected almost immediately. There is no news yet of land fighting from Kpirus, as the raiders failed to hold Kranta. Edhem Pasha Is still In communi cation with Janina, but the Greek forces In F.plrus are believed to be superior to the Turkish." CAPTURED BY GREEKS. A dispatch to the Daily Chronicle from Athens, dated midnight, says the Greeks have captured Menexa after severe flght Irg. The Turkish losses were very heavy, the Greek comparatively light The cor respondent adds: "The Greek fleet has de stroyed half the fortresses at Prevesa and ellenced tho guns. I am assured that the bombartling will be continued to-morrow (Monday) morning. The latest news re ceived here to-night Is that the Greeks have captured and held all the positions except Ana and Milouna along the Thessalian line. I have had access to an Important document from a European capital show ing that the powers have done nothing for several weeks, because they have hoped that Greece would be either financially ruined or soundly beaten by Turkey. If Turkey gets Larissa she will remain there until Greece evacuates Crete. It was Ger many that urged Turkey to declare war." The Athens correspondent of tho Times says: "The key to the Milouna pass Is Menexa, a position of the greatest impor tance, where the Turks are strongly en trenched. Tho latest news to-night (Sun day, 11 p. m.) is that the Turks still hold their ground at that point. GONE TO THE FRONT. "All the volunteers of the foreign legion and" a portion of the garrison started for Volo to-day. It is noted that tho communi cation of Assim Bey to M. Skouzes docs not epecify the iartlcular act of aggression upon which the Turkish government pro fesses to rely. It is now certain, however, that Edhem Pasha received orders to ad vance to Larissa on tho 10th inst., the day following the Hetalrla'a raid, but these or ders wero canceled three hours later. On the 13th Prince Maurocordato warned his government that the Porte was preparing to order an advance without a previous declaration of war. It Is inferred from these facta and alleged in re3ponslble quarters that two of tho great powers havo urged Turkey to begin hostilities, and the pres ence of Russian and German officers with the Turkish troops is bitterly commented on in Athens." When the Crown Prince Constantine re ceived the news at Larissa of the capture of the Turkish positions between Nezeros and Rapaani, he wired to the Greek com manders to stop fighting Immediately. The mayor of Arta has distributed rifles to all male inhabitants of the town. The transfer of all public offices and official records from Arta to Konlpote Is now proceeding. The town 1$ almost deserted. A dispatch from Trikhaia says that a 6harp fusllla-io was heard yesterday 'morning beyond Koutra, which is now occupied by Greeks. A band of insurgents has entered Macedonia and is now advancing in the direction of Koniskos. The Greek troops have occupied the cita del at Prevesa and It Is believed tho Turks are bombarding Vonitza. The latest advices from Arta show that the rains have been followed by three days of hot, fine weather, and tho River Arak- phos, which alone separates tho opposing armies, is rapidly sL! rafting1.-- The hill roadjf are improving in condition. It Is at this point that tho severest and deadliest fight ing may bo expected. Another question of dominating influence is whether tho Greeks can engineer an uprising in Macedonia and tho Sporades Islands. Russia and Germany are meanwhile content to see Greece and Turkey crippling each other for many years to come, so long as tho other Balkan states are kept quiet. AVAR SHIPS IN ACTION. Greeks Rombnrdlnj; the Turkish Forts in the Gulf ot Arta. ATHENS, April 18.-The Turkish batter ies at Prevesa, on the north shore of the entrance of the Gulf of Arta, where, ac cording to the treaty of Berlin, tho Turks had no right to erect fortifications, fired on and disabled a Greek steamer, the Mace donia, this "morning while she was attempt ing to leave the Gulf of Ambracia. The crew of tho steamer was saved by boats from the shore, but the captain of the Mac edonia was severely wounded. On receipt of this news the Greek government sent or ders to tho Greek fleet In the Gulf of Am bracia to bombard Prevesa, Prevesa, which Is In Epirus, and eighteen miles from Arta, is strongly fortified. The Greek commander at Actium, oppo site Prevesa, telegraphs that the steamer Macedonia did not sink in deep water, but was able to run ashore near the entrance of the gulf. The bombardment of Prevesa only tegan at 11:30 a. m., whereas, the Tur kish forts thero opened a hot fire on Actium at 5:30 p. m. Actium was formerly a tele graph station, but the building was con verted Into a fort and was garrisoned by &00 men. Tho Turkish fire completely de stroyed it, several of the garrison being killed and wounded, although tho Turkish aim was often wide. The Greek command er requested instructions by telegraph and the minister of war ordered him to bom bard Prevesa immediately. At 10 o'clock a. m. the Shafidakl fort fired a few shots on a Greek gunboat, which re plied, effectually silencing the Turkish bat tery. At 11 o'clock tho Greeks began to at tack the Turkish forts outside the entrance of the gulf, partly to divert the enemy's attention, and partly In order to prevent the massacre of the Greeks at Prevesa. The Greek ironclad Spetzai has arrived to assist in bombarding Prevesa, and the gun boats continue to bombard from inside the gulf. According to the latest telegrams from Ac tium, 2,000 Greeks have crossed the Gulf of Arta from Venitza to Salagora and are now marching on Prevesa. Various reports are current as to the landing of the insurgent bands on the Chalkls peninsula. Bugles are sounding in various quarters of the city; soldiers are hastening to their bar racks and bodies of troops, hurriedly equipped, are being dispatched to the front amid enthusiasm from the crowds that fill tho streets. A telegram just received from Actium states that the Greek flotilla in the Gulf of Ambracia is now (4 p. m.) successfully bom barding the Shafidakl battery. Four gun boats are attacking Salagora. Tho firing opened at long range about 2:30 p. m. The first shot was sent by the Greek war ship Baslleus Georgios, the cruiser Nauarchos Miaulls taking up the fire. The Hamldieh and Pantokatoros batteries returned the fire, but their practice is not good. At 3:25 p. m. a shell from tho Nauarchos Miauli3 fell fairly In the Hamldiah battery. 'j p. m. A dispatch just received here says that tho Skafidiki batteries, which were attacked by Greek war ships shortly before 3 o'clock this afternoon, have been destroyed. Tho Greek battery at Kefal Ipanaghia co-operated effectively with the flotilla in the bombardment. Latest reiorts say that all the forts ex cept one, which l3the strongest, have bven (Continued on Second Page.) ' CONCERNS US LITTLE SECRETARY SIIERSIAN'S VIEW OF THE GRAECO-TURKISH AVAR. He Saym Americans In Either Country AVI11 Re Protected, nnd that Uncle Sam AVill Remain Neutral. WAR MAY NOT LAST LONG EFFECT OF ALLIANCE BETWEEN RUSSIA, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. Change In the Folltlcnl Clienttlionrd ot Europe That 3Iny 31nn III for England and France, WASHINGTON. April lS.-The grave sit uation in the East was the topic of dis cussion in diplomatic and official circles here to-day. The possibility of war be tween Turkey and Greece has been thought probable for some time, but the official an nouncement that a state of war exists served to quicken the interest with which the troubles between the two countries have been watched. In diplomatic circles, particularly, whero the possibilities of a general conflict in Europe are always re garded as more or less Imminent if any of the powers become engaged in war, tho situation was deeply considered. Among officials of the United States who expressed any opinion at all tho sentiment seemed general that war between Turkey and Greece is no matter In which this gov ernment can in any way become involved; that whatj few citizens of the United States reside in the countries are in the cities, where they are not liable to be molested. and that the only course for this country to maintain Is one of strict neutrality. Opinions vary as to the duration of the conflict. One prominent officer of the navy inclined to the belief that fighng would continue for a short time until rne powers of Europe decide that hostilities have pro ceeded far enough, when they would step in and put it to an end. If any advices were received in this city to-lay from the representatives of the government in Turkey or Greece they could not be obtained to-night. Secretary Sher man had one' dispatch from Minister Ter rell, at Constantinople. It was In the State Department cipher, however, and had not been translated. During the day the secretary had a call from the Turkish minister, who remaineed with him a short time. The secretary declined to say what had transpired between them. It is cus tomary when a state of war has been de clared or hostilities exist for the minister of tho government interested to notify the government to which he is accredited of such a condition of affairs, and presum ably that Is what took the minister to the secietary'a house. Secretary Sherman re iterated to-night the statements he made last night, that while the government re gretted the existence of war, Turkey and Greece were so far from us that it was a matter which concerned the United States but little. The strictest neutrality, he de clared, must be preserved. The secretary had no fear but that the citizens of the United States would be umply protected. A'ery few of them arc In the cities of Con stantinople and Athens. i Mustapha Bey, the Turkish minister, said to-night that he had not received any further dispatches from the government relating to tho troubles there. Ho Is ex pecting word, however, at any time, as he probably will be kept fully informed of what L taking place. Tho minister to night expressed himself as regretting that things should havo como to the present pass. Turkey, ho declared, is for peace peace on honorable terms and does not peek war with any nation. Tlie actions of tho Greeks, he asserted, had made the step taken by his government a perfectly proper one. Greece had acted on tho aggressive and by tho actions of her soldiers had precipitated tho conflict that now seemed imminent. Her soklier3 had invaded Crete, which waa Turkish territory, and had crcssed tho frontiers on the main land. He expressed himself as having no doubt of the outcomo and that " Turkey would bo triumphant In the war if it should bo f crmally declared. Baron Von Thlelman, tho German cm massador, declares that the Intrusting of Turkish subjects in Athens to the protec tion of the German minister has no signifi cance whatever. It does riot mean, he says, that there is any alliance between the Ger man and Turkish governments in the pres ent status, as has been intimated in some quarters, but is simply a friendly act that is customary in tunes when diplomatic ne gotiations between nations exo suspended. He pointed out that during tho time that diplomatic negotiations were suspended be tween Great Britain and Venezuela, as a result of the boundary trouble, the citizens of Great Britain were intrusted to the pro tection of the German minister. Again, during the war in 1S77 and 1S78 between Russia and Turkey tho Russian subjects wero Intrusted to the protection of the German minister, and the embassador added thero wero no alliances between the countries. Up to this time there has been, so far as could bo learned, no consultation with re gard to reinforcing the fleet of the United States in Mediterranean waters. Should the presence of shiis of war of foreign nations be required in Turkish or Grecian waters to protect their citizens as a result oi tho impending conflict, the United States cculd assemble a formidable fleet, if neces sary. In the Mediterranean squadron at this time the Navy Department has four ships tho cruiser San Francisco, the flag ship on the station, the triple screw cruiser Minneapolis and tho cruiser Cincinnati all modern vessels, of high type, and the email gunboat Bancroft. The Detroit Is on her way to the Mediterranean from the China station, and now probably Is somewhere near the R?d sea. Another addition to the fleet will soon be made by the presence of the Raleigh, which is getting ready to join the European station. Other vessels that might be used for service in Europe, if necessary, are the Montgomery, Marble head, Mai ne and Texa, all of which are now on the Atlantic coast. The opinion exists, however, that the presence of any number of war vessels will not be neces sary. NEAV TRIPLE ALLIANCE. Russia, Germany nnd Austria In a Fo nltlon to Dictate Term. CHICAGO, April IS. The Times-Herald's Berlin correspondent says: In the whirl of events that would accompany the disinte gration of Turkey or the collapse of Greece's dynasty a lone power would be tossed about In helplessness, the sport of diplomatic sel fishness and intrigue. A strong nation like England might save something from the wreck, but not much. A divided land like Austria or a small and ill-situated one like Roumania would find herself rudderless and powerless. "Save himself who can" would be the cry of tho powers who entered the conflict as Isolated Individuals; seir preservatlon 13 the only law of the hour." It was In preparation for such an hour of supremo effort that Germany, Russia and Austria began closing anew the three-emperor alliance on alliance so true to trie selfish interest of each that it would weath er any storm of war. and pehaps evn any division of the a polls. It Is now in prt-paia-tlon for the same crisis that these three combined powers are gathering in the small ftategical allies of the llaikan peninsula, Iloumanla. Uulsrarla. Servia ana Monte negro aro not great factors in the peace of Europe, but in war they could extend In valuable military aid to a friend and throw oi stacles In the way of a foe who toutcht to enter Turkey or Greece by the back door. Their Influence at this moment Is the last weight In the scale that balances uncer tainty In the European concert. It would be dtcUive If thrown in war on the side of the eastern powers. Thus it comes that Austria. Germany and Russia have worked without ceasing in tho last two weeks to win the four Balkan states to the three-emperor alliance, and thus It comes that the consummation of their efforts at Sofia, Bucharest. Belgrade and Cettinje is hailed by the allied courts as tho diplomatic triumph of the month. There is no longer doubt that Servia has been tied to the three-emperor agreement by the exertions of Austria. Itulgaria and Montenegro; by the exertions of Russia and Roumania; by the exertions of Germany. Glance at the map of Kuroi? If you want to get a passing ia-a of the importance of thla move. You will find there a picture of tho broad territory which thus has leen turned ito an Iron band, binding down Tur key and Greece. You will rind there a pic ture of the well-rounded and invulnerable line on which the allied jvjw-rs can stand for defense or from whieh they can advance to tho attack. From the irozt-n sea of Kara to tlie sunny Adriatic, from tho Gulf of Bothnia to th Jila.ck sea, Irom the North sea to the Caspian, there is an unbroken ex panse of allied territory, and allied arms. once given the word, and Turkey and Greece will find themselves In a vise on the south, and France and Italy will be liound Immovably within their present borders, while England will float about helpless to prevent the iKwers cf the cast and central Europe from following their own sweet will at Constantinople and in the eastern Medi terranean. But the value of the Balkan alli is not limited to the strategical vaiu- of their ter ritory. H has strong military weight lor any war. A German officer, who has seen service In two Balkan armies, has Just pub lished a pamphlet pointing out tlie great military strength of tlie little principalities!. Sc-rvla. he says, has been advanced under tho young King to the position of a second class military power, little. If any, inferior on land to England herself. The regular army on a war footing Is 14000 strong; first reserve. 123.UW; militia, 64.W0. This aVmy has 7.U00 cavalry and 31'ti fit Id guns. Outside of tho militia It is well otticered. It has no generals of tho Turkish style, who can neither read nor write. Its privates are well drilled. Its batteries are etlieient, its cavalry Is well mounted. Roumania. says the same officer, has a war footing of 175.(XO, including 5.000 well mounted cavalry and 23u field guns. Under King Charles, a German prince of high mili tary education, the officers and privates have been well trained in tlie modern princi ples of war; in fact, are far better acquaint ed with tlie demand of warfare to-day than aro the Spanish, Italian or English troops. Bulgaria can put 173,0k) men in the field, with 7.0)0 cavalry and 432 field guns, all of approved modern type. To these forces lit tle Montiugro can add 75,000 fighting men, 11M guns and 2,(kj'J cavalrv Thus, the German orh figures, the Bal kan countries can adt 'e than U'O.coO troops, with more than guns and 21,0J0 cavalry, all operating o. derlor lines, to any alliance which they Joi.. Such a force, with none to help it, cculd repel any army which such a distant alliance as that of Franco and England could send against it. When combined with tho sheer endless re sources of tho three-emperor alliance it is above the possibility of defeat. Look at the staggering totals! Russia's war footing is 4.OJJ.UU0; Germany's, 3.&X,00i); Austria's. 2.500.000, total, 10.OuO.000. Add to this the strength, of the Balkan allies and you havo a war effective of 10,CoU.0X), not reckoning the steady increase of the Ger man and Russian strength under the serv ice laws now In force. What could the rest of Europe oppose to such an enormous force, operating on Its own lines? Take the conditions most favorable to the outside powers. Suppose that France join her hated neighbor. Italy, and her historic foe, England. France can mobollze at the outside 3.CO0.000, although she claims more than 4.0iXi.OX on paper. Italy can pt in the field perhaps 2.000.XK; England, at t.he out Side, l.wo.OOO. Thus, even supposing this most unnatural alliance to come to pass, western Europe would be in a hopeless con dition of military inferiority, with 4,00u,ujo men fewer than the three-empcror colossus of the east. Nor, as Intimated, do the figures tell the wholo story of western Europe's helpless ness. With the aid of the Balkan states now assured, the three-empvror alliance sits almost at the gates of Constantinople and the Black sea. Only a strip of Turkey of a Turkey subservient to the slightest nod from St. Petersburg and Berlin lies between the allied millions of eastern Eu rope and those lones of political conten tion, the Dardanelles and Bosphorus. Who can stem the tide? Some say England. with her navy: others, France,- England and Italy, with their navies. Rut how? War ships cannot sail on dry land, and the allies, after possessing themselves of the whole Turkish territory, could prevent tho landing of a single hostile regiment on Tur kish soil. Tho efforts of a naval force to possess tho land would be like the efforts of tho whale to dispossess the wolf. The allies could accomplish their whole purpose by re maining on the defensive. All they would want would be the spoils of territory, and these they could hold in an iron grip, no matter how long or how viciously tho rest of the world grumbled off the coast. The combination of the Balkan states with tho three-emperor alliance, marks the culmination of international politics of the century. It Anally clinches tlie grasp of central and eastern Europe on the whole civilization of the old. world. It brings be fore the nations of tae earth the greatest spectacle of armed strength that the world has ever sen, net excepting the alliance that crushed Napoleon. It is the last word of an Iron-shod generation. FIGHTING STRENGTH. The Annies nnd Navies of Greece and Turkey Compared. The fighting strength of Turkey on land Is far superior to that of Greece. The lat ter nation has a well organized army, but one of not half tho size of that of Turkey. Her navy Is far the superior, however. She can storm tho Bosporus and Constan tinople If tho powers will let her alone. Her frontier U so mountainous that the defense of it is half provided for by na ture. She will be aided further by the cer tain uprising of Christian Turkish 'prov inces which have been waiting for the op portunity. Turkey will have to divide her army and fight in more than ono part of her 'empire. While the fighting strength of Greece on land Is scarcely over 200,wQ reguular soldiers, it Is estimated that with sympathizers she will havo In tho field a soldiery of more than GOO.OoO. This soldiery to a large extent has been under centuries of Turkish misgovernment. It is fighting for home and for an indpendent govern ment. It is fighting for tho Greek religion, and, further, for the realization of the dreams of Greece to restore Its nation to something of Its former grandeur. The Greek believes that Athens may rise again to her one-time power in literature, the arts and In war. But not with the Turk just across the water and on her frontier. She must first have him out of tho way, and she evidently thinks that some great influence in Europe will aid her. Following is the military and naval strength of Greece and Turkey: GREECE. Peace strength of army 22,002 Subdivided into Infantry 14,700 Cavalry 2.C4S Artillery .410 Engineers, etc War strength First reserve 3f,500 Second reserve 12oMJ Total war strength of land forces...LV,4.2 Navy. Armor clad vessels 5 Torpedo boats 17 Submarine torpedo boats z Unprotected corvettes 2 Unprotected cruisers Gunboats r 12 Revenue vessels 3 Total naval strength 43 Character of Vessels. The two Baslleus Georges, armored, 1.770 tons; two ten-ton Krupp guns, four light and two machine guns; speed, ten knots. Hydra, armored. 4.45G tons; three K.6-lnch and four 5.b-lnch guns, six seven-pounders, and eighteen other small and machine guns. Sjetzel and Para, same as the Hydra. Each of the seventeen torpedo bouts Is over eighty-six feet in length. The oldest of the armored loats was built (Continued on Second Paift) LOW LANDS FLOODED AND THE RESIDENTS OF SEVERAL TOWNS FORCED TO FLEE. Torrent from the Swollen Mississippi River Still Flowing Through the Break lu the RIksb Levee. " DELTA ALMOST DEPOPULATED ANI A I. AltOE IOItTION OF MADISON PARISH, LA INUNDATED. Itellef rtoMts llnmll - HrmrninK the Ira periled Inhabitants S.000 .Needy People at and Nenr A" I ck altars. MEMPHIS. Tenn.. April 1. No mov breaks are reported in the Louisiana leve district to-night, although the embank ments at Hancock and Ferriday, in the northern part of Concordia parish, are re ported to bo very weak and a break may occur at any hour. The crevasse at Biggs Is now a seething torrent and tho waters are spreading rapidly throughout Madison parish. At Cowpen tho levee is seeping badly, and although a superhuman effort is being made to holi it it is thought a break f 111 occur sooner or later. The town of VI dalla Is In a very critical condition and many of the inhabitants are hastily packing their most valuable effects and are fleeing to Natchez. The waters from the Biggs cre vasse are expected to inundate the town by Wednesday. At Natchez refugees continue to arrive in large numbers, while live stock of every description is coming into the city In largo droves. Thousands of men lino the lower levees to-night, watching every weak spot and hoping for the best. In tho Mississippi delta tho situation coa tinues to slowly Improve. Tins has been A bcautiful day throughout tho overflowed sec.ion and the waters are receding. The work of relief is being systenvUically car ried on. The river at Memphis is still fall ing, a recession of one-tenth tt a foot in the past twenty-four hours being reported by the weather bureau to-nlghL THE BIGGS LEVEE BREAK. It Has Resulted In Great DamnRC In Mndlnon Parish. Louisiana A'ICKSBURG Miss.. April IS. At 6 p.m. the river was 51.8, a fall of three-tenths In the past twenty-four hours and a total of six-tenths since the crevasse at Biggs lev-, ee at 10 o'clock Friday nighL The situa tion in Madison parish, Louisiana, is grow ing hourly worse. The flood of water go ing through the Biggs break in the levee Is fast covering the lowlands and Is flooding Bay Vidal and the greater part of th land In the southern portion of tho parish. The water has reached Tallulah, some eighteen miles west of Delta. The water has risen seven feet In the bayou at tallulah and was rising a foot an hour at noon to-day. Delta Is about depopulated, only enough person remaining to look after the houses. Many of them have two or three feet of water in them. The backwater Is fast covering land north of Delta and at Young's Poirt much jand is already covered. At Omega the floods are coming fast. Relief boats art running to Davis island and Kellogg's sec tion. Planters in tho north part of Madi son are placing their stock in reach of boats on the river front or at stations on the line of tho A'icksburg &. Shreveport Railroad, so they can bo moved in tho event of another break in the upper portion of the parish, which is now severely threat ened. Miliiken's Bend and Duckport levee are both caving. I Reports from Madison parish state that the water began rising iu Brushby bayou at Tallulah at 7 o'clock this morning and up to about 2 p. m. it had risen seven to eight feet. About throe miles lelow Tallu lah the water is getting over the levees and Is overflowing everything two miles below. It will not be uion the higher lands until to-morrow, as there Is several feet of bank left in tho bayou. Richland. La., was hfard from to-day and rexorts the wa ter going all over everything, overflowing the Kings and Kels places, also the villages of Trinidad and Ash wood, eight miles below Richland. The telegraph line is down some distance below Richland and communica tion was cut off from there up to noon to day. The water is beginning to back Up Iiko 1. on the lino of the Vlcksburg Ae Shreveport road. ;Vork Is still going on at the Milliken's Bend levees and they are re ported in good shape there. The jeopIe at Tallulah are building up the old levee on Bushy bayou as far south as Sevier, about tight miles south, in an endeavor to hold the water in the bayou. Everybody is getting their stock together, however, so as to move promptly. Mr.'Stubbs. of the A'icksburg & Shreve port Railroad, says an effort will be mado to handle pa.'senpers and mail service from Delta to some point on the line west, where the trains can come, thereby keeping uu communication. The road was transferrin here under the most adverse conditions be fore the break at Biggs, which soon mad that impossible, a the track was flooded to the depth of several feet In less than twelve hours. It is now estimated not less than eight thousand persons will want relief in this county for the next thirty days st least. Lieutenant Crowley, of the Cnlted States army, reached here from Washington by the noon train, having been detailed to duty here to purchase and distribute re lief. Ho has gone actively to work and w ill purchase rneal. meat and molasses for distribution through the gentlemen named by the Governor. John M. Coulton. one of tho leading plan ters of Issaquena county. Is in the Hty and makes the following statement: "I have. Just returned from Issaquena county. The present Indications 'are that the overflow will break all former records as to duration, and destruction of property In the line of plantation improvements and 1ojs of cat- !.- 1. i vine littln rrotwt of nlmtlni. r-T-f it- In 1 VI 7 " VV' l. wv',. PROTECTING NEAV ORLEANS. More Luhorer to He Put to AVork on the Carroll ton Ievee. NEW ORLEANS. April 11-Contrary to expectations the rivtr at this iolnt did not touch the twenty-foot mark to-day. The river may be pronounced stationary at The excitement concerning the condition of the levee at Carrollton has been more or less at fever heat to-day, but on the authority of the best-informed engineers and levee di rectors it Is stated that no extraordinary cause for uneasiness exists. A reporter to day inspected the levee over which there has been so much dtbate and It seemed to be In excellent Fhape. This afternoon a meeting of tho New Orleans levee board was held at Carrolton and the board met a delegation of prominent and wealthy cit izens. The meeting was entirely har monious, the board willingly consenting to have an advisory committee of citizens co operate with them. Ample financial back ing was guaranteed the board, and as a consequence after the conference-adjourned two hundred additional laborers were put to work and this force will be doubled to morrow. The action of the Joint committee Is In no way intended to be construed into a reflection on the previous work effected by the board, but simply a precautionary measure u make assurance doubly sure. The Carrollton levee appears to De easily able to bear a rise of two feet more water. The situation in this city does not appear at this tlmo to be any moro critical than uion preceding days. At liaquemlne, Ic, the river has rlen In the past twenty-four hours two-tenths of a foot and is now within two tenths of the highest water mark ever recorded. The lllckey levee, sit uated on tho west bank below the mout 4