1897

BATTLE OF VOMOKOS

nearly broke out. The gunsmiths' shops were plundered and wild threats were made against the king and princes. Deleyanis, the Prime Minister responsible for the war, had to resign in favor of Demetrios Rhallis, the leader of the Radicals. The Greek troops under Smolenskis, contrary to orders from headquarters, made a determined stand at Velestino, between Larissa and Volo, and not only succeeded in arresting the advance of the Turks, but threw their Circassian cavalry back with severe loss. After a victorious fight of three days the Greeks, to the surprise of the Turks, evacuated the position. Smolenskis's subsequent retreat to Almiros near Ther mopylæ resulted in a division of the Greek forces. The army of Thessaly was cut in two. On May 3 the Rhallis Ministry decided to continue the war and to recall Colonel Vassos from Crete, appointing him to command on the frontier of Epirus. Smolenskis was appointed to general command. On May 6 the Turks attacked the Greeks in great force, so that the latter were forced to abandon Pharsalos and fall back on Vomokos. The resulting battle was largely an artillery engagement. The Greeks were badly beaten. The Foreign Legion only, under the Italian leaders Cipriani and Garibaldi's son, acquitted themselves with credit. Two days later the Greek forces withdrew from Velestino and Volo, and the Turkish troops occupied these two strong places without opposition from the Greek warships in the harbor. Finally, on May 11, Greece besought the intervention of the great Powers. The embarkation of Greek troops serving in Crete commenced at once at Canea under the supervision of the representatives of the Powers. On the 14th the Greek forces again invaded the Epirus, to defend the population from the fanaticism of the Turks: on the heights of Gribovo a fierce battle was fought, in which the advantage remained with the Greeks. The following day the Porte notified the Powers of the terms which must precede an armistice—an indemnity

PEACE OF CONSTANTINOPLE

1897

by Greece of 250,000,000 francs and annexation of Thessaly to Turkey. The Powers exacted milder terms. The last detachment of Greek troops left Crete, but nothing was settled as yet concerning its future government.

For a month there was peace in Crete. After prolonged discussion the Porte finally adopted in principle the frontier proposed by the Powers. Toward the end of the month, Djevad Pasha, ex-Grand Vizier and former Vali of Crete, arrived at Canea to assume command, but the admirals of the allied fleet would not recognize him.

After much friction the diplomatic struggle at Constantinople ended in the practical triumph of the German policy, which gave a partial control of the Greek finances to a commission of the great Powers. A treaty of peace between Turkey and Greece was eventually signed at Constantinople on December 4, and formally ratified by the Sultan and King George on December 16. Turkey agreed to evacuate Thessaly, with the exception of the frontier ridges. Greece had to pay an indemnity of 92,000,000 drachmas (or francs) in gold. Pending payment, Thessaly was to be occupied by Turkish garrisons. The ravages of this occupation proved more serious to Thessaly than those of the war. In order to float a loan wherein to pay the indemnity to Turkey, Greece had to mortgage her national revenues to the foreign Powers. An international commission henceforth was charged with the supervision and control of Greek finances.

In the Transvaal, the High Court Bill was passed by the Volksraad, notwithstanding the unanimous opinion of the Rand lawyers that it endangered the rights and liberties of the people. President Kruger presented to Chamberlain a bill of indemnity to be paid-first, for material damage, £677,938; and, second, for moral or intellectual damage, £1,100,000. Kruger again took occasion to deny the suzerainty of Great Britain, but declared his intention strictly to 1167 XIXth Century—Vol. III—14

1897

DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN KLONDIKE

observe the London Convention. The Volksraad consented to repeal the Anti-Immigration Bill, against which Mr. Chamberlain had protested as a violation of the convention with Great Britain; and the Government of the Orange Free State likewise withdrew a similar bill, which President Steyn had agreed upon with President Kruger.

British troops under General Yeatman Biggs were assailed in Northern India while marching to Karappa. On October 20, after a three hours' fight, they stormed the steep ridge of Dhargai, held to be impregnable by the tribesmen. The Khaibar Pass and the forts Mesjid and Maude were abandoned to the British without a stroke.

In America William McKinley was inaugurated as President. Congress met in special session to act on the President's message urging a higher protective tariff. In accordance with this recommendation the Dingley Tariff was passed four months later. In June the treaty for the annexation of the Sandwich Islands to the United States was signed by the President. The Hawaiian Senate ratified the treaty.

In July great excitement had been caused by the discov ery of gold in the Klondike. Thousands of gold seekers from all over the world emigrated thither. It was at this time that the Alaskan boundary question came up, the Dominion of Canada claiming a part of the Klondike district.

On May 1 the consolidation of the several municipalities in New York State at the mouth of the Hudson into Greater New York, was effected by the signature of the Governor to the charter passed by the State Assembly. The campaign for Mayor of the new municipality was a memorable one. There were four leading candidates: Robert A. Van Wyck, the successful contestant, the Tammany nominee; Benjamin F. Tracy, ex-Secretary of the Navy, the Republican nominee; Seth Low, President of Columbia University, nominee of an independent organization called "The Citizens' Union";