No. 227.
Mr. Read
to Mr. Evarts.
Athens, February 2, 1878. (Received February 25.)
Sir: In view of the unsettled state of affairs here, I thought it my duty, in accordance with previous intimations to the Department, to suggest to Admiral Le Roy the propriety of sending one of our vessels of war to the Piraeus. The admiral recognized immediately the importance of doing so, and with prompt courtesy informed me that he had ordered the Marion to leave Nice for this point. The Marion, Commander Bradford, accordingly reached here yesterday at 10 a.m., and it is probable that she may be necessarily detained here, for Greece is on the point of declaring war with Turkey, and it is said that the Greek troops under General Soutzo have already crossed the frontiers and entered Thessaly. This may be a premature report, but it will undoubtedly prove a true one within thirty-six hours. Commander Bradford informed me that he saw several vessels outside of the harbor of Piraeus employed in putting down torpedoes as a means of defense against the Turkish fleet.
Photiades Bey, the Turkish minister, told me yesterday that he is informed that the Turks have 20,000 men near Salonica, and a fleet of four iron-clads, with many transports, which would move immediately upon the Piræus in case of war. This is probably an exaggeration; but great excitement reigns in Athens, and many families are hastening to leave the city by the outgoing steamers. It remains to be seen whether Greece has not postponed her hostile movements too long. If she had acted promptly after the fall of Plevna, success would have been assured, in all human probability.
I have, &c.,