ment is recognized. One after another their positions have been abandoned, and the numerous functionaries engaged in the civil administration are congregated in the towns, and have been informed that their services for the present are not required. Their salaries are in all cases hopelessly in arrears, and, like the rest of the population, they are in a state of destitution. The zaptiés, who some time ago were put on short rations, are again receiving the full allowance of 44 oz. of bread a day, and a month's pay has been served out to them. In spite of the hard treatment they receive, the conduct of these Albanians is on the whole excellent, though there is naturally some relaxation of zeal in the discharge of their duties. The newly-enrolled volunteers, who have been armed with Peabody-Martini rifles, are by no means so well conducted. A few days ago a party of them forced an entry into the Church of Galata, a large village near here, subjected the building to foul, unseemly treatment, and broke open several graves within the sacred precints, scattering the bones in all directions. The officer commanding the regular troops stationed there was so indignant at their proceedings that he now allows none of these men to enter the village. The "Panhellenion" has made a third successful run to the coast of Crete, having landed three days ago in Kissamos arms and provisions, with about 100 volunteers. Another vessel landed 240 sacks of flour. The Ottoman cruisers have not yet succeeded in intercepting a single vessel. I have, &c. P.S.-The news has just come that the Sphakians have burnt the newly-erected, but unfinished palace at Vamos, the construction of which cost nearly 5,000l. It appears that when they arrived and saw so many houses of the Christians destroyed, and particularly the indignities to which the departing soldiery had subjected the village church, which they had used as a privy, their indignation could not be restrained, and in their anger they fired the palace. No. 43. T. B. S. My Lord, Consul Sandwith to the Earl of Derby.-(Received March 21.) Canea, Crete, March 12, 1878. I HAVE the honour to inclose, for your Lordship's information, a copy of a despatch which I have just received from Mr. Vice-Consul Calocherinos, describing the condition of affairs in the town and district of Candia. From Rethymo the news is more reassuring, Costaki Pasha having arrived there and having banished two influential Mussulmans who had instigated the late attacks on the Christian villages. I have, &c. Sir, Inclosure in No. 43. Vice-Consul Calocherino to Consul Sandwith. Candia, Crete, March 9, 1878. I HAVE the honour to state that after my letter of the 23rd ultimo by the last post to Canea, more robberies and disorders have been and are still committed by the Turks in the neighbourhood of this fortress against the Christian peasants who arrive here from their villages to buy barley and provisions. The local authorities do not allow now the Christian peasants to buy more than 15 okes of barley for each family. Nevertheless, we have great abundance of grain and barley. The Turks have also profaned a church at the village Kasities in Temenos, and another at Pedeada, and have committed many injuries to the houses and landed properties. On the other hand the Christian Chiefs in the provinces have assembled many armed men in order to protect the Christian villagers who come in town to buy provisions. The military authorities have sent the troops stationed at Mires (about 300 soldiers) to Hierapetra by two steamers through Matalla, and those stationed at Axedi to Hagios Myron, where remains the Kaïmakam, as well as in Castelli of Pedeada. The Kaïmakam of Mires and Pyrgos, with all the employés, came into town. The troops stationed in Mallia of Pedeada (120 soldiers) came also into town. Last week arrived here also 600 soldiers, Mustafiz and Redifs, by the Government steamer" Ismalieh " from Gallipoli. We have now in this town about 1,100 soldiers.: The troops stationed at Neapolis of Mirabello (about 400 soldiers) have, as it is stated, been sent to the fortress of Spinalonga, where arrived also, as I hear, the Mutessarif of Lasithion. This, however, is not certain. The extraordinary police tribunal does not work properly on account of difficulties presented by the Turkish members. The Government has decided to form a body of mixed gendarmes at Pedeada. The inhabitants also of Archanes have asked to be allowed to form a body of mixed gendarmes for their own protection. I have, &c. My Lord, Consul Sandwith to the Earl of Derby.-(Received March 21.) Canea, Crete, March 12, 1878. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that 12 battalions of regular troops have arrived here during the last three days from Constantinople. They average about 400 men each, thus making a total of 4,800. 600 troops have also been landed at Candia and 250 in Rethymo. Osman Nouri Pasha, General of Division, accompanied the troops and is in command of all the regular forces in the island. M. Delyanni to M. Gennadius.-(Communicated to the Earl of Derby by M. Gennadius, Monsieur, March 23.) 2 Mars Athènes, le 18 Février, 1873. JE m'empresse de vous transmettre ci-inclus, en résumé, les nouvelles que j'ai reçues cette semaine de Candie. Vous recevrez aussi, sous bande, quelques exemplaires d'une petite brochure contenant le décret rendu par l'Assemblée Générale des Crétois le courant, ainsi que le mémoire qui l'accompagne. Je vous prie de faire de ces pièces et des renseignements qui vous sont communiqués par le résumé ci-joint l'usage que vous jugerez opportun. Sir, Agréez, &c. THEODORE P. DELYANNI. Athens, March 29 I HASTEN to transmit to you herewith a summary of the news which I have received this week from Candia. You will also receive inclosed some copies of a small pamphlet containing the Decree passed by the General Assembly of the Cretans on the instant, as well as the Memorial which accompanies it. 15th I beg you to make such use as you may consider advisable of these documents and of the reports which are communicated to you in the summary. Receive, &c. (Traduction.) Inclosure 1 in No. 45. Letter dated La Canée, February 14, 1878. LES hostilités ont commencé dans notre ile; elles se poursuivent même avec beaucoup de vigeur. Dans les premiers jours de cette semaine le Capitaine Jorghanaki, de Selino, a attaqué de nuit le fort d'Alykiano, où réside actuellement le Caïmacam, et qui depuis longtemps lui sert de Conak (Hôtel de la Préfecture). La garnison repoussa vigoureusement les assauts réitérés des Seliniotes. Ceux-ci se rendirent, pourtant, maîtres de la bourgade et au nombre de 600 ou 700, ils assiégent le Caïmacam dans son chateau. Dimanche matin le bruit s'est répandu dans notre ville que des Chrétiens en grand nombre avaient attaqué les Turcs et étaient aux prises avec eux à Malaxa Kalami (Djeddin), Vamo, et autres lieux circonvoisins. On ajoutait qu'ils s'étaient portés vers le port de la Suda, et qu'ils attaquaient les troupes qui se trouvaient dans Î'Arsenal, ainsi que celles campées aux environs d'un fort dominant cette position. Aussitôt les vaisseaux Turcs qui étaient à l'ancre dans le port sus-dit-dont trois cuirassés, “l'Orkhanie," "l'Iglatié," et un autre, arrivé de Constantinople depuis cinq jours à peine-ont ouvert le feu contre les insurgés; mais comme les balles de ceux-ci les attaignaient, ils durent quitter leur mouillage et se retirer hors de la portée des fusils des Chrétiens.. Dans la soirée nous apprîmes que quatre soldats Turcs avaient été tués, et un Bachi-Bazouk Candiote blessé; celui-ci fut transporté dans la ville. Nous ignorons quelles pertes ont essuyés les insurgés et qui conduisait cette entreprise si hardie, à laqnelle on ne saurait comparer aucun des faits d'armes accomplis en Crète, même pendant la révolution de 1821. On a su seulement que quelques femmes et trois Chrétiens, restés dans le village de Zoukalaria, près de Suda, ont tenté de fuir, que les trois hommes, tombés dans les mains des Bachi-Bazouks, ont été massacrés, mais que les femmes sont parvenues à se sauver en se réfugiant dans les cantonnements des troupes régulières. Le combat près de Suda était fini à midi, mais il continuait à Djeddin et à Kalami. Dès lors, la plupart des vaisseaux se dirigèrent vers Calyvés, d'où ils cannonèrent les insurgés jusqu'au soir. Nous n'avons pu nous procurer des renseignements plus détaillés sur les combats livrés dans ces parages et plus loin encore, vers Vamo. Dans l'après-midi, bien des gens se tenaient sur nos ramparts et contemplaient de là, à l'aide de leurs longues vues, ce qui se passait à Malaxa, où l'on distinguait la fumée produite par les armes de ceux qui tiraient sur les chateaux forts; tout-à-coup, on vit apparaître vers le côté ouest de la forteresse du faubourg de Galata quelques corps d'insurgés; bientôt s'ouvrit un feu très vif entre les troupes cantonnées, et fortifiées dans ce faubourg (1,000 réguliers environ avec deux canons et 500 BachiBazouks Candiotes) et les Chrétiens, qui étaient à dix minutes de marche du faubourg, et qui avaient pour chefs Vardonoïannaki, Spyridaki Molandri et, au dire de quelques uns, Criari lui-même, avec ses Seliniotes. Ce combat, dont on distinguait nettement les évolutions du haut de nos remparts, dura jusqu'à la nuit. On disait en outre, que Hadji-Michali s'était emparé du fortin d'Alykiano, que la garnison s'était rendue prisonnière, et qu'il l'avait laissée rentrer librement dans notre ville; on ajoutait, enfin, qu'un autre corps d'insurgés avait attaqué le fortin de Perivoli. Nous étions naturellement ici très anxieux depuis le matin. Les Musulmans établis hors de la ville lesquels sont pourvus d'armes Martini, fournies par le Gouvernement, s'empressèrent de prendre part aux combats engagés contre les Chrétiens. Beaucoup même des Musulmans de la ville en sortirent dès le matin dans le même but. Mais plus tard, Adossides Pacha ordonna aux gendarmes de ne plus laisser sortir ces irréguliers et il convoqua un Grand Conseil, composé des Beys de la Canée, pour délibérer avec eux sur ce qu'il conviendrait de faire. Vers les 5 heures du soir nous vîmes plusieurs bandes de Musulmans de la plus basse classe, conduites par différents chefs Condiotes, se rendre à l'Arsenal, où ils étaient armés pour être expédiés contre les Chrétiens. Cela continua encore le lendemain, Lundi, depuis le matin. On transporta, en outre, plusieurs canons de gros calibre des ramparts au bord de la mer sur ceux tournés vers l'intérieur de l'île et se levant vers le côté ouest de la ville. Lundi matin, le crépitement d'un feu nourri se faisait entendre du côté d'Aghia d'où, nous a-t-on dit, les Chrétiens escortaient jusqu'à proximité de notre ville les Turcs faits prisonniers en ces parages, et dont ils avaient saisi les bêtes de somme et les provisions de farine. On continua de se battre, du matin au soir, à Galata, Alykiano, Varypetro, Perivo, et dans les faubourgs de Perivolia et de Mourinés. Notre ville était pendant tout le jour en proie à une telle émotion, que la populace, Musulmane, y compris les enfants, s'armait et sortait par bandes de 100 hommes et plus, bannières en tête, se rendant en hâte aux divers endroits où l'on se battait. Quelques uns rentraient blessés pendant le jour; le soir on apporta les oreilles et la lèvre supérieure garnie de moustaches d'un Chrétien, que ces irréguliers avaient rencontré désarmé, et qu'ils avaient taillé en pièces. Pas un des Chrétiens habitants hors de la ville ne put y entrer de toute la journée, à cause des bandes sus-mentionnées qui, dispersées partout, rendaient toutes les routes inaccessibles en se ruant sur n'importe quel Chrétien désarmé, homme, femme, ou enfant, qu'elles rencontraient se dirigeant vers la ville. Quelques habitants d'Akrotirion qui, manquant de pain, s'étaient vus forcés de venir ici pour se procurer de la farine, rencontrés par des Bachi-Bazouks, ont été horriblement maltraités par eux et dévalisés; force leur fut de ce réfugier avec leurs familles dans le monastère dit de la Sainte Trinité et sis à Akrotirion. Voilà ce qui s'est passé dans notre district ces deux derniers jours. A l'instant même nous venons de recevoir de Rethymne des lettres du 12 de ce mois; elles relatent ce qui s'est passé et la déplorable situation des Chrétiens de cette ville, menacés par les Turcs de subir toute sorte d'avanies. "Notre district," disent ces lettres, "a l'air d'être un champ de bataille; ordre est donné aux miliciens Turcs de ne pas franchir la ligne établie par le Gouvernement hors de la ville; les miliciens Chrétiens ne vont, de même, que jusqu'à cette ligne, lorsqu'ils escortent des paysans ayant besoin d'entrer à Rethymne et qui, soit dit en passant, n'arrivent que par groupes." Les abus qui étaient moins criants, depuis l'arrivée de Sélim Bey, redeviennent insupportables depuis son départ. Beaucoup de gens du bas peuple se promènent en armes tous les jours; ils sortent de la ville pour couper et détruire des milliers d'arbres. Hier il est sorti dans ce but environ 500 de ces hommes. Un pyroscaphe de guerre est venue aujourd'hui de la Suda; les quelques soldats que Selim Bey avait amenés ici pour renforcer la garnison de notre ville se sont embarqués sur ce bâteau. Il paraît qu'ils sont nécessaires dans votre district, à cause des hostilités, qui y ont commencé. Ĉette mesure a satisfait les Musulmans, qui espèrent étouffer aisément l'insurrection par la force des armes. Nul doute que les Turcs, qui sont encore aux environs, ne se hâtent maintenant de rentrer dans la ville. Figurez-vous la situation que nous fera l'accumulation de tant d'éléments pareils. Notre Moutessarif a été destitué et est parti pour Constantinople. Il a été remplacé provisoirement par l'ancien Caïmacam de Mylospotamo, Essad Bey, homme actif et énergique, à ce qu'on assure. (Translation.) HOSTILITIES have commenced in our island and are pursued, too, with much vigour. In the early part of this week Captain Jorghanaki of Selino attacked by night the fort of Alykiano, where the Kaïmakam at present resides and which has for a long time been his konak (prefect's house). The garrison vigorously repelled the repeated assaults of the Seliniotes, who, however, took possession of the village and to the number of 600 or 700 besieged the Kaïmakam in his castle. On Sunday morning the news spread through our town that the Christians had in large numbers attacked the Turks, and were engaged with them at Malaxa Kalami (Djeddin), Vamo, and other places in that vicinity. It was added that they had marched towards the harbour of Suda, and were attacking the troops in the arsenal as well as those encamped round a fort commanding the position. The Turkish vessels lying at anchor in the above-named harbour, of which three were ironclads-the "Orkhanie," the "Iglatie," and another-and had arrived scarcely five days before from Constantinople, immediately opened fire upon the insurgents; but as the shots from the latter reached them they quitted their anchorage and retired out of range of the Christians. In the evening we heard that four Turkish soldiers had been killed and one Cretan Bashi-Bazouk wounded; the latter was carried into the town. We do not know what loss was sustained by the insurgents, or who led such a daring enterprise, an enterprise to which none of the feats of arms in Crete, even during the revolution of 1821, can be compared. It was only known that some women and three Christians, who had remained in the village of Zoukalaria, near Suda, attempted to escape; that the three men fell into the hands of the Bashi-Bazouks and were massacred, but that the women succeeded in saving their lives by taking refuge in the cantonments of the regular troops. At midday the fight near Suda was over, but it continued at Djeddin and Kalami. The greater part of the vessels proceeded then towards Calyvés, whence they cannonaded the insurgents until the evening. We have not been able to procure more detailed information respecting the engagements in those parts and still further off towards Vamo. In the afternoon, numbers of people remained on our ramparts and viewed, with the aid of telescopes, what was going on at Malaxa, where could be seen the smoke produced by the fire-arms of those firing at the strongholds; suddenly some bands of insurgents made their appearance to the west side of the fortress of the suburb of Galata; soon a very sharp fire opened between the troops in the cantonments and in the fortifications of the suburb (about 1,000 regular troops with two cannons and 500 Cretan Bashi-Bazouks) and the Christians, who were ten minutes' march from the suburb, and who had as leaders Vardonoïannaki, Spyridaki Molandri, and, according to some, Criari himself, with his Seliniotes. The engagement, the evolutions in which we could clearly distinguish from the top of our ramparts, lasted until the night. It was said, too, that Hadji Michali had seized the fort of Alykiano, that the garrison had given themselves up as prisoners, and that he had allowed them to return free to our town; it was added also that another body of insurgents had attacked the fort of Perivoli. We were naturally very anxious here ever since the morning. The Mussulmans established outside the town, who are provided with Martini rifles furnished by the Government, hastened to take part in the engagements with the Christians. Many even of the Mussulmans of the town went out in the morning with the same object. But later on Adossidi Pasha ordered the police no longer to allow these irregulars to go out, and he convoked a Great Council, composed of the Beys of Canea, in order to deliberate with them as to what should be done. Towards 5 P.M. we saw several bands of Mussulmans of the lowest class, led by various Cretan Chiefs, proceed to the arsenal, where they were armed in order to be sent against the Christians. This also continued the next day, Monday, from early morning. Several cannons, too, of large calibre were moved from the ramparts on the sea-shore to those facing the interior of the island and rising towards the west side of the town. On Monday morning the noise of a well-sustained fire was heard in the direction of Aghia, whence, we were told, the Christians were escorting up to the confines of our town the Turks whom they had made prisoners in those districts, and whose beasts of burden and provisions of flour they had seized. Fighting continued from morning to evening at Galata, Alykiano, Varypetro, Perivo, and in the suburbs of Perivolia and Mourinés. During the whole day our town was a prey to such emotion that the Mussulman population, including the children, armed and left the town in bands of 100 and more, with banners at their head, proceeding with all haste to the several places where fighting was going on. Some returned during the day wounded; in the evening the ears and upper lip and moustache of a Christian were brought in, whom the irregulars had met unarmed and had hacked to pieces. Not a single Christian inhabitant outside the town was able to enter during the whole day on account of the above-mentioned bands, who spread in all directions and made all the roads inaccessible by attacking every unarmed Christian, whether man, woman, or child, whom they found going towards the town. Some inhabitants of Akrotirion, who, being without bread, were forced to come here to procure flour, were met by some Bashi-Bazouks and were horribly ill-treated and robbed; they were obliged to take refuge with their families in the monastery called St. Trinity's, and situated at Akrotirion. This is what has happened in our district during the last two days. We have just this instant received letters from Rethymo of the 12th instant; they give an account of what has happened, and of the terrible situation of the Christians of the town, who are threatened by the Turks with being subjected to all sorts of outrages. "Our district," say the letters, "looks like a battle-field. The Turkish militiamen are ordered not to cross the line established outside the town by the Government; the Christian militiamen, similarly, come only as far as this line when escorting peasants who require to enter Rethymo, and who, it may be said in passing, only arrive in groups." The abuses which had been less crying since the arrival of Selim Bey, have again become unbearable since his departure. Large numbers of the lower orders walk about armed every day; they leave the town in order to cut down and destroy thousands of trees. Yesterday about 500 of these men went out with this object. A |