The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-25 00:00:00

THE INSURRECTION IN CRETE.

(ra= 01311 RPICJAL CORILIMPOIMIXT.)
INSURGENT HEADQUARTERS. Berm=
HERACLEUM AND Rurntrsitio, MAT 3.

It would be incorrect to say that the Cretan
people are not deeply interested in every move-
ment of Omar Pacha, and that they do not watch
his advance upon Sphakia with great anxiety. Yet,
when I remember the high reputation of the
general who has been sent to crush them, these
islanders appear to me to meet their fate with ex-
traordinary firmness. There is not any sign of s
panic, nor is there any boastful talking to keep up
public courage. The Cretans go steadily on with
the war in other districts, ready to profit by an
advantage gained in Sphakia, or, if need be, to
make a diversion on the flank of Omar Pacha's in-
vading army. I wish that their friends abroad
could see how the people bear themselves in this
critical moment.

Since the battle of April 19 we have not seen
lnuch of the Turks of Heracleum. Once or twice
they have approached the entrance of the moun-
tain passes, and there has been some slight skir-
mishing between the Christian villagers and the
native Mahometans. But the Pacha of Hera-
cleum has probably been ordered to risk nothing
for the present. At any rate nothing has been
risked. When, last week, a large Christian force
offered battle to the Turks, in a position not far
from that held on April 19, the challenge was not
accepted. Our men waited for two days ready to
fight, and then returned to their villages. It is
the opinion of many captains well practised in
Cretan warfare, that all other points will be neg-
lected by the Turks whilst Sphakia is attacked,
and that if repulsed from Sphakia, they will then
divide into small columns toravage the country. This
would be the time to strike them in detail ; and
struck they would be, you may depend, with no
sparing hand. But Omar Pacha is a good general,
and I doubt whether he will seriously move for-
ward into the rugged Sphakiote stronghold until he
has collected an overwhelming force. Three hours
among the " White Mountains" might mar the
reputation of a long military career. Then, too,
even if repulsed from Sphakia, he would not scatter
his troops just when the Cretans were most elated.
What seems clearly to be coming is this—a patient
and determined effort to subdue the insurgents of
Sphakia, with utter failure of the Turkish cause
should the effort fail, and complete success for the
Turks should Sphakia be conquered. The first
advances of the new pacha from his capital city
(Canes) have been sharply checked, and, as yet no
progress has been made. Perhaps it would be
the best for Omar's fame that the diplomatic
conscience of Europe should awaken to the
cruelty of letting Crete be trampled under
foot, and that a tardy foreign " intervention"
should put a stop to further bloodshed. Our
quarters in a ruined monastery, on the road be-
tween Heracleum and Rhethymno, are more
picturesque than spacious. But the view is splendid.
We have Mount Ida to the south, and the snow-
covered summits of Sphakis far away on the
western horizon, with the fruitful province of
Mylopotamo stretched out like a map at our feet.
The ruined monastery has been a grand place in its
day. It has seen, I doubs not, many a hearty repast,
and has afforded shelter to many a traveller. But
now there are only a few habitable rooms among
the ruins, and these rooms are crowded with re-
fugees from the plain of Hersoleum. One family
is lodged here in this dusty little corner ; another
down yonder by the mass of crumbling doorway.
Several are living together where this large apart-
ment is better preserved than usual. The house-
hold stock has been brought on small pack-saddles
by a drove of donkeys, which browse peacefully in
the neighbouring meadow, and the live stock of
the refugees has come hither on its own
feet in charge of tiny insurgent shepherds. The
children are fit to take their part in troubled times.
I have been watching a little maid, some six years
old, and her brother, who could scarcely stand,
whilst they manoeuvred half-a-dozen horned cattle
and twice as many sheep round a difficult corner of
the road. Demetrius was posted with a stick to
guard the return passage, and his sister boldly
assailing the cattle with another stick, drove them
before her. Then she picked up Demetrius and
carried him off, shouting the while at her charges
in no measured terms.

You heard of the " road," and you imagine a
respectable thoroughfare. It has no turnpike gates
—that much you are happy to believe—but it is a
" road," and, from what I have let drop, you
would be inclined to call it the high road between
Heracleum and Rhethymno. Strain your imagi-
nation quite the other way, and think of
the wildest sheep-track that you have ever
seen. Cretan roads are mere tracks among the
bushes, scratches across the face of the rocks, and
openings between the trees. There are certainly
great natural difficulties to excuse the non-existence
of fine high roads in Crete. But the Turkish go-
vernment has not even had energy enough to make
for itself military routes from one fortified city to
another. It would be an easier task at this mo-
ment to drag a 300-pounder Armstrong gun to the
top of the Worcestershire Beacon than to take an

ordinary 12-pounder by land from Heracleum to
Rethymno, as a simple question of travelling, with-
out any reference to the war between Christians
and Turks.

We have just received a report which, if con-
firmed, will greatly raise the spirits of the insur-
gents. The Arkadi is said to have effected a land-
ing in the eastern part of the island, and to have
disembarked a largo supply of arms. It is known
that the Cretans of the eastern districts have more
than once desired to rise, and that nothing but lack
of arms has kept them quiet hitherto.

WHITIMALL, MAY 23. —The Queen has been
pleased to give and grant unto William Parnis, LL.D.,
who is actually and entirely employed in the service of his
Imperial Majesty the Sultan, beyond the Queen's do-
minions, her royal license and authority that he may
accept and wear the insignia of the Third Class of the Im-
perial Order of the Medjidie, which the Sultan bath been
pleased to confer upon him.—Orszette.
Auulatamt, MAY 24. —APPOINTMENIII.—As-
sistaat Paymasters.—A. N. Lines, to the Pallas ; R. & L
Rose Lewin, to the Royal AdeLiide, as supernumerary.
Second Masters— W. W. Browne, to the St. Vincent
'additional far service as master ; H. T. Giveson, to the
Jumna. Engineer—G. F. Bell to the Crocodile. Acting
Second Class Engineer—W. Irwin, to the Catneleon
(additionaL)
A meeting of tho Oaths Inquiry Commissioners
was held yesterday. Present :—Duke of Richmond,
Bishop of Oxford, Lord Lyveden, Sir W. Stirling Max-
well, Bart., M.P., Hon. Mr. Justice Slue, Right Hon.
K P. Itonverie, M.P., Right Hon. Russell Gurney, Q.C.,
M.P.. Right Hon. Robert Lowe. M.P.. Mr. IL W. O'Reilly,
M.P.,Very Rev. the Dean of St. Paul's, and the Secretary
of the Commission.