New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-01
CRETE.

SCARCITY or TRUSTWORTHY NEws-TIIE NUssUL-
MEN DEsPoNDENT-DR. HOWE
From Our Special Correspondent
CANEA May o. 1857
The mystery in which the Government wraps up
its movements is every day greater. No news has
leaked out from official sources since the affairs OF
Epskopi and Krap except that Omar Pasha has
turned his horses head eastward, and has abandoned
all attack on Sphakia.
BY the moral evidence we can collect here, the az
fairs of the empire 60 badly. The Ottoman connte-
nance is lower day by day, and tho fact tha''
though a steamer arrived rom Candla DAY Dc
fore yesterday no item of news from there was al
lowed to get out, and the Governor even pretended
that there none has not failed TO give consist
ency to the rumor of hard fighting and heavy loss to
the Sirdar Ekrini's army.
From a friend in the Turkish service heard sew
eral days ago that on Sunday the 10TH Omar Pasha,
in passing by the pass of Damasta, was attacked by
Peropaulaki and COrakas with 800 men, Cretans and
volunteers The troops numbered 500, with 400 If
regulars but before they could Overpower the Chris
tians such number of reenforcements arrived to the
latter that Omar Pasha narrowly escaped being
blockaded with all his army, and he only es-
capped by PrecpItate flight backward Leaving ms
escort to fight il out: My informant stated that the
iTeguars lost $50 killed but the troops none hs m
fonnaRt being % Turkish colonel with whom he
servesl, but that they barely able to eX-
trieate themselves, leaving number of
prisoners in the hands of the Christians: That
thereupOn the Pasha ordered all the available forces
ont to open and secure the way but though he had
II 900 men available be had not yet got through 10
Gambia. BY another informant ! heard that the
fighting was going up to Thursday night, the sd,
at the same pace The only news if it be news, re-
ceived since is that Omar Pasha has got through to
Gambia but how or with what loss. is not stated.
and if not by sea, doubt il.
The war is now carried ON 30 far from Canea that
we get almost no news from the insurgent side ex-
cept when the steamer comes from Gambia here every
INIT iron he
of the Mussulmans can easily see that things are
the reverse of what they wonld like
army is than ever destructive. The PLAIN coun-
try which offer resistance, Is now utterly raw
aged, olive trees, houses &c being destroyed with
out any respect OF submission or resistance. we
hear that the Sultan is at the verge of madness and
will hear of nothing but determination. His AID
de-camp arrived not long since with orders 10 Omar
Pasha and Immediately the Tigors were increased to
their present uninereasable pressure. by the new
regulations the Christians residing in the
out food for their families. Each person
entering the city may take n minimum for himself
but not ounce for any one Onside, wife or chlld
old or young The rigor of conquest or the hardness
of oppression can 90 but step further ami draw
the sword on the helpless and passive victims
Letters from the mountains report that on Onai
Pashas entry into one of the villages, i've peasants
to make their submission, declaring that they
had not fought and would not fight and claimed his
protection. He ordered them shot on the moment
An Englishman with the insurgents, in
letter which | received not long since says that
unless some means is 10 DuIy inc
tered over the island pestilence viii surely follow
Meanwhile, fevers and dysenteres are at work in the
camps, and the mortality is frghtinl The g'es are
numerous almost to justify the title of plague
business is suspended provisions are scarce yegeta
bles rising to famine prices and fresh meat scarcely to
be got at any price. All the cattle of the plain country
having been stolen by the troops or killed, we have
no beef and that the lowland pastures are fail
ing from the drouth of Summer, the sheep are
getting poor and almost unfit to eat fish now bring
IA and IS piasters the oke 20 cents the pound A
cargo of onions landed last week almost created
riot in the rush to secure them. Meanwhile, the
destruction and slaughter goes on devastation fol-
lowing DEATH TO be followed again by death III other
forms
Yet see no signs of bending in the few Cretans
am able to talk with. One young man, who had an
inherited estate in GaiourOpOlis, from which last
year he received $1,000 income told me that he had
only the bare soil of it LIGHTHOUSE, olive trees vine
yards. all gone. But never mind" he said, 80
long as we get rid of them" (the Turks.
The Government has given orders that DIR. Howe
shall not be permitted to land i'll the island that
the labOrs of the American Committees must for the
present be confined TO the insurgents and the refugees
in Greece But the door will soon be opened for an
extension of operations.