On hearing that Omar had arrived at Candia, and was about attacking Lasithe, I ran down in the _Kestrel_ to watch his movements from nearer, and get more reliable information than the consular agents there generally furnished, as well as to convey more promptly the news to Greece and Constantinople, the agents only reporting back to their superiors at Canéa. On the arrival of the first news of the entry of Reschid into Abdou, Omar sent off an express with the news to Syra and Constantinople, but when the later report came, of the surprise and repulse, I was able, to the great annoyance of the authorities, to send by the Austrian post steamer, which left the next day, to correct the advices by the new information which I received from the son of Reschid Pasha, who was in great anxiety for the fate of his father, a raid of the Christians having temporarily cut his communications with headquarters. For two or three days the panic and confusion in Candia were extreme. Orders were then issued for the bulk of the army to concentrate at Dibaki, and Omar moved across the plains of Pediada and Messara, Reschid taking a line further west by St. Thomas and the slopes of Ida, while the troops who had moved further into the Lasithe country attempted to pass directly to the coast. Two battalions of Egyptians in this movement were caught in the ravines of Sime, and almost annihilated, leaving baggage, arms, and mules, loaded with ammunition and provisions, in the hands of the Cretans, who hung on the rear of every detachment, harassing more successfully than they had opposed them.