A Russian warship made a cruise round the island a few days ago, and brought back word to the allies at Canea that fighting was going on near all the coast towns, and that the whole island seemed ablaze with war. Colonel Vassos has received orders from the King of Greece that he is to hold all the positions in the island now occupied by Greek troops, and to resist all attempts on the part of Turkey or the Powers to dislodge him. A report from Crete states that there has been trouble between Germany and Greece. A German vessel, the _Kaiserin Augusta_, ordered a Greek vessel, the _Hydra_, to come to a standstill, and fired a blank shot at her to make her obey. The _Hydra_ immediately replied by firing a whole broadside at the German vessel, and went on her way. This report has not been fully verified, so after all it may not be true. * * * * * Turkey, in the mean while, is following her usual method of saying nothing at all, simply waiting to see what happens. The various Sultans who have been ruling Turkey ever since the affairs of that country first began to scandalize Europe, have always maintained this same attitude, in the hope that the Powers which insisted on interfering in the affairs of Turkey might at last get into a serious quarrel among themselves, and so be obliged to leave Turkey alone. The Turkish troubles have been going on for years and years. The Armenian massacres, and the misrule in Crete, are only the last two of a long series of crimes which have made Turkey the horror and the despair of Europe. If the various Powers could only have agreed how to divide up the Turkish Empire between them, the Sultan would have been expelled from Europe long ago. But they never have agreed, and so the Sultan of Turkey has kept his throne. The Powers sent a note to Turkey at the same time that the one was despatched to Greece, telling him that they wished Crete to have Home Rule under the control of a Turkish prince. The Sultan's reply was most amiable; he agreed to the wishes of the Powers so willingly, that it is said that he is glad to have an opportunity of ridding himself of Crete, which has long been an annoyance and expense to his Empire. At the same time he, too, is massing troops on the frontier, ready to fly at the Greeks the moment war is declared. * * * * * Affairs in Cuba are beginning to look a little brighter for the Cubans, but very dark and dismal for Spain.