18 JULY 1896, Page 1

The situation in Crete continues as bad as ever. The

Assembly was opened on Monday by Georgi Pasha Berovitch, the Governor-General, accompanied by Abdullah Pasha, the Military Governor. An unfortunate impression was, it is re- ported, produced by the reading of the inaugural address in the Turkish language, Greek being prescribed by the Constitution. The Christian Deputies immediately protested. The fact that the Military Governor officially took part in the ceremony also gave rise to much comment. The Mahommedan and the Christian delegates seem unable to come to any agreement,—the Christians, not unnaturally, being in sym- pathy with the insurgent chiefs. The Christians have, besides, drawn up a very drastic scheme for the political organisation of the island, which the Mahommedans consider would be very injurious to them. Meantime the insurgents, who have been reinforced from Greece, and who have plenty of arms and ammunition, seem in no mood to surrender, and in all probability there will be further fighting.