There is a rumor that the Powers will get home rule for Crete, and that the Emperor William of Germany is trying his best to bring this last scheme about.

Matters are very far from settlement.  Volunteers are rallying to the Greek flag in great numbers, and all Greece is echoing to the cries of excited patriotism.

The Greeks have won their first victory in Crete.  They attacked a fort called Fort Aghia, captured it, and took four hundred prisoners.  One hundred of these were Turkish soldiers, the rest were Moslems, who had taken refuge in the fort.

The details of this affair have not yet arrived, but it is supposed that the fort surrendered on the demand of Colonel Vassos.

Greece is also reported to have landed four thousand more troops in Crete.

Turkey is strengthening her forts along the Greek frontier, and has sent word to the Powers that they must restrain Greece, or she will be obliged to follow her own course.

* * * * *

No progress has been made toward the passage of the Treaty with Great Britain.

Their eyes once opened to the dangers that may underlie the fair words of the Treaty, the Senators are putting it under the microscope of discussion, and are anxious that it shall not leave their hands until it can be considered to be truly beneficial to the country.

It is certain that it will not be brought to any conclusion during this session of Congress.

Senator Sherman, who as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations has charge of the bill, says that he will present it at the extra session of the Senate, which will be called on March 5th by the new President.

It is said that the Nicaragua Canal Bill has been the real means of preventing the Senate from arriving at any conclusion about the Treaty this session.

Senator Morgan has been working very hard to convince the Senate of the importance of settling the Canal question before the Treaty is ratified, and has at last succeeded.

He has been very clever about it.  He announced to the Senate, some days ago, that in consequence of the amount of business that must be got through before the end of the session, he was willing to let his bill stand over till the extra session.  He warned the Senate, at the same time, that when the extra session came, he should fight for his bill with all his strength, and do his best to have it made into a law.

This looked as though the Senator had made way for the Treaty, and did not really care so much about his bill being passed before the Treaty was ratified.

But that was not Mr. Morgan’s idea at all.

He withdrew his bill because he did not want to have it hurried through, and voted on carelessly, and perhaps lost.  He withdrew it the more willingly because he had a nice little scheme in his head, which would easily prevent the Treaty being passed before the extra session, when he would again be on hand with his bill.