520 WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FIELD FORCE IN CRETE, 1897. 
troops were unfortunately permitted to land in the Island The popu¬ 
lation in Crete was about 300,000 of whom % were Christians 
These latter encouraged by the presence of the troops from Greece, 
with which country they clamoured for union, made attacks upon the 
various Moslem positions, under the command of the guns of the Fleet, 
which on one occasion had to open fire to cover the retirement of the 
Turkish troops from the Malaxa Redoubt, behind Suda. 
The Admirals soon decided to assemble all the Moslems from the 
outlying districts in the principle maritime towns, together with the 
Turkish troops, and to limit the direction of affairs by the Turkish 
authorities to government of the people in these towns. They were 
Canea the capital, Candia the old capital, containing half the Moslem 
population of the Island, and one of the strongest old fortified towns 
in the world, Retimo, Sitia, Spinalonga, Herapetra and Kisamo Kasteli. 
It was determined to occupy these towns with International troops, 
and to establish a blockade of the Island. 600 infantry were 
asked for from each Power. All complied with the exception of Ger¬ 
many, who landed 16 marines. The first batch of troops landed about 
26th March, and in our case consisted of 6 companies of the Seaforth 
Highlanders, 2 for Canea which was to be the head-quarters of all the 
contingents, and the remainder for Candia, which Great Britain had 
consented to take over as her sphere of influence. At this latter place, 
the reception was most unfriendly, and tact was required to prevent a 
collision with the natives. 
Outposts were established outside the towns, inside which the Christ¬ 
ian insurgents in arms were not allowed. It soon became evident, how¬ 
ever, that the number of International troops originally demanded was 
insufficient. The relief of Kandanos, by British and foreign seamen 
and marines, with a half battery of 7-prs. carried on pack animals, work¬ 
ed by the blue jackets, had been carried out with great difficulty, so 
600 more infantry and a half mountain battery from each Power were 
asked for by the Admirals. Austria and Germany refused to comply. 
France offered to send 300 more Infantry of the Marine and to keep 
300 men and a mountain battery in reserve at Toulon, for employment 
in great emergency. Russia, Italy and ourselves agreed to send each 
a mountain battery and 600 more infantry. 
On the 1st April, 1897, No. 4 Mountain Battery received telegraphic 
orders to complete its equipment! to war establishment, and with strength 
5 officers, 179 N.-C.-O’s and men, 38 mules, 6 officers horses, and 6 guns 
prepare for embarkation for Malta on the 1 oth; all mules or horses 
unfit for active service to be left at Newport, and the battery completed 
in this respect at Malta. It was not considered necessary to incur the 
expense of taking out horses for the mounted men, as the Artillery 
duties in Crete were to be limited to moving out by day to the out¬ 
posts on the hills behind the maritime towns in Crete, which would in¬ 
volve only a march of about eight miles, and to return again in the even¬ 
ing to our encampment in the town. As I considered our horses, un¬ 
suited for service with the battery in a mountainous country, I obtained 
permission to leave the whole of the horses behind and to replace them 
