In fact, the anxiety of the latter that I should keep secret, even from Boutakoff, his action in the matter, indicated the contrary.

What Russia had done at Athens I had no opportunity to learn, but in Crete I am convinced that she then did little or nothing.
Having scoured the plains and lower hilly district west of Canea, Mustapha now organized an expedition against Sphakia, defended by the Hellenic volunteers and the bands of the Apokorona and Sphakia at Vaf.

He obtained a decisive victory with heavy loss of the Egyptian contingent, but his courage failed him before Askyph, the great natural fortress of Sphakia, and he waited a month at Prosnero in the Apokorona, negotiating to gain time, but offering no concessions.

At this juncture arrived the only man who made any military mark in the war, Colonel Coroneos, a Greek veteran, and competent commander of such a force as Crete could furnish.

As Zimbrakaki, who commanded the Greek volunteers, had assumed the command of the western section, while the chiefs of the eastern section, around and beyond Ida, had their own organization, Coroneos went to Retimo and established the headquarters of the district at the fortified convent of Arkadi, a building of Venetian construction and of sufficient strength to resist any attack not conducted with heavy artillery.