peace being arrived at, even though the armistice has been extended
beyond the seventeen days first agreed upon. It has now been arranged
that the armistice shall last for a further period of two weeks, and
should the peace discussions not then be concluded the Porte will grant
still another two weeks.

The cause of the delay is the disposition to be made of Thessaly.

The Powers insist that Turkey shall not keep possession of this
province, and Turkey seems determined to hold it.

[**Transcriber Note: possesson changed to possession]

Troops are being sent into Thessaly daily, and it is said that Edhem
Pasha has now a force of 200,000 men under his command in the disputed
territory.

The Greeks are very much alarmed at this, and have sent an appeal to
Russia, begging her to prevent the Turks from fortifying Thessaly.

At present Russia has not had time to take any action, and Turkish
troops and arms are being hurried through the mountain passes; and fresh
volunteers are being called for in the Turkish cities. Six ships laden
with soldiers have been despatched from Constantinople, thirty-two
battalions of troops have been ordered to Thessaly from Syria, and
others have been sent to the seat of war from the Servian and Bulgarian
frontiers.

This does not look as if the Sultan intended to give up Thessaly. It is
indeed reported that he has taken a hint from the Greek occupation of