The Portland daily press., 1897-05-20
BATTLE or DonOKOS.
Graphic Description From a Turkish
Source.
GREEKS WITHSTAND FIRST AT.
TACK WITH STUBBORN BRAVERY,

Ihe Second Charge more eSucceSsful-Gresk X
Artillery Well Handled But Could No,
| Check the Turkish Advance-At q
| Retired.
| Turkish Headquarters, Before Domokos.
May 17-(Delayed in transmission. "A
great battle, fought well into the night
and the most important of the war. is
now ended. The combat can only he de-
scribed as indecisive. The fighting ragged
from early morning until long after darL,
when the last, dropping shots were pass-
ing over the field, the advantage did not
appear to rest with either side. The
Greeks maintained their positions and
acquitted themselves so well as to earn
the hearty praises of the Turks. They
| resisted with stubborn endurance the
determined attacks of the Ottoman
troops through the day and still held
their entertainments at night fall The
| Turks made a supreme effort late this
evening; but it was met with the utmost
| bravery upon the part of the Greeks and
| failed. The losses of the Turks were
heavy The left division of the Turks
was engaged from O'Clock in the morn
ing and appear to have succeeded in
forcing back the Greek right wing.
| The Turkish troops were in movement
at a very early hour and most of the df-
visions left Pharsolos at dawn, led by the
| Circaassian cavalry, which acted as skir-
| n, 611,rir oa1,lyr ,,+ q +l,
! gage ment.
The real fighting began at about II
O'Clock when the Turks encountered a
| squadron of Greek cavalry, occupying an
| advance post, a village on the plain be-
fore Domokos. After sharp exchange of
! shots between the Turkish and Greek
cayalrymen, the Greek squadron retired
from the village and the fire and retreat
ed towards Domokos. This preliminary
skirmish was the signal for the Greeks
| to prepare all along their line to receive
the Turkish attack.
The scene at that hour was really mag
nificent. The weather was everything
that could be desired for a battle and it
would be difficult to imagine anything
more attractive than the sight presented
by the two divisions of the Turkish army
as they deployed in fine order upon the
Pioiii, uhoH ieu ieAAeS anu SIlbteflng arms
forming bright contrast to the dark
blue uniforms. The troops moved for
ward as If on parade.
The Greeks had established seige guns
on the SUBMITS of the hills around
Domokos and these pieces opened the en-
gagement with a well directed fire upon
the massed battalions of Turks advanc-
ing from the foot of the hills. Although
the Greek artillery was admirably well
handled, it had no material effect in
checking the Turkish advance
Suddenly lat a given word of command.
the Turkish troops instead of keeping
straight ahead in the direction of Domok-
os, deployed in fine order to the right and
took up d position behind hill, where
1sh army completed their forw ard move
mentS.
Then followed period of suspense,
during which the Turks steadily took
up the positions assigned to them and
at last at O'Clock in the afternoon the
Turkish artillery, to the great relief of
the Ottoman troops, opened fire upon the
enemy. The Greek guns replied with
great precision and severe artillery
duel was the result, both sides exchang-
ing shell fire for about an hour. Towards
4 O'Clock in the afternoon, Uechat Pasha,
who commanded the advance on the
Greek positions, ordered the infantry
brigade armed with Muser rifles, to ad-
commendable skill, taking advantage of
every inequality of ground, the skirmish-
ers, little by little, crept up to the first
position held by the Greeks.
About O'Clock, the Greeks, having
gallantly held their entrenchments
against superior forces and having given
proof of the greatest courage, deserving
of, hoo t, cl ,nl- ~. C 9
The firing of the Turks at the same
time also abated and soon the deafening
rattle of war SmOthered down into a
few dropping shots here and there about
the hills and plains and eventually sill
ence once more reigned over plain and
hill.
The White Flag Waves.
Athens, May ia despatch received
here from Lamia, dated 10 O'Clock this
morning, announces that the white flag
has been hoisted between the armies Of
Greece and Turkey and that Crown
Prince Constantine has been authorized
to suspend hostilities with the view of
concluding arrangements for an armis-
tice.
The army of the crown prince has re-
formed on the Othys mountain and will
be reinforced by Gen. Smolenskis brig
ade, the troops despatched to the front
from Athens yesterday.
Crown Prince Notified,
Athens, May 19-M Ralli, on behalf Of
the government, has notified the Grown
Prince of the conditions Of the armistioe
concluded at Arta upon the basis of a
mutual occupation of the anti -bellum
positions, adding: "Impart these condit-
ions to the commanders of the Turkish
forces, declare this moment you suspend
hostilities and will only resume them
in the event of an attack, disclaim all
responsibility for any violation of the
armistice and invite the Turkish com
manders to suspend all hostility
A telegram received here at midnight
announces the arrival of Gen. Samolenski
at Lamia.
Greeks VIII Defend Thermopylae.
Athens, May 19.-The government has
ordered Gen. Smolenski to occupy and
defend Ihermopylae and Malos, which
will constitute the chief line of Greek de-
fence.
Cobb Divinity School Commencement.
ayyiston Nav 10 -To1ax, xx-,, eu,...x,