Evening star., 1897-04-15

warlike appearance. ZarkOs, for instance,
Is held by a strong force of Greek regulars,
infantry, cavalry and artillery, and forms
the center of first line Of defense, which
includes all the villages in that vicinity.
Until recently the Turks had the best posi-
tions on the frontier, their well-built,
strongly-defended, admirably placed block
houses being in plain view from the Greek
lires. TIE irregulars, however, have made
decided change in the situation. In the
rear of the Turkish first line of defense, it
should tie remembered, is rough, noun
famous country, difficult to traverse even
In time of peace while in the rear of the
Greek first line of defense are rich plains
ahording no shelter for troops resisting the
advance of powerful invading force. The
weakest part of the frontier Is east OF
Damasi. to the Gulf Of Salonica, and in the
vicinity of Arta.
Likely to Witness Good FiRhtinr.
The river Salambria Peneus, along the
Lorthern part at Theasaly Is likely, IL the
Turks invade Greece, to be the scene of
some good fighting. All the bridges have
been mined and the fords and shallow
places are being looked after At Kont
Dochero the bridge was swept away by
flood some time ago, and has been replaced
by military bridge, consisting of eleven
pontoons picketed at both ends
Every strategic point is held by troops:
soldiers are to be seen everywhere; all the
horses and cattle have been requisitioned
Tor the use of the army, and the drilling of
the recruits lasts from daylight until dusk.
cavalry patrols cover all the frontier; but
the Greeks. in the Christian peasants on
the other side of the frontier, have an in
telngenCe department which no money or
skill could organize, and the Greek com
manders are kept well Informed of all that
Is going on across the frontier
kalambaka.o on the Greek left, mot far from
the Albanian frontier, is another important
position of the Greeks. A military road
from kalambaka to Velemitza, on the from
ner. mas Just been completed.
At Nelemitza are the only passes from
Haliaomon valley, and the Greeks have
5000 men in that vicinity ready to meet a
Turkish advance
On the Turkish side there is no road be-
yond Vaskala, where some 5000 Turkish
troops are stationed. This country and
passes of Alexander the Great when he
crossed to the destruction of Thebes
The Greeks are depending greatly for
mountain work on the Euzoni or armed
mountaineers of Greece. whose strength,
skill and endurance are well known
1t is from this class of men that the ''ir-
regulars now doing such valuable work
in Macedonia have been drawn.
AT Trtkhala there is another Greek army
corps numbering about 5000 men.
1O0,OOO Greeks ON the Frontier.
In all the Greeks have about 800 regu-
lars and some 10000 irregulars on the from
tier; but they count a great deal on rein
forcements to their armies through risings
In Epirus, Albania and Macedonia.
The Turks, on the other hand have about
10000 good, well equipped troops In line.
OF these A battalions are Redifs in Rune
liza, in all about 10000 men, who are di-
vided into two reserve divisions.
At Monastir flying columns have been
formed to watch the Servian frontier, and
all the supplies possible are being pushed
forward to the three Turkish divisions at
Elassona, Grevena and Janina. The Turks
are weak in cavalry, having only about
5000 mounted men on the frontier. They
are. however, very strong in artillery and
infantry. The transport corps is well Or
ganiZed. field telegraphs have been laid
between all important points. artesian wells
have been bored at Elassona and the
broken bridges IN Macedonia have been
repaired as much as possible.
The Turkish forces at Salonica have con-
structed line of redoubts round the gulf
and down the Aegean coast to Katerina.
krupp and Armstrong guns have been
mounted behind those defenses and a line
of thirty torpedoes has been laid across
the bay from Cape Kara.
The discipline Of the Turkish troops Is
beyond praise. The Greeks, however are
not in anything like the state of efficiency
of the Turks, although they may at present
be animated by more warlike enthusiasm.
Turkish Plan of Campaign.
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 15-For three
days past the ministerial council has been
In session at the Yildiz Kiosk According
to one report the ministers have failed to
arrive at any decision, but another account
says the council has agreed upon a plan
of campaign in the event Of ar outbreak
of hostilities between Greece and Turkey.
and that the ministers also decided that II
fresh frontier incident occurs Edhem
Pasha, the Turkish commander-in-chief, is
to assume the offensive.
Advices received here from Salonica say
that the authorities are arIning the Bashi
Bazouks there and at Janina, in Albania.
In the meanwhile negotiations continue
with the representatives Of the powers here
to determine the basis Of Cretan au-
tonomy.