New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
THE GREEK RETREAT.

| That che who fights and runs away may I'VE
TO fight another day" is the chief comfort lriehos
| of Greece will extract from this mornings news
! After singularly heroic and effective resistance
10 the Turkish advance at Tyrnayo. the Greek
Army has suddenly beat retreat. not only from
the line of the Xeragi River but from that OF
the Salambrla as well, clear back to the kutchuk
and the Pharsalitis. Tyrnavo Is Abandoned
Larissa itself the Thessallan capital and mead
quarters Of the Greek Army, Is abandoned. An
Gent Pharsalos where Caesar and Pompey, nine-
teen centuries and more ago. settled their rivairy
for the lordship of the world. is the new head
quarters where the Greeks will make new
stand against the Mosem invaders. 1t is
movement that unQuestionably means much
Exactly what. one hesitates to say. This, how
ever. Is most significant: that the news OF 1t mas
produced no panic nor even serious sensation in
Athens, which it should have done had 1t been
recognized as meaning hopeless disaster.
At the same time comes news of heavy fight
ing at Diskata showing the Greeks are IN force
there. beyond the Turkish border, and also of
the advance upon Elassona of a strong Greek
army from the neghborhood Of Plaamona,
which may have worked its way up from the
Vale of Tempe. or may have been landed on the
Macedonian coast by transports from Noio roi-
lowing the ships that bombarded Platamona.
There is also strong Greek force in the neigh
borhood Of Damasi, or between it and Sldero-
poluki. Now a glance at the map which is pub
lished on another page of this mornings paper
and which shows all these places, reveals the
possibility Of fine bit of strategy If these TWO
Greek armies can effect a junction at Elassona'
capture that place and cut of the Turkish line
Of supply at the rear great stroke VIII De ac-
complished, for the sake Of which the Greeks
might well afford to lure the main Turkish army
on into Thessaly. even at the cost Of temporarily
losing Larissa There Is fine Greek precedent
for It. in the abandonment of Athens, which
movement was followed by Salamis.
This is of course, mere conjecture. 1t may be
that the Greeks retreated simply because they
had 10 do so. In that case their plight Is we'll
nigh desperate. If they could not defend La
rissa. they cannot defend Pharsalos, which Is a
much smaller place in n much less advantageous
situation. And If they cannot defend Pharsa-
los, what Is there to prevent the Turks from
marching upon Athens itself? Nothing unless
diversion can be created by sea attack upon
Salonica or in some other way. 1t is noteworthy
that Osman Pacha intends to withdraw the TURK
ish armies from EpirIs and join them with those
in Thessaly, concentrating all efforts in the one
latter place There are those who reckon that
the Greeks have made a mistake in not doing
likewise. Perhaps they have. If the retreat
from Larssa is forced. and means disaster, we
may expect TO see the Greeks withdrawn from
Epirus and massed at Pharsalos. They can get
there thanks 10 their railroad. more quickly than
the Turks can get round from Janina to Elias
soma.
In the mean time, revolt is spreading in Mace
donia and Albania, and Bulgaria is on the point
Of warning against the Turk, while Rumania,
Servia and Montenegro are in a state OF becose
expectancy. Uncertainty still rules the scene
But there are vast potentialities for general
smash, which every hour appears to bring nearer
to realization. AS matters stand to-day, all
things are possible. The Turkish Army may be
in Athens in week, or 1t may be captured or
DESTROYED 1t would be rash to prOphesy or TO
deny the possibility Of either.