Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-11-05

How the Greeks We're Defeated.
ar Frederick ramerin the Nov Forum.)
Early on Friday evening Larissa
WAS speaking Of victories, accounts Of
which were brought in from the plain
by crazed shepherds. At nine o'clock,
struggling soldiers began to arrive
from Nezeros. For saying that the
Greeks had been driven out OF the
Vale of Tempe, they were locked up
as cowardly liars by the police, who
treasured The town. Two hours later,
the truth could he no longer cou.
ceattd Headquarters ADMITTED that
The way was open for the enemy
Ntzeros division to joiu his right
wing. From house to house ran the
versatile police, saying: 'The Turk is
upon us! The Crown Ptince says: Fly
for your lives with all hasle." Proba-
bly, this order, as given out 10y Head
quarters, was scarcely 81 abrupt and
urgent, considering that the Greek
army stood at a distance Of eight
miles between Larissa and the Turks,
with six hours before daybreak in its
favor; and it is to be presumed that
the policemen, Greek fashion, amend
ed their instructions to suit their own
tastes aud the inspiration Of the mo-
ment. The natural result was a panic
among the inhabitants, quickly ag-
gravated by the arrival Of panic.
stricken soldiers from Nezeros. See
ing their supposed protectors power
less, men and women alike became
frantic. Meanwhile, the Greek army
was in full retreat on the plain For
three days, the reserves had laid un.
der the hot sun by day; shivering
with cold at night; exposed to she'll
fire, without once changing their
places or firing a shot, enough to
take the starch" out of hardened
veterans.
On Friday, April % the great fast
day of the Greek Church, some had
disdained their usual scanty rations.
TO their imaginations thus over.
wrought, the shrek Of shells, the
sung" of exploding shrapnel, however
slight the execution, had furnished
terrible food. :. The stragglers
coming from the Vale of Tempe stop.
ped long enough to tell of disaster
and then to hurry on to Larissa. Then
came from Headquarters an order to
the guns and certain companies of
infantry to begin retreat toward
Larssa. This order flew along the
lines, fast following the news of the
defeat at Nezeros, and was acted
upon by the whole army, which
moved, increasingly tumultuous dis
order, toward the road leading to La
rissa. On reaching the road there
was panic. Officers forgot there
their responsibility; companies dis
integrated; the fear in each struggling
man was heightened by the com
munity of terror in which he found
himself. When the Greek cavalry,
coming up from the rear, attempted
to pass along one side of the road,
someone raj ed the cry, Tie Turks
are upon us!" Instantly there was
universal shrek, followed by almost
general nfiring. Many pointed their
rifles into the ali; many others, into
the faces of comrades, instead of at
the imaginary enemy. Officers used
their revolvers with equal reel less
ness. OF those who fell under foot,
some had been shot; others had
tainted or sunk down from sherr
fright. AT length the very weakness
of the soldiers-lhe result of fasting,
combined with their inherent lack
of forcefulness-became the helpmate
of discipline. The suicidal, tumul-
tuous crowd moved on, gradually sub
siding as it lost strength, until it
hocked into the town. AT dawn, the
spectacle in the streets told dramat-
tically what seveni days war had
cost Greece.