The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-06
Prince Constantine Explains the
Retreat.
HE GIVES GOOD REASONS
HIS DUTY AS CHIEF OF THE
GREEK ARMY.
When Time Has Passed and People
Can Judge Coolly, He Believes
That His Recent Action Will Be
Fully Justified by His Subjects
Boston Women Who Want to Aid
the Greeks-Battles of Yesterday.

New York, May 5.-A dispatch to the
Journal from Pharsala saws:
His royol highness, Crown Prince
| Constantine, commander-in-chief of the
Greek army, is now staying with his
staff in very plain house which may
still be considered a palace in Pharsaia.
1t stands just outside the town on the
slope of the mountains which surround
magnificent plain. in which for a sec
ond time the fate of country will per-
haps be settled in a few days.
In the course of an interview. the
correspondent said to the prince:
When 7 last had the honor of see
ing your royal hishness little thought
events would take such a disastrous
turn. Friends CT Greece are at a loss
to explain why or how the forces of the
country were so suddenly withdrawn
from the frontier leaving the country
open to the Turks
4 am well aware his fiehness an
swered. that our decision has been
very adversely criticised in Greece and
elsewhere. St.ql, as chief of the army
| mean TO take the full responsibility
for all that has been done. You have
seen the way our troops fought in the
rev DAYS tne campaign lasted. | was
IN the front, as was my duty, and
may sav that the idea never crossed
my mind mat a retreat was necessary.
1ney POW reproach me for having
given orders to leave our position. You
are at liberty TO declare that no such
order was ever penned by me. / know
our soldiers too well, and was always
in favor of going ahead. felt and sui
held tt.e same opinion that we could
stand our ground. The truth is, all
my orders to the commanders of forces
might be summed in two words: Push
forward
However, those in command. upon
their own responsibility, and for rea-
sons cannot discuss, ordered the re-
treat from Matt and DOrolia. When
once L was confronted with the fact
that a retreat had been ordered and
was actually proceeding, l took il upon
me TO leave Larissa and bring back the
army to Pharsala, where we should oc-
cupy a practically impregnable posi-
ton.
Yes. l take the full responsibility of
the order. l was absolutely convinced
that a retreating army could not be
trusted to reform in the open plain in
which Larissa is situated. lacy blame
me now because it has been learned
that the Turkish army waited two days
before venturfng TO occupy the town,
but how is a general TO reckon on the
slowness Of his adversarvs move
ments? Who could imagine that Ed
hem would thus waste time? And was
it not more natural to expect the Turk
ish cavalry would surround the town
in a few hours. thus cutting off all re-
treat and obliging our army to sur
render?
My duty as chief of the army was to
secure the safety of the country, to
guard it against any surprise. When
time has passed over these events and
people can judge coolly I still believe
my ac:ion will be considered as the
wisest ts1at could have been taken un-
der the circumstances. Certainly my
heart broke when l realized that 1 must
abandon Larissa to it's fate. However,
we did what we had to do"
But row that events have driven
you to bring back your army l said
to his highness, may l ask whether
you expect the war to continue?"
You have seen how our soldiers have
been fighting at Velestino. ou were
on the battlefield and could judge for
yourself CT the bravery and pluck of
General Smolenski. The Turks have
been driven back toward Larissa. You
ask me now if we shall limit our action
to defending our positions. / person
ally remain convinced that it would
be prefera BILE to take the offensive. We
want TO give the army time 10 settle
down again so that the morale will be
as good as it was at the opening of the
Before taking any further steps the
staff must be convinced that the amy
has completely regained its former con-
fidence, and that the government can
keep it supplied with everything that
is necessary.
we are working hard to get every
thing in order. l can say no more, but
tell cur friends that hast judgment
would be unfair. and that we hope to
SHOW them soon that everything that
has been done was really in the inter
ast of The country