The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-11
NOVELIST'S EYES.
The Last Great Battle Of the
Greek War
Described by Stephen Crane, ,the
Novelist.
CARNAGE BEAUTIFUL
Peculiar and Startling Descrip-
tiOn of the Struggle.
Pictures Pile on Each Other
Like a VitascOpe.

AAAO a
New York, May 1.-THE Journal pub
fishes a cable dispatch from Stephen
Crane, who saw the battle of Velestino,
where Gen. Smolenski hurled back Ed
hem Pasha- Mr.. Crane says:
Velestino has proved that the Greek
soldiers when we'll led can cope sue
cessfulIy with the Turks even though
outnumbered. This battle has proved
them great fighters, long fighters and
stayers; to be sure the army retreated
from Velestino, but it was no fault Of
the army. The commander bit his
fingers and cursed when the order came
to retreat. He was at that time per
fectly confident of success. For three
days he had been holding the Turks
back and inf1icting upon them heavy
losses.
Then came the order to fall back, due
to reverses or something in other pla-
ces.
General smolensBi knew, of course.
his retreat would be al the sacrifice of
VOlO, and he ragged. But orders must
be Obeyed
In the middle of intoxication of victO-
~ came the orders to fall back Why?
1 only arrived at noon of the second
day. The roll of musketry was tre-
mendOus. From a distance it was like
tearing cloth; nearer it sounded like
rain on roof and close up it was just
a long crash after crash. 1t was a
beautiful SOund-beautiful as Ihad new
er dreamed 1t was more impressive
than the roar of Niagara and finer than
thunder or aValanche-becaus it had
the wonder of human tragedy in it. Ii
was the most beautiful sound of my ex-
perience, barring no symphony. The
crash of it was ideal.
The slaughter of the Turks was enOr-
nous. The fire Of the Greeks was so
fierce that the Turkish soldiers while
charging shielded their eyes with their
hands Eight charges the Turks made
on Saturday and they We're repulsed
each time. The desperate Turkish cav
airy even attacked their enemy on a
steep, rocky hill. The insane, wicked
squadrOns were practically annihilated.
Scattered fragments slid slowly back,
leaving the plain black with wounded
and dead men and horses. From dis
tance, it was like game. There was
no blood, no expression, no horror to
be seem All the assaults of the Turks
this day resulted diSaStrOusIv to- them
The Greek troops fought with steadi-
ness of salaried bOOk-keepers, never tir-
ed, never complained. 1t was a mag
nifcent exhibition. The Greeks fought
all the time with the artillery fire on
them, even in muSketry lull, but no
body minded anything The Turks were
ly TO the precepts of their religion. But
the Greeks were never daunted and
was nghtInS among gaUnt hills, some
times fighting on green plains but al
ways the Greeks held their position.
w hen night came shells burst infre-
red flashes I saw the wounded taken
to NolO. There was very little outcry
among them. They were mostly 81
lent.
In the gray early morning the mus
kerry fire began again. 1t ratified from
the hilltop, the battery awoke and the
whole play was resumed. The Turkish
guns were superior to those of the
Greeks, who had mostly mountain how
itzers.
I watched for a long time the blue
clad Greek infantry marching in posi-
ton across a small plain. While [
watched, the Turks changed their at
tack from the Greek right on the plain
to the Greek left on the rock hill. Then
the fighting became obscured from
view The Greeks lay in trenches,
snugIy f1attened against the earth fir
ing carefully, while the Turks loomed
close before them Every ridge was
fringed with smoke. l saw soldiers
in the trenches ease off an attack, drink
from the canteens, twist their cartridge
belts to put the empty links behind
them, or turn around to say something
to a cOmrade. They then went at it
again. noticed one lieutenant stand
ing up in the rear of q trench rolling a
cigar his lips wide apart. In this
careless attitude a shot went through
his neck. His servant came from the
trench and knelt weeping over the body
regardless of the battle. The men had
to drag him in by the legs.
The reserve coming up passed way
L
themselves and pray. A shell struck
the shrine and demolished it. The men
in the rear of the column were obliged
to pray to the spot where the shrine
had been.
News came from the left that the
Turks had tried to turn the flank and
failed. The Turks formed on the right
and moved slowly across the plain and
the battery opened on them. I saw
troops moving to the rear to prevent
a possible flank attack in the direction
of Volo. The fight on the plain to the
right began. Masses of Turkish troops
like shadows slowly moved forward to-
ward the Greek trenches, indicated by
gray lines of smoke. Shots began to
rake the trenches on the hills and also
to rake the battery to the rear. I
hoped the Greeks on the plain would
hurry and drive the Turks from their
position. They did it gallantly in a
short ferocious infantry fight. The bit
of woods where the fight occurred |
seemed on fire. There was a great rat |
Ting and banging and then the Turks |
went out defeated. There was general
rejoicing all along the Greek lines; the |
officers walked proudly; the men in the |
trenches grinned. Then, mind you, just |
at this time, late in the afternoon, after
another successful day, came the order
to retreat.