The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-13
THURSDAYS FIGHTING.
An Account OF the Battle That
Ragged Around PharsaIOs.

Ragged Around PharsalOs.
London, May S.-The Times prints the
following dispatch from Velestino, via
Athens:
The expected battle began at $3.50 yes.
terday morning Thursday at this point
and at CynOscephale, and a little later
above Aivala and Pharsalos. The posi-
lions were as follows:
Velestino and the main Cynoscephale
chain were held by the Greeks. The
plain to the northward and the Grey
ridge jutting out between Cynoscephale
and Velestino were held by the Turks
The Greeks had three batteries of artil-
lery and the Turks four. Early in the
morning a well directed artillery fire pre-
? vented the advance Of the Turkish in
fantry. By 1880 the artillery fire was
very heavy on both sides, but each main
tanned its position.
At 1870 a Turkish battery behind
Koniari began firing shrapnel, and the
Greeks began to lose ground. A hot ar
tillery and musketry tusillade was kept
hill commenced to retire in an orderly
fashion, but at double quick. The Turks
were firing at them and were apparently
ignorant of their success.
The irregulars tried IN vain to assist
the Greeks by firing at the advancing
Turks, and, in fact, throughout the en-
gagement they were practically valueless.
AT 12:45 p. m. the Turks attacked the
big hill with musketry and shell fire. Sew
eral shots reached the road beyond, de-
signed probably to prevent the Greeks
from sending reinforcements to their
left, where the Turks were rapidly as
cending the hill
The Greek batteries on the right were
now useless and almost silent, and the
Turks on the Larissa road made no at
tempt to attack them.
AT l 40 p. m. the attack on the right of
'CynOscephale became severe. The Greeks
there were successful.
AT 2 p. m. the long line of Greek in
fantry was retiring in companies and
then falling into single file.
| hear the retreat from Cynoscephale
began somewhat earlier, and the retreat
from Pharsalos towards Domokos still
earlier. Dispatches were doubtless run
ming down the line from the left to right
and influencing the result. The railway
was completely abandoned and the Pyrou-
phil station destroyed.
At 3 o'clock the Evzounes retreated on
Akitzi and the remainder of the eastern
infantry to Almyros. The Turks burned
the village of Deltitis.
During the morning the foreign legion
entered the engagement, probably be-
tween Pharsalos and Aivala.
The Turks were seen to have driven
back the Greeks along the line extending
/ from Pharsalos to Aivala, turning the
flank of the Velestino division at Cynos-
kcephale and rolling up the Greeks into
TWO retreating masses.
" The Turks won chiefly because they had
field guns, whereas the Greeks had only
mountain guns. The former showed
their tactical superiority by making a
strong attack near Cynoscephale, where
the Greeks We're weak and without ar
tillery. Two of the chief Turkish bat
teries were outside the. Greek range, and
the Turks seemed to have good, shelter
ing rifie-pits. The Greek infantry stood
their ground well under heavy fire, es-
pecially along the center of the line of
rifles. Many shells burst around them
and overhead.
The Greeks at Domokos and Almyros
will probably join forces at LAMA and
go together by new road to Mustapha
Bey pass, where the next big battle
should occur, though 1 am officially in
formed that stand will be made at Do
mokos. Thermopylae will doubtless be
left to the fleet. Cynoscephale was the
main strategic point of battle.
The number of casualties is unknown,
but in the early part of the day it .ap-
peared small.