The record-union., 1897-05-20

line, which was well held by the Greek
infantry. and which commanded the
approach from the plain
The preliminaries over, a terrific COM
bat commenced. The skirmishers in
creased the rapidity of their fire, the
main bodies Of the Turkish troops ad-
vanced, the movements being governed
by the fire of the artillery. Soon the
engagement was general. The musketry
fire increased in fury. and the booming
of the field pieces became incessant.
The guns of the Turks were splendid
ly aimed, and succeeded in putting one
Turkish piece out of action, but the
Turkish artillery revenged themselves
by Pumping a shell into a Greek cais-
son filed with ammunition, and il blew
up.
During the artillery duel the main
bodies of the Turkish infantry opened
at long range, in order to discover the
positions Occupied by the enemy. The
Greeks were not long in replying. No
sooner did the Turkish commander
feel the enemy accurately than he
pushed forward his Irregular troops to
the attack. The latter advanced with
great spirit, and in the face of a hot fire
drove the Greeks from several Of their
occupied positions.
But if the fighting had been gallant
and desperate on both sides up 10 the
present. it was still more so from this
time on. The firing on both sides be-
came really terrific. The sun was get
ting near the horizon, and both sides
realized the Importance Of achieving de
cisive results before nightfall. Long
lines of flame and smoke opposed each
other. The Turks continued to pour a
hail of lead at the Greeks in their in
trenched positions. the latter replying
with a continuous rain of leaden mis-
siles. Both the Turkish and Greek bat
teries meanwhile were belching forth
never -ceasing storm of shells and
shTapnel.
1t was then o'clock in the evening,
and neither side had gained any very
great advantage. The Greeks stub
bornly resisted the advance of their en-
emies, but the soldiers of the Sultan had
gained ground. and were fighting with
las much dash and brilliancy as when the
first cannon shot announced the opening
of the engagement. The sun finally dis
appeared, and darkness spread slowly
over the bIoodstained country. but the
fierce combat ragged on uninterrupted
and with unabated vigor.
Toward o'clock the Greeks, having
galIantly held their intrenchments
against superior forces, and having
given proof of the greatest courage de-
serving of all praise, began to slacken
their fire. The firing of the Greeks at
the same time also abated. and soon it
ceased altogether on both sides.
While the main fight was in progress
there was a strong movement forward
of the Turkish right, intended to out
flank the Greek left. But the Turkish
commander at that point was too SLOW
and he allowed whole division to be
stopped by a few Greek batteries which
inflicted heavy losses on the Turkish
forces.
On the other hand. the Turkish arti
lery on the left of the ottoman line.
which had been pushed forward by way
of the mains, succeeded in forcing back
the Greek right nearly to Domokos.
But. taking it all. allowing for the
greater number of Turks, the battle re
fected the greatest credit on the Greeks
and certainly was in no way discredit-
able to the Turks.
The loss of the Turkish forces during
the days fighting was quite heavy, and
it is not believed the Greeks lost as many
men as the Turks BIT it is impossible
TO obtain accurate figures on the sub
/ iect