The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-28
THE STORY OF
THE ROUT.
Graphic Details of the Aban-
dOnment of LariSSa.
Men, Women and Children Pour
out of the City.
A FIGHT FOR PLACES
On the Rapidly Departing Rail-
road Trains.
Soldiers Kept Fighting With
out Sleep for 3 Days.

New York, April 28.-A dispatch to
the Journal from Volo says:
This is the true story of what took
place at Larissa on the night of Friday
the 23rd. I witnessed all phases of the
last serious struggle of the Greek army
in Thessaly. All day the battle ragged
at Matt. The Turks came down from
Milouna in thousands. The Greeks
We're to hold Matt as they did Tyrnavo
and Larissa. Six batteries of artillery
were concentrated there. and their mis-
sion was to stop the advance of the
Turks.
The battle lasted eight hours and
there was an especially fierce artillery
duel. The Greeks were much better
marksmen and caused great havoc, but
with desultory firing the Turks waited
the formation and advance of 10000
fresh troops. The Greeks stood their
ground admirably.
Toward midday it became evident
that the Turks were preparing a flank
attack, to be revealed late in the day.
Unfortunately the staff had learned
this too late, and the moreover they had
no fresh troops.
The men had been fighting five days,
the last two days with little if anything
to eat, and no sleep at all. The morn
ing had seen the men staggering with
fatigue.
When the day was nearly ended and
a rest was expected and the military
fire had already Stacked, the Turks
suddenly showed their game and the
fresh 10000 men were brought into line.
Night was coming on, but still saw
the officers entreating the men to con-
tinue the fight, but the haraSsed troops
could not stand what fresh troops could
not have done. The order for retreat
had been given, and as soon as the men
knew it they imagined all was lost.
Greek soldiers understand nothing
but to advance. They have not had
sufficient training in peace to prepare
for orderly retreat and a COnSa-
Quence the order threw them into in
describable confusion. The men left
their positions, the officers being unable
to control them.
In vain the bugle was sounded The
soldiers thought the Turks were to
massacre all they found, and that they
must seek refuge in La1issa Immediate
Suddenly word run through the bro
ken files: 1.-THE Turish cavalry is COM
ing"
This put an end to all resistance. The
reputation for ferocity of the Kurds
had long been established. In five min
utes the widest panic prevailed.
All fed to the road leading to Larissa.
In the dark the wounded were tramped
upon by the soldiers fighting their way.
Cavalry lOOmed in the distance, but it
was Greek cavalry. Still the soldiers
fired upon them in confusion. j saw
two Greek regiments of infantry firing
on each other.
officers of the artillery, seeing they
were unable to stem the current, order
ed a retreat to save guns. In places
they had to dash through the crowd,
which refused to open ranks. I follow
ed the flying host to TyrnavO which
was reached in less than an hour.
kept on until they reached Larissa by
eight. With me arrived messengers to
the staff, which found terrified by the
news. The soldiers were just begin
ming to arrive, but few could explain
affairs. AS it was Good Friday for the
Greeks, according to custom, a process
sion of all the people was going through
the town. Bands We're playing and
every rybOdy-Officers, soldiers, children
and WOmen-Was carrying a small rush
light. officers and messengers forced
their way through the crowd crying:
War first; make way"
Prince COnstantineS officers were
running in and out, and messengers
were going in all directions. The prince
looked careworn and anxious. A re-
treat had never been provided for and
the officers had lost their heads.
The first thing was to stop the sold
iers retreat ting, but everybody seemed to
forget Messengers We're sent inlrne-
diately to the other corps a t Hezeros
ReVeni and BOughaZi, ordering a re
treat. The question was discussed, but
it was not decided whether to hold Lar
issa or not. Soldiers and officers ar
rived pell nell with artillery and wa
gons, the first arriving being shot at
by the soldiers at the gates of the town.
officers were lying asleep in the streets
nearly dead with fatigue. Soldiers were
lying anywhere, unable to even answer
my questions. They knew nothing and
only wanted food and sleep.
In the houses. the people We're pack
ing their valuables and leaving in the
direction of VoIo or Athens. The idea
prevailed that Larissa was to be aban-
doned by 4 o'clock. The sun arose on
the town where packed together We're
10 900 inhabitants and thousands of
soldiers, panic stricken or lying asleep
in the thOrOughfare.
AS I passed out to see whether the |
Turks had approached, I saw Prince
Nicholas leaving. We saluted He
looked like a man without hope Out
side the town were long lines of car
riages, full of children and women, with
men following on foot driving cattle |
before them
The wounded were being carried in
haste to the railway station. The hos
pitaI was cleared in half an hour of the
400 wounded. The first train left al six.
Already thousands were rushing to the
station to leave
It had transpired that the town was
to be abandoned to the mercy of the |
Turks. It was a heart rendering sight. |
Women carrying children, were begging
the officers to give them places in the
carriages. Men were rushing to seize
the same.
Up to O'Clock in the afternoon ten
trains left. About 1000 people were left
behind I dare not imagine what hap
pened. AT 2 o'clock when the last train
left. we heard distinctly firing outside of
the town. The Turks were advancing.
At the station there was a regular fight
TO take places in the carriages, the