The herald., 1897-05-09


by the spectators.
UNWELCoME ALLIES
LONDON, May s.-The st. James
Gazette this afternoon publishes re-
port that two Cretan Christians have
started for Constantinople to assaseinate
the German ambassador, Baron Saurma
Won Jeltsch, and the Austrian embass-
ador Baron Won Catico.
TURKISH sTATEGY
NEW YORK, May S.-A special dis
patch to the Press from Athens says:
Turkish strategy has again been shown
70 be pre-eminent. After cutting the
railroad from Pharsaos to Velestino at
Avail, a point near Pharsalos, thus
interrupting communication between the
right and left wings of the Greek army,
they, on Thursday morning, made a
successful drive through the Greek line
Of defense, threatening to divide the
Greek army. This would have had the
disastrous effect of shutting in the right
wing OF Prince Constantine's forces at
Volo.
Advancing in a crescent shaped for
nation, as they have done all through
ths campaign, the Turks outfianked the
1tCSk llilc Ou thc NCst, iiio ohiii6 bni SO
los untenable and an immediate retreat
necessary for the whole Greek line.
The Greek position on their second line
of defense was harassed. 1t is 25 miles
from Pharsalos, on their left, to Velee-
tino, on their right, with mountainous
country between. The Greek army was
not large enough to cover front so ex-
tensive. 1t was impossible for them to
+,oa tn1yI he
country, and when the Turks made
concentrated attack upon them from the
plains, striking at one point, the Greeks
were compelled to fall back, their whole
line of defense being placed at once in
a most perilous predicament. a
Under cover of an artillery fire drop
ping shells incessantly into the Greek
lines, the Turkish infantry stormed and
captured the ridges around Pharsalos.
The troops fought with a fiendish cour-
age, and their movements, directed by
the German officers, were executed with
admirable military precision. The Greeks
met them at first with murderous rifle
fire, and the Moslem losses were terri
ble-far heavier than those of the Greeks
The retreat of the right wing of the
Greek army under General Smolenski
W dS COHUuCtCu All PCiLcNt OloCis
The retreat of the left wing of the
Greek army from Pharsalos was not
made in such good order.
The Greek army will have no trouble
in concentrating again at Domokos,
where another stand will be made. 1t is
asserted that the heavy guns of the
Greek fleet will be able to prevent the
Turks forcing the pass of Thermopylae,
t>,,t {IA hi 4,
this essential stra ategcal point, the town
of Volo would be taken easily by the
Turks. Even today (Friday) a hurried
exodus is going on from Volo in antici-
patton of its occupation by Edhem
Pasha's troops.
Few Christians still remain in the
evacuated territory of Thessaly. Peas
ants are flying south in CONSERVATION,
abandoning their household effects and
leaving the invaders to trample under
foot in their ruthless advance the fields
of ripening grain.
GREEKS HEDGED IN
WASHINGTON, May S.-The Turkish
Legation regards the Turkish advances
to Volo as the most important and de-
cisive movement since the war began.
1t leaves the Greek army cut in two,
with General Smolenski outf1anked and
unable to communicate with the main
body of the Greek army under Prince
Constantine. The Turkish forces now oc-
cupy a line extending from Milouna
Pass southwark to Volo. General Smo-
lenskis army is east of this line, with
the Turkish army between him and
Athens.
THE VELESTINO FIGHT.
HEADQUARTERS OF TURKISH
ARMY. THESSALY, PHARSALOS,
May 7, a. m.-Delayed in transmits
sion)-Early today there was an en-
gagement, lasting several hours, be-
tween the Turks and Greeks at Veles-
tlno. The latter We're beaten;' the
Greek forces retreated in the direction
of Volo, also on the Almyros. The
Turks started in pursuit. Later the
Turkish division succeeded in forcing
its way through the fourth and last
line of the Greek entertainments on the
heights in the rear of Velestino. The
fight was of short duration. Both sides
fought with great courage and determ-
inaton, but the fire of the Turkish in
fantry decided the result. Toward the
end of the action the Turkish artillery
fire was directed with utmost accuracy,
the battery commanders taking a great
deal more care in judging distances
The shrapnel fire was murderous, al
most every shell being accurately
pitched. The Turkish loss at Phar-
salos was slight, since only the advance
guads of Turks We're engaged, and skirm-
fishers had the way cleared for them by
the fire of the Turkish batteries. The
Turkish loss in the fight at Velestino
was heavy. Two hospitals at Larissa
are almost filled with the wounded
VOLO EVACUATED
VELESTINO, May S.-The Greeks
have evacuated Volo. Detachments of
marines have landed from British, Rus
sian, French, Austrian and German war
ships to guard the town. Foreign con-
euls have arrived to confer with Ed
hem Pasha, the Turkish commander
AS this dispatch is being sent the Turk
ish troops are entering Nolo. Greeks
who fed to Almyros will rejoin the main
body of Greek forces at Domokos.
A STIRRING SCENE
VOLO, May S.--A stirring incident in
connection with the battle at Velestino
has just been reported. Gen. Smolencki |
with something of the magnetic enthus-
iasm attributed to Stambuloff, rode along
the lines addressing the soldiers and i'm |
ploring them TO remember the traditions
~ hot i