The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-12


Velestino. where General Smolensk
hurled back Edhem Pasha Mr.. Crane
says:
Velestino has proved that the Greek
soldiers when we'll led can cope sue
cessfully with the Turks, even though
outnumbered This battle has proved
them great fighters. long fighters and
/ stayers. To be sure, the army re-
treated 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
| perfectly confident of success. For
three DAYS he had been holding the
Turks back and infiicting upon them
heavy losses. Then came the order to
fall Tack, due to reverses, or something.
in other places.
General Smolenski knew, of course,
his retreat would be at the sacrifice of
Volo, and he ragged. But orders must
be obeyed; hence the occupation of the
Turks. first of Velestino and later of
Volo. In the midst of intoxication of
victory came the order to fall back
Why?
l only arrived at noon of the second
day. The roll of musketrT was ire
mendous. From a distance it was like
tearing a cloth; nearer it sounded like
rain on roof, and close up it was Just
long crash after crash. 1t was a
beautiful sound-beautiful as l had
never dreamed. II was more impress
sive than the roar of Niagara and finer
than thunder or Observation-Disclosures it
had the wonder of human tragedy in
it. 1t was the most beautiful sound of
my experience, barring no symphony.
The crash of il was ideal
DEADLY voLLEYs.
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 were 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 q distance it was like a game.
There was no blood. no expression,
no horror to be seen. All the assaults
of the Turks this daY resulted disas- /
trouslv TO them. The Greek troops 1
fought with the steadiness of salaried
bookkeepers. never tired, never COM
planning. 1t was a magnificent exhibit
ton. The Greeks fought all the time
with the artillery fire on them, even in
a musketry lull, but nobody minded |
anything. The Turks were in great |
numbers and fought according TO the |
precepts of their religion
UNDAUNTED GREEKS.
But the Greeks were never daunted !
and whipped them well. Sometimes it !
was fighting among gaunt hills, some
times on green plains, but always the /
Greeks held their positions. When night 4
came shells burst in fury, lighting the
darkness BY the red flashes I saw the
taken to Volo. There was very
little outcry among them. They were
mostly silent.
In the gray early morning the mus
kerry fire began again. 1t ratified from
lill to hill: batteries aWoke, and the
whole play was resumed. The Turkish
guns were superior to those of the
creeks. who had mostly mountain
lowitzers.
lad Greek infantry marching in po-
ition across a small plain. While L
the Turks changed their at
ack from the Greek right on the plain
O the Greek left on the rocky hill.
Then the fighting became obscured
rom view. The Greeks lay in trenches.
nugly fattened against the dirt, firing
arefully while the Turks doomed close
,efore them.
Every ridge was fringed with smoke.
saw soldiers in the trenches ease off
nd take drink from their canteens,
wist their cartridge belt to put the
mpty links behind them, or turn
round to say something to a comrade.
They then went at it again
A TOUCHING SCENE.
1 noticed one lieutenant standing up !
] the rear of trench rolling a cigar
tie. his lips wide apart. In this care {
.ss attitude a shot went through his I
eek His servant came from the I
rench and knelt weeping over the j
ody, regardless of the battle. The men
adj to drag him in by the legs. {
The reserves coming up passed I
-ayside shrine. The men paused to
ross themselves and pray. A shell
truck the shrine and demolished it.
he men in the rear of the column were
bliged to pray to the spot where the
brine had been.
News came from the left that the a
urks had tried TO turn the flank and i
tiled The Turks turned on the right f
nd moved slowly across the plain and / c
le battery opened on them. | saw a
ossible flank attack, in the direction of f
olo. The fight on the plain to the
ght began. Masses of Turkish troops, o
6e shadows. slowly moved forward to- Fl
ard the Greek trenches. indicated by c
-ay lines of smoke. Shots began to e
Ike the trenches on the hill and TO also a
Ike the battery to the rear ] hoped e
Ie Greeks on the plain would hurry I;
nd drive the Turks from their position. a
hey did it CALAMITY in a short, e
rocious infantry fight. Il
TURKS DEFEATED
The bit of woods where the fight &C.
lrred seemed on fire. There was a
eat rafting and banging and then
e Turks went out defeated There "
as general rejoicing all along the Il
reek lines; the officers walked proud il
/; the men in the trenches grinned. ci
len, mind you, just at this time. late E
the afternoon, after another success h
| day. came the order to retreat. "
5molenski had apparently received b.
e brunt Of the fighting. Yet the CEN Ii