The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-15
CREEKS STILL FIGHTING
Will Not Cease Hostilities Until an
Armistice Is Declared.
PREMIER RALIrs STATEMENT.


''Though Kindred From Acting I'm
Crete, Greece Cannot BE Restricted
60 Limited Area''-The Altitude
of Greece May Proiong the War.
London, May 15.-A dispatch from
Arta says: Desperate fighting was I'm
progress all day yesterday near Gri-
boro, on the road to Finppiada. Two
brigades Of Greeks with many guns,
two companies of sappers and squad
ron of cavalry attacked the Turks
who were almost without artillery. The
Greeks forced the first Turkish line of
defense but met with a stubborn re-
sistance at the second In several
places the bayonets were so close to
the cannon that they (the bayonets)
could not be used.
The fighting ceased last night, and
the Greeks have occupied various
heights in the neighborhood. Twenty
/ five officers and 400 men are hors de
| combat. The battle was resumed to-
/ day.
/ Since 4 o'clock the gunboat hotilla
| has been attacking Nicopolis from in
side the gulf of Ambracsia, with si-
multaneous attack proceeding from the
/ land side. The Turkish batteries re-
/ piled vigorously, and firmly resisted the
attack The coming on Of darkness
stopped the engagement.
All the Greek efforts are now con-
centrated upon capturing Nicopolis
and Prevesa before advancing to Pen
tepighadia.
The correspondent Of The Times at
Athens says: The resumption of Of
fensive operations in Epirus greatly
] eli nd 70
hamper the negotiations for peace. The
evident intention of the Greek COM
manders is to capture the Turkish po-
sltions there, in order to show that
they have not been defeated.
In an interview yesterday M. Ralli
the premier repeated his statement
that humanitarian motives are respon-
sible for the advance in Epirus, but
he did not deny the advantages which
might be hoped for from the capture
Of Prevesa and the occupation of the
adjoining Turkish territory. 1--WE are
still at war" he said, "and until an
armistice is concluded Greece retains
her liberty of action. We cannot al
low our activity to be confined to Thes-
sally, where the Turks are preponder-
ant The powers have hindered us
from acting in Crete, but Greece can
not be barred everywhere, nor COM
PEELED to restrict her operations to a
limited arena.
eve have done our best to obtain
an armistice. and until it is accorded
we must act where and when we can
If we have not already prosecuted the
war at various points and among the
islands of the Aegean it is only becaus,
we have taken into consideration the
sufferings to which the Greek popula.
tion might be subjected"
The government apparently thinks
that a renewal of the war will haster
instead of retard the armistice. This
calculation may prove to be correct
but it is more likely that Turkey will
seize upon it as an excuse for de-
laying the armlstice and will deal g
cruchng blow in Thessaly.
Except for the fighting in Epirus the
Turxo- Hellenic situation is virtually
unchanged from what it was yester
day. 1t is tolerably certain that only
a few Greek troops remain in Domo
kos, the bulk of Constantine army
having withdrawn to Lamia, where i
will be in closer communication will
General Smolensd. This probably ex
plains the reported movements of tn,
Turkish army as a number of Edhen
Pashas troops have been marching
from Trikkala to Volo
The fighting in Epirus has been in
decisive 1t is believed that Nicopoli
is not yet captured, but only tn
heights commanding the town Tn
Greeks made a pretext of the protec
tion of the peasants, but they evidentl
have information as to the reasons 70
the apparent inactivity of the Turk
in Epirus. This is the seventh tim
the Greeks have attempted to advanc
to Janina and have met with a repuls
which the Turks have never followe
up.