The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
rs THIS TRUE?
A French Corrcspondent's Account or Con-
s,antine's Ncrvelcsa flight.

From L'Eciair.
As soon as tho retreat from vclestino was
known at volo tho panic commenced. All the
shops were closed; the 'hotcls sent back their
travellers; bread became scarce; and I was left
upon tho sidewalk with my baggage.
On the quay thousands of poor people were
assembled with their miserable luggage. con
sisting OF n few old trunks and bundles OF bed
clothes. How worc all these people TO he trans
ported From time to time n boat arrived at
the quay. The mob Immediately captured 1t by
assault, and it was n miracle that serious acct
dents did not occur. We could hear the children
crying, tho women screaming. and the men dis
putting. Some wounded were brought along.
and one way or another they were put on tho
boat especially chartered for them by the Eng
lish Red Cross.
Then came the great siege guns dragged
along by the soldiers. 1t was impossible to get
them on board, because the davits were not
strong enough. Only tho field pieces could DO
put aboard; the others were rolled into the sea.
How sad! A moro heartrending spectacle than
this defeat could not be imagined. In an or
binary European war there is not. as n rule ut
least, this complication Of fleeing populations.
But here the terror is extreme. All sorts of
atrocities are attributed to tho Turks. True or
false. the stories produce the widest panic.
~ ~ IlOblo AlOlhE ,tillhu 4 % hCNOoSutS
to pass through Lsmia. On the road we met
long files of wagons, fiocks of sheep. cattle. and
horses. Already the panic has reached Lamia.
The population had lost all confidence in the
army and fed before the battle began. At
LAMA there was extraordinary agitation. There
the troops retrcating from Volo were taken
aboard steamers. There the Red Cross was
waiting for the first arrivals of the wounded;
and there. finally, the inhabitants Of all the
neighboring villages were assembled to seek the
means Of fleeing toward the interior.
There was no more enthusiasm. Too many
mistakes had been committed; too much cow
ardice had been unmasked. and certainly the
morale OF the troops was affected. As II matter
of fact, everything had been done to dcmoraliZo
them. Immediately after some little victory a
retreat was always ordered. and the soldiers,
who had fought to gain certain positions. were
nfrerward compelled to abandon them by the
order Of the Crown Prince.
ducc the expressions OF those who have seen him
during this campaign. or to give an idcn OF. the
profound contempt that they have for him.
Without recalling the incidents of Larissa,
which are now known by everybody, it is well.
h heverf been told DO TO o0I me Sy' w SHr. g s" sbso Matiy
trustworthy, and which will serve to place the
responsibiiity where T. belongs when the day
frontier the Prince was at Larissa. smoking
cik1iet'eS ahu reauihS ho'eio' ihth ohc
afraid and gave the order to evacuatc
Larissa- without attempting a second str,:g.
gle. Now, in the opinion of every body.
Larissa, well fortified as 1t was. could have held
out at least forty-cight hours. the time necessary
for a retreat which would not be a rout. The
Greeks might have carried everything away in,
stead of leaving in the hands OF the enemy the
guns, the rifles, the ammunition, the money. and
even the material OF the Red. Cross. But the
disgraceful order to abandon the town was fol
lowed by conduct still more shameful. AT +
o'clock in the morning the first train was at the
railway station loaded with women and chill,
dren. To make room for the Prince and his
horses, the soldiers drove ont the unfortunate
women and children. and he started OFT the first
with the Project and the Mayor, abandoning the
population and his troops.
Unfortunately. he was not alone in acting In
this way, and the truth must be told. however
painful 1t may be. All the morning the most re
pulsivc scenes could he witnessed. Officers, fol
Ing the example OF their prince, drove women
and children from the trains so that they might
take their places. Hundreds of witnesses car
testify to this. and among them people who's,
word cannot possibly be doubted. To me they
have given the same testimony. On leaving
Velestino ] myself SAY two officers boarding the
train for Nolo and forcibly taking the places OF
two wounded soldiers. Enable to contain my
self, l reproached them with extreme bitterness
insulting them. In fact; but they pretended moi
to be able TO understand me.
At Velestino ! saw whole battalions abandoned
by their officers who returned from the front by
rail, while the men continued to fight. Certainly
always told the truth, the good deeds as well Il!
the bad. and my friends know very well that
do not hold them responsible for the plumbers
the crimes, and the cOwardicc of the few.