The San Francisco call., 1897-04-25
HORRORS OF THE HOLY DAY OF
THE MOSLEMS.
There Is,a Terrible Slaughter During the Suc-
cession Of Turkish Victories Disasters
That Cause the Outlook for the
Henenes to Appear Hopeless.
fcopyrigbted, 1897, by the New York SUM-

Copyrighted, 1897, by the New York SUM-
LONDON, Eng, April 24.-Yesterday
was Holy day for all worshipers of Mo-
hammed. The Turkish hosts who con-
fronted the Greek armies in Thessaly
and Epirus i INVOKED the aid of Allah
ard the prophet and flung themselves
with resistless fury against the enemy
all along the line. Nothing human
could Withstand the mad, demon-Iike
assaults which the SuItan's troops
made-not once, twice, but half a score
of times-upOn every position held by
the Christian foes.
The burdened wires bring only brief,
Iaconic details of the bIoodiest day's
work in recent history. The prin cipaI
battle was fought at Matt, between
Milouna Pass and Larissa. Seven times
did the brave Greeks, led by the Crown
Prince himself, beat back the army of
fanatics, whose frenzy was only in
creased by each repuIse.
The Turkish commander had secured
the strongest ally known in ancient or
modern warfare when he appealed to
the reIig igious spirit of his men, and vic
t,Ty rs-s assured from the first
The same thing is happening in
Epirus, where the same spirit ins pired
the Mussulman hosts to attack again
and again the strong fort which the
Greeks captured early in the week.
until the crescent finally suppIanted
the cross above it.
At other points on the frontier the
bloody work went on, almost always,
aIn IN ha
soldiers. There was method as we'll as
fury in it. and masterfuI display OF
military genius. This was also chiefly
on the side of the Turks. Edhem, who
was reported yesterday in disfavor with
his sovereign, established the right to
share with his new chief the title of
"Ghazi, the Victorious He failed
only at one point in his great plan of
campaign against the Greeks in Thes-
sally. He hoped not only to take La
rissa and the rest of the province but
TO deal death blow to the Greek
cause by making prisoner of the
Crown Prince. Larissa is his, also
TurDaVo and the ThessaIian plains, but
the Greek army and royal commander
escaped him. The horns of his crescent
shaped advance did not come together |
until his opponents discovered the trap |
closing in upon them and siipped |
away.
Such is the story of single day of
Turkish victories, az far as it has |
reached the outside world at this hour
OF writing. Fragmentary details are |
coming In from hour to hour all con- |
frming the general plan AZ described
In ,gf i'm for
sources, there is little hope the day
has been less disastrous to Georges
cause than indicated.
Hon the other hand there is gloom in
ConstantinopIe, where ono would ex-
pect wild rejoicing. The corre.pond-
ent of the sun and Call telegraphs to-
night from PhilippopoIis, tweive hours
ride from the Porte. that the Govern /
ment put sudden embargo on the !
wires last night, and Yildiz Kiosk was |
greatly disturbed The British Govern
ment has taken possession of the lines
of the Ind o. European telegraph, so di- !
rect communication with the Turkish |
capital is now impossible The attitude |
of Bulgaria is undo ibtedly causing
serious alarm, and declaration of in
dependence is expected at any moment
This would indeed offset the great Turk |
ish victories yesterday, and tn reatcn the !
peace of Europe well. We have the |
assurance from the German Emperor
to-day that tho cause of peace is quite !
sale, but the fact that this erratic |
monarch thought it necessary to make |
such public declaration is really an |
additional reason for uneasiness
1t must be admitted that in the is.ue
between Greece ana Turkey the out
look tonight seems almost hopeless. for
the Hellenic cause. The only possible |
chance to retrieve fortune lies in some
great victory of the feet. Turkish inn
potence the sea is now confessed
Early this week Admiral Won Hoff the I