The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-04-28
Bad Generalship!
Commanders Responsible for
Greek Defeat.

eut of the Daily News, who is with the
Greek army. sends dispatch from
Tyrnavo dated April 23-Feiday-giv-
ing descriptions Of the fighting be-
tween Matt aud Deliler similar to that
given by the correspondent Of The
Mail. He adds that the number Of
Turks who took part in the engage
ment can safely be estimated at over
$4,000. while the Greeks numbered
only 1000 The latter we're rein
forced by 5000 msu in the evening,
Dat It was then too late for them to
share 10 the battle. The Greek bead
quarters we're on hill at Kirtiri.
Here the infantry reserves lay conceal
ed behind the hill The infantry en-
treuchments were quarter of mile
In front asd the batteries. we're on Ell
.her side. The enemy first made a
combined cavalry and infantry attack,
but we're repulsed with little difficulty.
Then began an artillery duel. which
lasted with few intermissioos from 8
O'Clock in the morning until 5 10 the
eveniog. Continuing, the correspond
ent says The Turkish shells came
screaming about US. but it seemed
owing to the long range and bad gun-
merry, to have prediction for whea:
field bebipd us. Soon the Greek sup
port on the heights of Losfaki, consist
ing Of $500 men with two mountain
guns. joined 10 the fire against Grit
zoyali. where the Turkish right wing
was posted For hours the air ~as full
of screaming SHELLS. chiefly shrapuel.
fortunately for the Greeks. the thou
sand odd shells fred by tbes Turks re-
suited in barely 20 casualties. To-
wards 8 o'clock 10 the afternoon it be-
came evident that the enemy had with
drawn his artillery 10 the raviue at Ii
garia. The Greek mountain battery.
under command of Capt Paikos. espe-
cially attracted the enemy's FIRE. Shells
rained upon this devoted band. and
which, ignoring the Turkish fire, -con-
tiuued sbellipg Gritzovali with admira-
BILE precision. Indeed the special fea-
ture of the duel was the surprising
steadicess of the Greek batteries, ia
which. with shells bursting around aud
amid them, / did not see man start or
q horse plunge.
About 8 O'Clock the eoemy's FIRE
began to come only from Ligaria.
Hence the Greeks turned their fire ex-
clusively in that direction, 6riog bat
terry volleys, thinking that the enemy
was copceutrated there and hoping to
pound them up against the craggy
ascent of Miloura pass bat uuder
cover of this ostcnsible artillery retreat,
the willy Turkish Infantry rushed mad
ly along the foot of the mountains TO-
wards The entrance Of Tempe pass and
occupied tie village of Deliler just in
time to forestall General Mayromichalis,
who was marching on the village with
two infantry columns and three squad
roos OF cavalry. General Mavromi-
cha|is thereupon retreated to Kritiri,
wi.hcu. Gripg shot.
Almost coucurrepsly with his retreat,
toe com mmander at Losfaki photographed
to Larissa that the Turks we're making
a circuitous movement to outfank hin
and that bis retreat woald be cut cf
unless he was Immediately reinforced.
these two movements threatening to out
6ank tie Greek army at Matt on both
sides, Induced headquarters at Lstissa to
order general retreat Which began at
about dark, despite the fact that several
battaiions Of infantry aud three bat
teries of artillery, including the one
commanded by Prince Nicholas. could
be seeu crossing the plain f.om Tyr
navo to reinforce the troops. THIS de-
cisioo caused CONSERVATION among the
troops, who we're utterly bewildered by
such step in the hour of apparent
victory. They broke into sort Of
panic, owiog to sinister rumors CT a
Turkish ioavsion through Boubazi pass,
whereby it was said their retreat would
be cut off Various regiments were
scattered by companies before tac order
to retreat arrived, and as the order was
urgent, the retreat became very disor-
derly. While the long line of troops
and trains Of carriages and pack mules
moved along the highway from Tyrnavo
to Larissa, there was sudden shout that
the Ottoman cavalry were approaching.
This made the single companies fsce
about aud before the officers could iD
tervene they fred voleys into the dark
ness, killing two aud worndiug SIX
Greel, soldiers.
The army that was at Mat, Including
The garris ms of Lossaki ano Pf"yje;
Elias, arc now in retreat toward Tyr
navo.
The Serious Feature at