The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-20

mand. the Turkish troops deDioyed to
the right and took UP a position be-
hind a hill, where they waited while
the wings of the Turkish army COM
pleted their forward movements.
Then followed a period of suspense,
during which the Turks steadily took
up the positions assigned them and at
last, at o'clock IN the afternoon, the
Turkish artillery opened fire.
The Greek guns replied. both sides
exchanging shell fire for about an hour
with no very great results Toward 4
O'Clock Neschel Pasha, who coiA-
manded the advance on the Greek pO-
sitions. ordered the infantry brigade to
advance. The bugles sounded, and TAX
ing advantage of every inequality of
ground the sl1irmishers, little by little.
crept I'D to the first position held by
the Greeks. The spitter-spattering fire
of the slzirmish lines was answered by
long grinding rattle of musketry
from the Greek entertainments, form
ing the long line which was well held
by the. Greek infantry and which COM
manded the approach from the plain
The preliminaries over, a terrific com-
bat commenced. The skirmishers in
creased the rapidity of their fire, the
main bodies of Turkish troops advanc-
ing, their movements being governed
by the fire of the artillery Soon the
fire increased in fury, and the booming
of the field pieces became incessant.
The guns of the Greeks were splendidly
manned and succeeded in putting one
Turkish piece oEt of action, but the
Turkish artillerymen revenged them
selves by piumping a shell into Greek
caisson filed with Ammunition, and ii
blew up.
During this artillery duel the main
noldu Of rba Turkish infa11 rrfAq1Ad
fire at long range in order to discover
the positions occupied by the enemy.
The Greeks We're not long in reDlving.
No sooner did the Turkish commander
feel rhe enemy accurately than ne
pushed forward his irregular troops TO
the attack. The latter advanced with
great spirit and in the face of a hot
fire drove the Greeks from several OF
their advanced positions. But if the
fighting had been gallant and desperate
on both sides up TO the present, it was
still more So from this time on. g'4e
Hiring ON both sides became really ter
rife
The sun was getting near the horizon
and both sides realized the Importance
of achieving results before nightfall.
Lines OF fame and smoke opposed each
other. The Turks continued to pour
hail of lead at the Greeks in their en-
with a continuous rain OF leaden mis-
siles. Both the Turkish and Greek bat
teries meanwhile were belohing forth a
never ceasing storm of shells and
shrapnel.
1t was O'Clock in the evening and
neither side had gained any very great
advantage. The Greeks stubbornly re-
sisted the advance of their enemies,
but the soldiers Of the sultan had
ie~f7+ fr1c n
as much dash and brilliancy as when
the first cannon sESt announced the
opening CT the enga cement. The sun
finally disappeared and darkness
spread slowly over the blood-sltained
country. but the fierce combat RACED
on uninterrupted and with unaba,ted
vigor.
Towards o'clock. the Greeks having
CALAMITY held their entrenchme
against superior forces and having
given proof of the greatest courage de-
serving of all praise, began to slacken
their fire.
The firing of the Turks at the same
time also abaaed, and soon il ceased
on both sides.
While the main fight was in prog
ress there was a strong movement for
werd or the Turkish right, intended 10
outGank the Greek left, but the Turkish
at that point was too slow
and he allowed IA whole division TO be
stopped by few Greek batteries which
inflicted heavy losses on the Turkish
forces.
On the other hand, the Turkish .artil-. !
lerv on the left of the Ottoman hae. /
which had been pushed forward by way 1
Of the mains, succeeded in forcing back.
the Greek risat nearly 10 Domeksss.
But. taking it all. allowing for the
greater number CT Turks, the battle re-
hected the greatest credit on the
Greeks and certainly was in no way
discrsditable to he Turks.
The loss Of the Turkish forces during /
the days fighting was quite heavy, and |
il is rot believed the Greeks lost as
many men as the Turks. But it is i'm {
possible TO ottam accurate figures on /
the subject.