The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-25
GREEKS FOUGHT HARD.
Annunciat tion Hin Defended Against
Several Attacks of Turks.


respon',e ,ent of the Associated Press, writing
on ATGil is. describes the difficulties of
drag Sing TO the crest of Annunciaton hill
by mules and men four guns. which ar
riv ed that morning. Many hours were
ST ent before this mountain battery was
faced in position on the great ridge above
sne lake. Hardly had ii been located, and
tscracely had the gunners opened fire. be-
fore the enemy debouched from the thick
wood OH top OF Marcasi hill and, forming
steadily into a column, swept rapidly to-
ward the Greek position Then the value OF
the mountain battery became Immediately
apparent. Two shells from the guns COM
manded by Captain Pieris fell in the center
OF the Turkish column, exploding with
great havoc. The column wavered. halted
and retired for shelter in the woods. Later
the Turks, adopting the plan of open for
nation, three times attempted to rush to
the top of the Hill. coming on impetuously
and animating each other with loud cries,
but the Evzones. whose discipline was OF
the very best, extended their ranks in ad-
mirahle order on the lower slopes of An
nunciation hill and poured in a steady and
well-aimed fire. which well supported
by the shells from Captain Piers's guns.
Their position proved unsurmountable. and
when night fell hos,ilities ceased.
TURKS RBPULSED AGAIN.
The Greeks then strengthened their posi-
tion. The next day, in obedience to orders
from the crown prince they acted strictly
on the defens.ive The Turkish fire was
poor. OF the Greeks eight were killed and
twenty wounded. While Captain Pieris
successfully bombarded several Turkish
block houses before dawn, Greek reinforce
ments yrived and were posted by Colonel
Fouros along the eastern slope of Annun-
ciatiov. hill. AS dawn broke at o'clock
or. Sunday morning, the Turkish battalions
detNuched from the woods of Marcasi hill.
T.ps first line rushed forward TO occupy in
trenchments dug during the night and fac
ing those occupied by Evzones. The second
! of the Turkish battalions took up a posi-
| ton higher up the slope. while the third
was held in reserve. On the Greek side the
| four-gun battery the crest was sup
| ported by artillery and by the Evzones.
| some in extended order. some under cover
| of trenches rocks, while the second bat
! terry, with the Evzones as supports. was
| held in reserve at the lakeside. The action
| began with a slow rifle fire on both sides.
| At $50 o'clock the Turks, springing into
| the intrenchments, rushed on the Greek
| positions, but the Evzones responded with
| the bayonet, driving the Turks back in a
| most gallant manner.
BY o'clock in the morning IL was light
, enough to employ the battery, the gunners
! opened fire. and the engagement became
| general The Greeks, who numbered 1000,
in obedience to orders. refrained from at
tacking the Turkish position. They kept up
a CALLING fire. and, after shelling the posi-
tion of the first battlon, compelled the
Turks belonging to that organization 10
| a of ha .Nfs s,
| guns Of the Greek battery were thrown out
of action. breaking their trunnions, owing
| TO the force of the recoil.
The correspondent says: up to the time
that L returned 10 Nezeros, on Sunday
evening, the Turks had not attempted a
combined assault on the Greek position.
The villagers of Nezeros fed to the noun
tains, led by their pastor. with rifle flung
| over his shoulder
THE FIGHTING AT GRITZOVALI.
| Wiring from Larissa, under date of April
| l9, regarding the fighting at Gritzovali, the
correspondent says: THE Turkish attack
ing force numbered 1,500. The Greeks, num-
| bering 1000. under Major Kathiniotio, had
no difficulty in holding their position until
1000 Turkish reinforcing troops arrived
when their situation became hopeless. After
their victory, the Turks pushed on to Matt
|
Greeks retired toward Tyranavo and Kar-
atsali. Reinforcements were hurried for.
ward from Tyrnavo and Larissa, Colone
Mastrapas taking command of the com.
bined forces, which numbered 1000 Ev-
zones, 4,OoO infantry, the Second and Fourth
Regiments and a battery of six guns. The
infantry and artillery We're drawn up in
battle array three miles due north OF Tyr
navo. The Evzones spread over the plain
in skirmishing order. The infantry occu-
pied a spur at an angle TO the main
mountain range and a low hill in the plain
The artillery was posted at the junction OF
three roads leading to Milouna Kratsal
and Tyrnavo In this formation the Greeks
united TO resist the Turkish attack all day
and night, standing to their arms. During
the day three batteries of mountain guns
arrived, but none of the Turks or Greeks
retired"
| From Tyrnavo. wiring under date of Apri
20. regarding the fighting at Reveni pass
the correspondent says: "Northward from
kurochtros the river winds through tn,
pass TO the village of Reveni where IN,
pass is at least mile and a half wide Al
the north end the pass rises the rounded
hill of Viglia. This hill commands the towr
and pass of Demasi, from which a roac
|
its east front faces the pass of Boughazi
which is entered from the Thessal,an plair
at SideropoluN- Reveni is also approached
by the defle Of Kelamaki along precipitou:
sides The paths here are well suited I,
the placing of artillery The Greek attacl
on Niglia was by the first two roads Tn,
latter highway was used for the purpose o.
bringing up supplies The Greek batterie
| "a he'd in ri.
open valley of Reveni began the artiler,
duel, which lasted all day long
ON THE REVINI SIDE.
Yesterday morning the battle began OF
the Revini side of the valley which wa,
occupied by three Greek batteries, two OF
the left side and one the right Eacl
battery was supported by battalion from
the Second Regiment. In the middle of tn,
valley behind the first line were four bat
talions of the Eleventh Regiment and ;
company of engineers. For some time aftel
the opening of the fight the firing from In,
Greek batteries was slow. but the Turkisl
fire was slower still. Shells were thrown
from the Turkish artillery on the GreeI
left, but very few exploded. The Greel
practice was better than that of the enemy
Several of their shells burst within IN,
Turkish works with deadly effect on mer
and material. Meanwhile the gradual ad
| vance OF the Evzones up the valley wa
{ followed at intervals by the infantry o
. Ill I,