The herald., 1897-05-12
WHY THEY LOST
The Greeks Can Fight When Prop
erly Led


NEW YORK, May 1.-THE Journal pub
fishes cable dispatch from Stephen Crane,
who saw the battle of Velestino, where
General Smolenski hurled back Edhem
Pasha. Mr.. Crane says:
Velestino has proved that the Greek sol
diers, when well led, can cope successful
ly with Turks even though outnumbered.
This battle has proved them great fighters.
long fighters and stayers. To be sure, the
army retreated from Velestino, but it was
no fault of the army. The commander bit
his fingers and cursed when the order came
to retreat. He was at that time perfectly
confident of success. For three days he
had been holding the Turks back and in
fiicting upon them heavy losses. Then
came the order to fall back, due to re-
verses, or something, in other places.
General smolenski knew, of course, his
retreat would be at the sacrifice of Volo,
and he ragged. But orders must be obeyed.
hence the occupation of the Turks first
of Velestino and later of Volo.
In the middle of the intoxication of vic
tory came the order to fall back. Why?
only arrived al noon of the second day.
The roll of musketry was tremendous.
From a distance it was like tearing cloth.
nearer it sounded like rain on a roof, and
close up it was just a long crash after
crash. 1t was beautiful sound-beautiful
as / had ever dreamed. 1t was more
impressive than the roar of Niagara and
finer than thunder or avalanche-because
it had the wonder of human tragedy in it.
1t was the most beautiful sound of my ex-
perience barring no symphony. The
crash of it was ideal. The slaughter of
the Turks was enormous. The fire of the
Greeks was so fierce that the Turkish SOL
diers, while charging. shielded their eyes
with their hands. Eight charges the
Turkish soldiers made on Saturday, and
they were repused each time. The des-
perate Turkish cavalry even attacked their
enemy on q steep, rocky hill. The insane,
wicked squadrons were practically ami
hilated. Scattered fragments slid slowly
back, leaving the place black with wounded
and dead men and horses. From q distance
1t was like game. There was no blood.
no expression, no horror to be seen. All
the assaults of the Turks this day resulted
disastrously TO them. The Greek troops
fought with steadiness of salaried book
keepers, never tired, never complaining.
1t was magnificent exhibition. The
Greeks fought all the time with the artil.
lery fire upon them even in musketry lull,
but nobody minded anything. The Turks
were in great numbers, and fought accord
ing to the precepts of their religion. But
the Greeks We're never daunted, and whip
ped them well. Sometimes it was fighting
among gaunt hills, sometimes fighting on
SICtH pldlIs, Dul Always lnt IFeekS nelu
their position. When night came shells
burst in fury. lighting the darkness. BY
the red flashes l saw the wounded taken to
Volo. There was very little outcry among
them. They were mostly silent. In the
gray, early morning the musketry fire be-
gan again.
1t rallied from hill to HILL batteries awoke
and the whole play was resumed. The
Turkish guns were superior to those of the
Greeks 1t.,i,, !,
zers. ! watched for long time the blue
clad Greek infantry marching in position
across small plain to the Greek left on
the rocky hill. Then the fighting became
obscured from view. The Greeks lay in
trenches, snugly flattened against the dirt,
firing carefully while the Turks loomed
close before them. Every ridge was firing
ed with smoke. I saw soldiers in the
trenches ease off and take drink from
their canteens, twist their cartridge belts
10 put the empty links behind them, or
turn around 10 say something to a COM
rade They then went at it again / no.
ticed one lieutenant standing up in the rear
OF trench rolling a cigarette, his lips
wide apart. III this careless attitude n
shot went through his neck. His servant
came from the trench and knelt weeping
over the body, regardless of the battle
The men had 20 drag him out by the legs
IN reserves coming up passed a waysde
shrine. Tic men paused to cross them
selves and pray. a shell struck the shrine
and demolished it. The men in the res.
OF the column were obliged to pray to the
spot where 'he shrine had been.
News came from the left that the Turks
had formed Oh the right, and moved slow
ly across the pain, ana the battery OPEN
ed upon them. | saw troops moving to the
rear to prevent Il possible flank attack in
the direction of Noio. The fighting on the
plain to tho right began. Masses of Turk
i5h troops like shadows slowly moved for
ward toward the Greek trenches indicated
by gray lines Of smoke. Shots began to
rake the battery to the rear. l hoped the
Greeks on The pla.n would hurry and drive
the Turks from their position. They did II
gallantly in short, ferocious fight. Tho
bit of woods where the fight occurred seem
ed on Ere. There was q great rafting
end banging and then the Turks went out
defeated. There was general rejoicing all
along the Greek lines. The officers walked