The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-18
LAST GREAT BATTLE.
(ConcIuded from First Pngc.l

world. On the right was a vast cavalry
barracks. THAT was built by us, said a
Turkish officer. Never could there be seen
more hopeless, handlesS, headleSs confu-
sion Saddles and harness were streWn in
heaps; regimental papers flew before the
wind in clouds There was a knapsack,
here a cap, there an artillery ammunition
wagon hanging over the ditch, with the
wheels broken and the traces cut; there
-shame!-a little pile of cartridges. A sol
dier may throw away much, and there is
still hope for him; once he begins to throw
away cartridges there is none.
Over the scattered, smashed, dishevelled,
conquering Turk. Already a huge army
pouring in from every opening in the
plain-horse and foot and the perpetual
patient baggage trains. But the conquer
ing Turk displayed no exultation. Here, be-
tween the rich cornfields of the plain of
Thessaly, he marched as alWayS-strongIy,
sloppily, compoSedly: What news to such as
he that the Greeks We're afraid or MN,
and that he was going in to take their city!
The Turk had been there before, ana no
Greek ever drove him out of it. I'VE built
that" said my little lieutenant.
And it was still so when the faint olotch
on the skyline hardened into the chequer-
board of white houses and dark green cy-
press trees that / had often seen from the
mountains of Larissa. AS the dominant I'M
preston of the town was the sweet smell
of laburnumS in the pubic places, OF roses
and sweet peas in the gardens, SO the I'M
preston of the occupation of the town was
fragrant and kindly. The entry OF the
est and most lovable thing have seen dur
ing this week of war.
l am afraid that Canon McColl VIII not
believe me- but | am speaking the truth.
That the Turkish army entering a town
taken from the enemy should be a pleasant
sight, should be. almost a kind OF sunday
school treat will be surprising information
to many Englishmen. But L nave eyes IN
my head, and 1 saw it.,
L will not say that there was no single
case of disorder; a few men were arrested
for looting. But l patrolled the city Tor
hours and L do say that the order the
discipline and the good humor of the Turks
and Albanians could have been exceeded
by no nation in the world; more, do not
believe that any nation could have equaIed
it In no other country / ever heard OF
are soldiers so well disciplined, so simply,
unauestionably even childishly obedient to
their officers. The officers had forbidden
pillage and violence, and the soldiers
obeyed. | have seen more rioting at a sup
per bar in the National Liberal Club than
saw on the first day of the occupation of
Why? Partly, no doubt. it was due to
the admirable arrangements made by the
officers. / saw Haiku Pasha, who had en-
tered the town with his diVisioE-a Turk OF
the old type, short, stout, grey-bearded,
grave vet with jolly twinkle somewhere
under the surface of his eyes. When l con-
graduated him he was almost embarrassed,
and said it was an accident. But the dis
cipline he established was not an accident,
and any general in the world might be
proud of it to his death. Sentlnels STOOD
at every corner mounted patrols paced
down every street The bank and all the
other principal buildings had sentries OF
their own, and it was pleasant to see how
the hard Albanians scorned the Greek sen
try-boxes and set dowl contentedly on the
stores There was only one pcsslble obJeC-
ton to the arrangements maoe-that lney
were not necessary.
Partly, TOO, TIE good order may have been
due to the fact that the Turks entered
Larissa in cold blood; also that the Greek
population had for the most part Dolted,
and that the Greek criminals released from
gaol had skinned the cream of the loot
But to the Turk, you must remember, II Is
almost less irritating to have TO night Tor 4
place than to be cheated of his battle and
come in without firing shot. Yet, when
all is said and done, the great TACT remains
that LariSSa was only nalf q hostile city.
The thousands of Jews remained-these
dauntless soldiers of current eoin-the Jews
remained, and did good business in Greek
notes taken from the dead at 30 per cent.
of their face value. Many Gil eeks RENAME Il
also and each hour of the occupation brings
more into the streets. In any case the
Greek shops remained and nobody put a
finger to them.
But Larissa was not hostile town. The
Turk was returning to his own. On the
dusty road in l passed many families on
horseback in carts on foot, Fastening
home again now that the day of persecu-
ton was over JAS the troops marched
in the Mussulman population came troop
ing into the streets TO salute their deliver
ers For a fortnight many had not left
their homes because of the tyranny of the
Ethnike Etairia; the night before they
had been promiScuouSly fired at, after the
evacuation, by Greek irregulars; | kicked
up dozens of regulation cartridge cases in
the streets. They streamed out to meet
their brothers and their sons, to welcome
the exiles and the volunteers to their birth
place They laughed and cried and Rugged
each other in the street. The stranger did
not escape; even l, because came with
the army, was laughed at and kissed and
saluted till my arm was stiff with salaam-
ing and my stomach Sugared with cups OF
coffee. The Greeks were quite forgotten,
and all Larissa Shone with one expansive,
grave courteous, friendly, very happy,
Turkish smile. The Turk was come TO his
own again
But always no outrages; let us end with
that. If you have never ridden into a con-
quered city, where all the conquered are
in terror of you, where all their stuff lies
masterless before you. when you have
many short, cold. hard nights and many
long, dry, sweat-anddusty, not quite I'M
dangerous days to reVenge-if you have
never felt itsyou do not know what temp
tation is. 1t is the richest moment of your
life But ii is full of temptation. 1t was
not my conquered city, ana it was not my
enemy, but if 1t had been know quite we'll
/ should have behaved a hundred times
less CONSIDERABLY than the Turks. Were
there really any Armenian atrocities at
all?
-e-h------
The decision reached on Saturday to al
low street cars TO run on Sunday in the