The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-05-07
THE GREEKS RETREAT
The Turkish Army Captures The
Town Of PharsalOs
A FIFTEEN HOURS BATTLE
The imperial Troops Take Town
After Town and Finally Storm the
Principal Position-The Powers
VIII Propose Mediation.

inter own ana rinal,y storm the
Principal Position-The Powers
VIII Propose Mediation.
London. May s-The Daily Mails cor
respondent with the Turkish forces at
Phayalos says: Yesterdays (Nednes-
day. battle was the most decisive of the
tntirc war, IL was not Intended at the
beginning that the fight should he
regular pitched engagement, but ON the
arrival of Edhem Pasha at the outpOsis
a furious firing began. The weather
was cool and the sky somewhat cloudy
after "A thunderstorm. The village of
fharsaIos could he seen. huddled as II
were, under a line OF low peaked hills
Higher and round about were black
hills rising behind the others, while be-
tween US and the village ran the small
stream. known to the ancients as the
Raipeus, crossed by a bridge at the
railway Between the stream and the
village We're the Greeks well defended
by earthworks. Their advance line con-
sisted of two brigades and their reserve
OF two half brigades. altogether about
10000. Against them were 10000 Turks.
The artillery began the engagement. the
Greek practice being much better than
usual but after two hours they began
To retire across the river. This was a
great mistake. as they were thus en-
closed between the river and the noun
tains, with no room to deploy.
The sight was superb. In many eases
the Greeks fought with the courage OF
despair. The great black masses form
ing the rear guard attempting To hold
the bridge, covered the whole rich green
plain. The endurance and dash of the
Turks were magnificent, too. | reached
the battlefield with a regiment. whose
men Immediately began to run forward.
dancing under the fire and shouting like
children when they saw the enemy. The
Greeks repulsed them vigorously and
followed up the repulse.
The Turks had formed In a semi
circle OF laundering batteries and crack
ling battalions. The division on the ex-
treme right tried To cut OF the retreat
TO Domokos, while the remainder Of the
force lung itself upon Pharsalos. The
battle was but little like the battles de-
scribed in books. There was no firing
of volleys, no bayonet assaults. no
cheering. no rush, but only "a steady.
leisurely advance into the open In per-
feet order.
There was some Individual firing.
and the soldiers shouting Allah. Allah
until the constant repetition swelled
into one heavy monotonous shout.
saw some men suddenly fling up their
hands, and fall face downward. but the
Greek fire In the main was ineffective.
Before o'clock the last village north
OF the river had been taken. Then the
village Of Vasili and the entertainments
near the river were stormed with con-
siderable loss to the Turks. and the bat
tie ceased at nightfall the nanking di-
vision having established itself behind
the Greeks and cut of the best line OF
retreat to Athens"
London. May 6.-The Greek charge
daffaires here has received "A dispatch
from the minister for foreign affairs,
NJ. Skoulidis. dated Athens. to-day. say
ing: Il am happy To announce that the
news from Thessaly Is very satisfac-
tory" NJ. Skoulidis then gives an ac-
count OF the fighting. which is precise
ly the same contained In the dispatches
of the associated press. and adds:
Prince Constantine kept continually
within the line of fire and contributed
by his presence to the ardor OF his SOL
diers."
London. May 6.-The Daily Mails cor
respondent at Palais, under date of
Wednesday. says: The Greek battalion
to-day attacked the Turks near Philli-
pida. The Greeks fought well, but
their ammunition was soon exhausted
and they were compelled tn retire. on
GERS and men In Epirus are bitterly dis
pleased with the headquarters staff.
and lately the soldiers have been plum
dering their compatriots. A very un-
satisfactory condition Of things exists.
London, May Ga dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Berlin says II IL re-
ported that the powers have decided Ia
land troops at Athens To protect the
dynasty. Greece having declined the
proffered mediation and Turkey being
willing to negotiate ON easy terms II
Crete is evacuated by the Greeks.
London. May 6.-The Daily Telegraph
prints n dispatch from Vienna saying
that the condition OF the King of Greece
Is precarious.
Athens. May 6.-Austria and Ger.
many have joined the other powers In
proposing mediation between Greece
and Turkey. General Smolenski Is re-
treating slowly and in an orderly fash
/ ion 10 Almyro, and Nolo has been al.
most completely evacuated. The forces
under Prince Constantine reached Do
mokos unmolested and have not beer
attacked to-day. II appears that ths
great massing OF Turkish troops and
their movements led 10 a suspicion that
an attempt was being projected to sur.
round Pharsalos. 4 council OF war was
" ~