The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-20

O'Clock in the morning and succeeded IN
forcing back the Greek right wing.
The Turkish troops were moving at an
early hour most of the divisions leaving
Phersala at dawn, led by the Clrcassian
cavalry, which acted as skirmishers during
the early part of the engagement. Inc
real fighting began at about ii O'CLOCK
when the Turks encountered squadron OF
Greek cavalry occupying village on the
plain before DomOkos. After sharp eN-
change of shots the Greek squadron re-
tired from the village and retreated 1i.3 To-
was the signal for the Greeks 10 prepare all
along their line to receive the turkish at
tack. One of the Turkish divisions was led
by its bands of music and the troops moved
forward as If on parade. The Greeks had
established siege guns on the summlts OF
the hills around Domokos and these pieces
opened the engagement with well-directed
fire on the massed battalions of Turks adj
vancng from the foot of the hill.
Although the Greek artillery was admir-
ably handled, il had no material effect IN
checking the Turkish advance. Suddenly
at given word of command, the turkish
troops deployed to the right and took up
a position behind a hill, where they waited
while the wings of the Turkish army COM
pleted their forward movements. Then fol-
lowed period of suspense. during which
the Turks steadily took up the positions
assigned TO them. and at last, at oGiock
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 3su sdF SO daF as
o'clock Nechat Pasha, who commanded
the advance on the Greek positions, ordered
the infantry brigade TO advance. The
bugles sounded and, taking advantage of
every inequality of ground, the sldrmishers
little by little, crept up to the hrst position
fire of the skirmish line was answered by
long rattle of musketry from the Greek
entrenchments, forming long line when
was well held by the Greek infantry ana
which commanded the approach from the
plain ..,eo ,,,ot
bptWaRn OnnOSiHQ forces
The skirmishers increased the rapldlty or
their fire, the main bodies of the Turkish
being covered by the fire of ten batteries
of artillery. Soon the engagement was
general, the musketry fire increased In
force and the booming of the field pieces
became continuous. The guns of the
Greeks were splendidly aimed and sue
ceeded in putting one Turkish piece out OF
action, but the Turkish artiierymen re-
venged themselves by Pumping shell into
a Greek caisson filled with ammunition,
announcement to the Ottomans.
During this artillery duel the main bod
les of the Turkish infantry opened fire at
long range in order to discover the positions
occupied by the enemy. The Greeks were
not long in replying. No sooner did the
.curateiy than he pushed forward his irreg-
ular troops to the attack. The latter adj
yanced with the greatest spirit and in the
several of their advanced entrenched posi-
tions. But, if the fighting bad been gallant
and desperate on both sides, up to the
present, i, was still more SO from this
time on. The firing on both sides became
really terrific. Both Greeks and Turks
realized the importance of achieving de-
cisve results before nightfall. The sun
was nearing the horizon and there was no
telling what might happen during the
rifle fire increased in intensity. Long lines
of flame and smoke opposed each
other, the Turks from the. plain
pouring a hail of lead at the
Greeks in their intrenched positions.
and the latter replying with a continuous
rain of leaden missiles. Both the Yurk1sh
and Greek batteries, meanwhile were blow
ing forth a pever-ceasing storm of shells
and shrapnel
1T was now evening and neither side
had gained a very great. advantage. The
Greeks stubbornly resisted the advance of
their enemies, but it is true the soldiers
of the Sultan had gained ground and were
fighting with as much dash and brilliancy
as when the first cannon shot announced
the opening of the engagement The sun
slowly over the bloodstained country, but
the fierce combat ragged on uninterrupted
and fb & With unabated vg9r GwhrdS hrd be Gi1fk n
trenohments against superior forces ana
having given proof of the greatest courage,
their fire The firing of the Turks at the
same time also abated and soon 1t ceased
altogether on both sides.
while the main fight was in progress
there was a strong movement forward on
the Turkish right Intended 10 outhank the
Greek left. But the Turkish commander
at that point was too slow and he allowed
a whole division to be stopped by a few
Greek batteries, which inflicted heavy
losses on the Turkish forces. On the other
hand, the Turkish artillery on the left of
the Ottoman line, which had been pushed
forward by way of the Mains, succeeded
in forcing back the Greek right nearly to
Domokos. But, taking it all in all, and al
lowing for the greater numbers of the
Turks, the battle reflected the greatest
credit on the Greeks and certainly was in
no way dscreditable to the Turks. The loss
of the Turkish forces during the days
fighting was quite heavy and 1t Is not be-
leved the Greeks lost as many men as the
Turks. But it is impossible to obtain accu-
rate figures on the subject"