The sun., 1897-04-13
GREEKS CAPTURE BALTINO.
THEY ARE NOW ADVANCING TO
ATTACK GREYENA.

Special Gable Dispatches 10 THE SUN
LONDON, April ia despatch to tho Daily
Telegraph from Trikkaia confirms the report OF
tho capture of Baltino, and adds that the
Insurgents also hold the village Of Kyprio.
Baltino Is among tho mountains in western
Macedonia, a little north of the border and
about sixty miles northwest OF Larissa, tho
headquarters of the Greek Crown Prince, who 10
commanding tho Crock army on the frontier.
A telegram was also received at Athens from
Larissa, shortly before midnight, saying that
the Greeks had won entire possession OF Baltino.
Tho Chronicle hns received q despatch from
Kalambaka which says that the Turkish garrison
at Baltno, after u heroic resistance, escaped on
Sunday night. Tho fighting continued for few
miles wcst of Baltino.
The despatch adds that tho irreeulars are be-
numbcd by tho cold weather and are nearly
starving Many Of them are returning to the
frontier for bread.
II Is added that tho whole movement Is de-
plored. Tho Greek military officers did every
thing possible to prevent the departure Of the
raiders.
After capturing Baltino the insurgents be-
sicgcd tho village OF valestino, where. accord
ing to IA Turkish telegram, they were repulsed.
The main body Of the insurgents is said to be
advancing on Grevena where 1t is expected a
decisive battle will be fought. The insurgents
the town.
The Tinies's Athens correspondent teegraphs
that II the Ehnike Hetaria had not undertaken
to cut the Gordian knot, the Government would
have been obliged to take decisive step
in very few days. NJ. Delyannis. the
Prime Minister, in an interview to-day,
said that in the present state of her
finances Greece could not maintain 900 mon
under arms for any length Of time without
IA a.-t~&
beimmediately. The Government, forewarned by
the Armenian massacrcs. had been boarding gold
for two years. Hitherto it has not had to have
recourse to the market. but means must be pro-
vided immediately. The Boule had been sum-
moned to consider the floating of an internal
loan.
A reporter of the Daily Ners. who is with the
Greek insurgents has sent to that paper long
story of the advance into Macedonia, the chief
interest of which centres in the attack upon
Baltino. He says that while the insurgents were
advancing upon that place they were constantly
harassed by musketry fire from the Turkish sta
tions. to which the Greek troops occupying cor
responding outposts replied vigorously. The
insurgent chieftain Daveis stormed several
Turkish stations. the garrisons of which were
successvely forced to flee to Baltno with heavy
loss.
Upon reaching the outcrmost houses Of tho
town tho Insurgents poured sharp fire into
Turkish force which occupied a largo two-story
house in the centre of the place. The Turks
held their ground and 1t became evident that it
would take a great deal of fighting to dislodge
them.
Capt. Mylonas Of the insurgent force sent two
Turks who had been captured TO inform tho
Turkish comm ander that 1t would be useless to
resist with such odds against him.
The Turkish officer replied that he would fight
to the last. Capt MyloEas thereupon gave the
order to cease firing" intending to use
dynamite to blow up the Turkish position.
After night had fallen the Turks made three
so1ties. but were each time driven back with
heavy loss. The plan to destroy the building
with dynamite did not prove successful, as the
explosive could not 30 effectively placed
Capt. Myionas feared that bayonet charge
would involve too great loss of life among his
men, and he decided to attempt to starve tho
garrison out.
The writer departed from Bal.ino with con.
voy Of prisoners early in the morning to send q
despatch to his paper. He was overtaken at noon
by O runner who announced that a battalion
OF Turkish troops, with mountain gun, had
attempted to relieve Baltino. They were de-
feated and nearly annihated by the insurgents.
who completely surrounded them. The loss to
the insurgents at the time the writer left them
was nine killed and many wounded.
The Italians who volunteered for service with
the Greeks were worn out by the rough march
ing across the frontier and were left behind.
They arrived however. in time to take part in
the fighting. Later half of them decamped, not
being able to withstand the snow and rain and
cold weather.
Reports reach here tonight that the Crock in
surgents have reached, the city OF Grevena. but
they are not confirmed
despatch to the Daily Mail from Larissa
says IL is reported there that owing
to the capture of Baltino by the In
surgents the Turkish troops occupying the
Lavria blockhouscs the frontier became
panicstricken and deserted their posts last
night. The Greek troops in the blockhouse op-
posite Lavria crossed the frontier and occupied
the abandoned Turkish positions, where they
still remain.
A despatch to the EreninR Ne,rs from Larissa
says 1t is reported there that the Turks who
were engaging tho Greek invaders in the forest
near Grcvena gave up the contest on Saturday
afternoon.
The fighting was done at long range. and the
casualties numbered less than 100 on both Sides
the Greeks losing fewer men than the Turks.
owing 10 the protection afforded them by the
large trees behind which they took shelter
The insurgents were cut Oft from their COM
missariat. which at the best was very meagre,
the long period of desultory fighting. The in
vaders were not supported by the Greek regu-
lars, who did not cross the border, although
shots were exchanged by the Greek and Turkish
outposts on either side of the frontier line.
ELAssoSA, Macedonia. April 12.-The officer
who was sent from here by Edhem
Pasha, the Turkish Commander-in.C Chief,
TO learn the facts regarding tho inva-
sion OF Turkish territory by Greeks. has
In I,
that a number of Greek regular troops were
among the invaders. He further asserts that Il
Is believed that tho invaders were commanded
by Greek officers.
LARIssA, April 12.Tho blockade OF the Turk
ish garrison at Baltino by the Greek insurgents
was being continued this afternoon. The Turks
are making u strong defence OF the barracks,
which are surrounded by the insurgents. 1t IL
reported that Turkish reinforcements are pro-
ceeding as rapidly as possible from Diskata to
Baltino. The insurgents who arc not occupied
In the siege n the harranka hayo rafirad fron,