The herald., 1897-05-08

taiHS even d trllllHS success Sne VIII sue
for peace
BLOCKADE BEGUN
LONDON, May IA dispatch to the
Daily Chronicle from Athens says: Col.
Manos wires from Arta that the Turks
have begun wholesale massacre of the
Inhabitants in the interior of Epirus
Almost all the inhabitants of the village
of Kanvarina have been murdered A
few only escaped to the mountains
From other ports women are arriving
at Arta in the most miserable condition,
begging protection for their husbands
and children who are being murdered by
the enraged Turkish troops. Many of
these poor creatures have gone mad
Many are unable to articulate singla
word, others relate unspeakable atroc-
tiles.
1.-The blockade of the coast of Epirus
will begin at o'clock Saturday mornins
today). Both Greek squadrons have
been ordered there for that purpose
Gen. Smolenski's brigade has been or
dered to join the main army at Domokos.
The Greek losses during the fighting at
Velestino yesterday are estimated to
have been over 300."
GERMAN ACTION
LONDON, May Tt is stated here
that Germany still clogs the negotiations
for mediation by the powers by insisting
upon the evacuation of Crete and the un-
conditional acceptance of Greece of
such terms as the powers approve.
The correspondent of the Daily News
at Athens says: It is persstently rumor-
= l,l, ,-.l. "A
Ralli and his colleagues advocate ener-
getic preparations to continue the strug-
gle. while the king desires to avoid fur
ther bloodshed.
AFTER THE BATTLE
LONDON, May THE Times prints
the following dispatch from Velestino,
via Athens:
"The expected battle began at $3.50
yesterday morning (Thursday) at this
point and at Cynoscephalae and a little
later above Avail and Pharsalos. The
positions were as follows: Velestino and
the main Cynoscephalae chain were held
by the Greeks The plain to the north.
ward and the gray ridge jutting out be-
tween Cynoscephalae and Velestino
were held by the Turks.
lac AiGCho lldQ Iii Ice OdllcIlcS VI dI :"
|tillery and the Turks four. Early in the
morning well-directed Greek artillery
fire prevented the advance of the Turk
ish infantry. BY 1880 the artillery firing
was very heavy on both sides, but each
maintained its position. AT 1880 a
Turkish battery behind Koniari began
firing shrapnel and the Greeks soon be-
gan to lose ground. A hot artillery and
musketry fusillade was kept up until
about noon, when the Greeks on the big
hill commenced to retire in orderly
fashion. but at a double quick. The
Turks were not firing at them and were
appartnely ignorant of their success.
1.-The irregulars tried In vain to assist
the Greeks by firing at the advancing
Turks, and, in fact, throughout the en-
gagement they were practically value
less.
eat 12:45 p.m., the Turks attacked the
big hill with musketry and shell fire.
and another correspondent received a
volley and five shells fell very close to
us. besides shrapnel whistling overhead.
Several shots reached the road beyond,
designed probably to prevent the Greeks
from sending reinforcements to their
left, where the Turks were rapidly as
cending the hill.
''The' Greek batteries on the right were
now useless and almost silent and the
Turks on the Larissa road made no at
tempt to attack them.
"At 12:45 pm, the attack on the right
of Cynoscephalae became severe. The
Greeks there were in full retreat, the
irregulars fleeing in all directions. At .
ha of 90 {rx,
was retreating, the skirmishers forming
into companies and then falling into
single file.
II hear that the retreat from Cynos-
cephalae began somewhat earlier and
the retreat from Pharsaloe towards
Domokos earlier still. Despair was
doubtless running down the line from
left to right and influencing the result.
The railway was completely abandoned
and the Pyrouphli station deserted. At
o'clock the Evzones retreated on Akitsi
and the remainder of the eastern in
fantry to Alymiros. The Turks burned
the village of Deltitis.
During the morning the foreign le-
gion entered the engagements, probably
between Pharsalos and Aiveali The
Turks were seen to have driven back
the Greeks along the line extending
from Pharsalos to Aivsali, turning the
flank of the Velestinc division at Cynos-
cephalae and rolling up the Greeks in
two retreating masses.
1.-The Turks won chiefly because they
had field guns, whereas the Greeks had
only mountain guns.
THE former also showed their tacti-
cal superiority by making strong at
tack near the Cynoscephalae, where the
Greeks were weak and without artillery.
Two of the chief Turkish batteries were
outside the Greek range and the Turks
seemed to have good sheltering rifle
pits. The Greek infantry stood their
ground we'll under a heavy fire, especial
ly along the center Of the line Of rifles.
Many shells burst around them and
overhead.
General Smoleneki's right wing was
much stronger and could easily have
held its position had not the left COL
lapsed. The Greeks at Domokos and
Almyros will probably Join forces at
Lamia and go together by a new road
to Mustapha Bey Pasha, where the next
great battle should occur, though I am
officially informed that stand will be
made at Domokos. Thermopylae will
doubtless be left to the fleet. The Cynos-
cephalae was the main strategic point
of battle. The number of casualties is
unknown, but in the early part of the
day it appeared to be small"
VASSOS EMBARKS