New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-24
GREEKS GOING TO THE FRONT
MANY TO SAIL FOR HOME TO-DAY

VIEWS OF CoNsUI-CENERAL BOTAssI ON THE
SITUATION.
More than three hundred Greeks will sail for home
to-day to join the army. and the enthusiasm in the
Greek colony here Is at fever heat The difference
between the interest felt here I'm their and the
feeling toward the Turkish methods is strikingly IL
Illustrated by the aspect of the Offices of the two
Consus-General-that of Mr. Botassi at No. 80
South Wllliam-st.. and that OF Chefk Bey, at NO.
"a Safest. The former Is thronged from morning
till night by Greeks begging for aid 10 get home and
by sympathlzers with the Greek cause. and Mr.. Bo
tass has minutes rest Almost his entire
time is now daily given over TO attending 10 the
needs Of the Greeks. and he is always ready TO
ceive visitors and do what he to crafty their
requests
At tho latter office. however. few visitors to
be seen. and Chefk Bey will only part of
these. He refuses to discuss the situation OF the
conflict and In general manfests complete indffer-
ence TO the struggle going along the Grecian border
This may be due 10 the failure OF the Turkish arms
to take Larssa. as all Turks had expected them
Consul-General Botassi yesterday was greatly
couraged by the reports received from the front, and
says that those emanatng from the Grecan Min
lister of Foreign Affairs, VI. Skouzes, his
signature must be absolutely authentic and show
the prospects OF the Greek army being able TO check
the advance OF the greatly superior Turkish force
be Frightening. He says that great hope is placed
in what the Grecian feet will accomplish in the Gulf
of Saonica, where 1t is at present hammcring away
at the gult towns with the object OF cutting off the
Turkish army from Its base Of supplies. If this Is
accomplished as the Consu-General fully expects Il
will be- since the Turks have feet TO oppose the
movement he says tho Turkish army will be at the
mercy OF the Creeks
The change in the Sutan's plan Of campaign
indicated by his recall OF Edhem Pacha and
tho sending OF Osman Pacha, the hero Of Plevna,
to the front in Thessaly warrants the belief. Mr.
Botassi says, that. the Turks are being hard
Dushed Is nv ha
request OF Edhem Pacha for 40 90 achievements
and for pontoons 10 cross the river protecting
Larlssa. Tho Consul-General chuckled yesterday
he described the impassabity OF that river since
the Greeks had blown up the only bridge leading
Larssa, and the fact that the Turks could never
get the pontoons there for which they had asked
their Government To prevent just such aid as
this and all other aid from Asia Minor is OF
-Egean. He says that nothing Turkish will ever
pass that fleet.
r1 T1S Greeks that sail to-day usual by
scheduled to leave her pier at 10 o'clock II is exc
o only mat the T but e at & q
the headquarters of the Greek colony where the
to the pier and also ali along the roate One S hnn
dred ana sl forty OF those sailing reached here yes
from other cities. About hundred viii go from
yssterday sent Word to Mr. Boass that there was
no more room In the steerage. There will be a
small surplus or Greeks to sail on the Fabre Line
boat for Naples.
There are interesting characters among these
patriots who are going home to fight for their
country. one of these Is Constantine Vaselas. who
was the engineer of the Crawford House. in Bos-
ton. lie has been ten years in this country three
of which he served in the Navy. He arrived here
yesterday, and was received in Roosevelt-st with
open arms. When he was leaving Boston the pro-
prietor Of the hotel told him to go home and fight.
and that his place would be held open for him.
Another Greek who is going back to his native
country Is Hlice Stravo, who is twenty-one years
ola. He Is a grandson Of Hlce Brlstnis patriot
of the War Of 1871 Bristinis was a colorlbearer
during the war, and at it's close the flag that he
had carried was presented to him for gallant con-
duct. The flag descended to Stravo. who brought
1t TO this country when he came here ten wears
ago. lie will take the flag back to Greece with
him, and will carry II in the parade to-day
The Turkish Consul-General yesterday received
by cable circular, dated April 90 from the Turk
ish Minister of ForeignAffars giving a list of ths
Turkish Victories. Much of the information con-
tanned In the report is I'm direct contradiction of re-
ports emanating frcm other sources.