The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-08
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGHT.
Retreat of the Greeks WAS SUR
prise 10 the Turks

| Retreat of the Greeks Was n sur
prise 10 the Turis
| London, May s. Tho Times prints a.,
following dispatch from Vc,oatua vim Ath
ors The expected battle began at d|5i
yesterday Thursday morn ing al this nom
and al Cyncsccphao, and a litle late
above Aivala ard pharsnla. rhc position.
were as follows; Velestlna and the mair
Cynoscephele chain were hold by the Turks
| The Crock plain TO the norihward and tho
| gray ridge jutting out between Cynos-
cephnlo and Velcstina were held by tho
Turks The Greeks had three batteries OF
artillery and the Turks four, Early IL The
morning VOL directed artillery fire pre-
vented the advance of the Turkish infantry.
Ry 30 o'clocl, the artillery fire WAS very
heavy on both sides, but each maintained
it's position.
At 1890 Turkish battery behind Kon-
iari began firing shrnpnel and the Crooks
soon began to lose ground a hot artillery
and muskotry fusilHdc was kept M until
noon. when the Crooks on tlc big hin com
mcnccd 10 retire In an orderly fashion, but
at double quick The Turks we're not
firing At them and We're apparently ighor-
ant OF their success. The hrcgIlars tried
in vain to assist the GrccllB by tring at
thu advancing Turks and In fact through
ont the engagement they were practically
Yahcloss.
AZ l2:l5 p. m. the Turks attacked the
big hill with musketry and shell ire. Sev-
eral sho,s reached the road beyond. de
signed ptobaby 10 prevent tho Greeks from
sendiuR renforcements to their ,0ft. whore
The TURKS were rapidly ascending tho hill.
The Greek batteries on tho right were
now useless and almost silent but the
Turks on the Larssn road made no at
tempt TO attack them.
Al a. D. m. the attack on the right Of
Cyn', "ephale became severe. The Greeks
therl were succ 9ssful.
At D, m. the long line Of Greek In
fanu was retiring into companies and
then falling in single file, hear the re
treat from Cynosccphale began somewhat
earlier. and the retreat from Phsrsala to-
wards Domokos earlier still Dispatches
were doubtless running down the lnc from
left TO right and influencing the result.
Tho railway was completely abandoned.
and tho pyrouphli station destroyed.
At 2 o'clock the Evaoncs reireated on
Aiyala and the remainder Of the Eastern
infantry 10 Almyros. Tho Turks burned
tho village Of lDeltitis.
During the morning the foreign legion |
entered the engagement, probably between |
pharsala and Aiyala. The Turas were seen |
to have driven back the Greeks along the |
line extending from Pharsnla 10 hivala. |
turning tho flank Of the Vclcstino divi-
sion al Cynoscephan and rolling up the i
Greeks into two retrcating masses.
The Turks won chiefly because they had |
field guns, whereas the Greeks had only |
guns, The former displayed their
tactical superiority by making strong at
tack near the cynoscepbnle. whore the
Creeks were weak and without artillery.
Two OF the chief Turkish batteries were
outside the Greek range and the Turks
seemed to have good sholtering rifle pits,
The Greek Infantry stood their ground well
under heavy fire. especially along the
center OF the line OF rifles. Many shells
,urst around them and overhead.