The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-27
OCCUPATION OF LARISsA.
Turks Behaved Well and Committed
No Outrage the People.


LONDON, April 26.-The correspondent at
Larissa- telegraphing from that point Sun
day evening, says: THE town was occupied
by the Turkish cavalry at o'clock this
morning. After a short skirmish the Greek
troops fed in panic and most OF the
civilians abandoned their residences.
Gumbkoff Pasha, the inspector general of
artillery; Mustapha Matik Bey, the Sui
tan's aid-de-camp, and Habit Bey and Sefu-
Ian Bey entered the town with the cavalry
The Turks captured six large guns in the
fort and a mountain battery, with sew
eral prisoners, among them officers and all
the military stores. Edhem Pasha prohibit
ed any pillaging, and there have been nei-
they massacres nor outrages, though some
of the Greeks burned their houses The
dead are not numerous. The Turks main
tain excellent discipline. The Greek army
fed to the mountain sides. Many of the in
habitants are already returning. AT this
moments p. m--the Ottoman troops are
entering the town in triumph, trumpets
playing and banners waving. Mustapha
Natik Bey has been constituted comman-
dant Of the town. He has taken possession
of the bank, with the money it contains.
The town will be held by small garrison
Military operations in this quarter are for
the time concluded. The cautious policy of
Edhem Pasha is fully justified and he de-
serves every congTatulation as a skillful
and humane general"
The correspondent of the Times at Volo,
in dispatch dated Saturday, says the gen.
eral impression there is that the campaign
is ended and that the center of interest has
been transferred from the seat of war to
the diplomatic chancellories Of Europe. The
correspondent says: After witnessing Fri
days battle at Matt, which appeared to
have no important result, / returned to
Larissa in the evening, without the least
idea that anything serious likely to
happen. The good people of Larissa shared
In this feeling Of tranquility. The churches
were illuminated and the usual religious
services in connection with Good Friday
were held. Everything was quiet until
about 2 o'clock Saturday morning when
crowds of fugitives began to pour into the
town in a state of wild panic declaring that
the Greek army was defeated and the
Turks were marching upon Larissa. 1t soon
| became known that the Greek right wing
had been stampeded and had fed towards
the town. The inhabitants began imme-
| diately to pack up their goods and to make
ready for flight. The early morning train
started with the wounded. A certain num-
Der of refugees found seats, but many
heart-rending scenes occurred. Hundreds
were turned away disappointed L had
great difficulty in finding place in the
| train, which was the only one that left
Larissa.'
The correspondent Of the Associated Press
| at Athens has just received from a col
| league who is with the Turkish army near
| Tyrnavo the substance of an interview
which the latter had with Edhem Pasha
| in confirmation Of the report of the panicky
| retreat of the Greeks. Edhem Pasha laugh
ingly said: II really grateful to the
| Greek commander for giving me these
agreeable quarters. The Greek retreat was
a general rout. They left everything be-
| hind including immense quantities of ar
| tillery and munitions OF war, which We will
| be able to make use of. If they had not
heard the Albanians singing their night
| march we would have been upon them in
| an hour" The panic appears to have
spread TO the very center Of the Greek
| camp. When daylight appeared not Greek
| was visible. The Greek position Mount
| Shabana, commanding the mouth OF the
| pass alone was defended; but the resist
| ance there was feeble, as the occupants al
ready knew that the army had fed. About
one hundred prisoners were taken by the
| Turks.
The Associated Press correspondent saw
| Greek taken. trembling and scarcely able
to stand, before Turkish officer. whom he
| begged not to kill him. The officer replied
I'VE do not kill prisoners of war" To
| which the Greek answered: Our soldiers
believe that the Turks cut their prisoners
| TO pieces" When assured that his life was
| perfectly safe he thanked the officer with
| pitiful effusiveness. The latter gave him
| coffee and cigarettes and sent him TO get
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