The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-07
Spirited Picture of the Splendid
Action at PharsalOs.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
THE GREEKS LOOSENED FROM
THEIR LAST FOOTHOLD.
The Powers Come to the Rescue and
Will Force Their Good Offices
in Order to Preserve the
Greek Dynasty.

Greek Dynasty.
London, May 6.-The Daily Mails COR
respondent with the Turkish forces at
Pharsalos, telegraphing yesterday morn
ing, says:
Yesterdays "wednesday battle was
most sublime, as spectacle and the most
decisive of the entire war; 1t was not in
tended at the beginning that the fight
should be a regular pitched engagement,
but on the arrival of Edhem Pasha at
the outposts, a furious firing began.
THE weather was cool and the sky
somewhat cloudy after a thunderstorm.
'"Fhe village of Pharsalos could be
seen, huddled, as it were, under a line
of low peaked hills. Higher and round
about were black hills rising behind the
others, while between us and the village
ran the small stream known to the an
clients as the Raipeus, crossed by a
bridge at the Railway.
Between the stream and the village,
were the Greeks in an excellent position,
we'll defended by earth-works. Their ad-
vance line consisted of two brigades and
their reserve of two half brigades, al
together about 10000 men. Against
these were $4,000 Turks.
"The artillery began the engagement,
the Greek practice being much better
than usual. but after about two hours
they began to retire across the river. This
was "A great mistake, as they were thus
enclosed between the river and the noun
tains with no room to deploy.
"The sight was superb. In many cases
the Greeks fought with the courage of
despair. The great black masses, form
ing the rear guard to hold the bridge,
covered the whole rich green plain. The
endurance and dash of the Turks were
magnificent too. l reached the battle
field with a regiment whose men imme-
diately began to run forward, dancing
prder fire and shouting like children when
they saw the enemy. The Greeks repuls-
ed them vigorously and followed up the
repulse.
THE Turks had formed in a semi-circle
of laundering batteries and cracking
battalions. The division on the extreme
right tried to cut off the retreat to Dom
okos, while the remainder of the force
flung itself upon Pharsalos.
THE battle was but little like the bat
ties described in books. There was no
firing of Ivolleys, no bayonet assault, no
rush, no cheering, but only a steady,
leisurely advance into the open, in per-
feet order. There was some individual
firing and the soldiers shouted Allah,
Allah till the constant repetition swelled
into one heavy mOnotonous shout like the
Hear Hear of the House of Commons.
saw some men suddenly fling up their
hands and fall face downward, but the
Greek fire in the main was Ineffective.
Before five O'Clock the, last village
north of the river had been taken. Then
the village of Vasili and the entrench-
ments near the river were Stormed with
considerable loss of the Turks and the
battle ceased at night-fall. the fanking
division having established itself behind
the Greeks and cut off the best line of
retreat to Athens"
GREEKS EVACU,ATE PHARSALOS.
Athens, May 6.-Austria and Germany
have joined the other powers in propos-
ing meditation between Greece and Tur-
key. General SmOlenski is retreating
slowly and in orderly fashion to Almyro,
and NOlo has been almost completely
evacuated.
The forces under Prince Constantine
reached Domokos unmolested and have
not been attacked to-day. 1t appears
that the great massing of Turkish troops
and their movements led to suspicion
that an attempt was being projected to
surround Pharsalos. A council of war
was held in the Greek camp and it was
decided to retire to Domokos, which was
reached this morning at dawn.
The Greeks promptly occupied strong
positions on the mountain range over
looking Domokos.
During Wednesday night the Turks
continued to execute movements with
"a view Of outfanking Pharsalos, and
only discovered at day break this morn
ing that the Greek army had retired.
The retreat began at o'clock
this morning and the occupation
of the new position at DOmOkos was fin
ished at TO- The Greeks burned their
dead and conveyed SS wounded, including
five officers, to Lamia.
General SmOlenski wired to Athens for
instructions and the government advised
him to retreat. He remained at Veles-
tinO all night and was attacked by the
Turks at six the next morning. Hard
fighting continued until late in the after
noon, when the fire ceased and General
Smolenski retired to Almyros, where he
took up new positions.
PHARSALOS OCCUPIED.
Constantinople, May 6.-Edhem Pasha,
the Turkish commander-in-chief in Thes-
sally, has sent the following dispatch to
the Minister Of War, dated this morning:
'T'he Imperial army, while marching to
PharsalOs, met the enemy in the villages
OF Soubathi, Souledji, Turcomanli and
Lamia. After severe engagement, last
ing fifteen hours, we dislodged them from