The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-08
THE CREEKS RETREAT.
Turks March in Greece a Success
sion Of Victories.
ATHENIANs ARE LESS WARLIKE.

Hhey Would Undoubtedly Greet With
Pleasure tho Announcement of Me-
fsotiations For Peace-Reports of An-
other Cabinet Crisis.
! Athens, May 8-The Greek fleet at
Rslo has been instructed not to hinder
the entrance of the Turks in order to
Rave the town from destruction.
General Smolenski's artillery en-
gineers and some cavalry have pro-
seeded to Almyros by sea.
Crowds Of volunteers continue to ar
rive here, and 1000 Italians, led by
Ricciottl Garibaldi, left last night for
Bhe frontier.
A dispatch from Pharsalos via La
yissa says: During Wednesdays bat
lle our losses were not heavy, but it is
impossible to exaggerate the strategic
hna moral importance Of the Turkish
Victory. Our soldiers are hunting for
umbrellas, which are almost military
lecesslty, the sun is so broling hot"
1t appears that the Greeks intended
resist to the uttermost. On the plat
brm at the railway station were bar
Hoades of turf and forage, and the
Houses had been strengthened by heaps
turf and were loopholed for rifles.
4 s2hsreoelness of the Turks was ex-
fraordinary. Three soldiers stood to-
bethsr In advance Of their comrades on
, path crossing a meadow, while a
whole battalion of Greeks fired at
HEM. They did not condescend to stop
Or to lie down, but fired away coolly
until their skirmishers came to their
help.
The stoicism of the wounded Is equal
" admired. One young fellow. an AL
bantam, with a ball in his foot, and
sven then under fire, stood calmly and
tmilingly discussing with a companion
}he best way oiretiring. Another with
, wounded hand slept all night without
troubling to get tho wound dressed
Fhe courage and physical force of the
Turkish soldier are prodigious. Many
of them fought on Wednesday from
Hawp until in the evening without
the least distress.
A dispatch from Velestno says: 1.-THE
Turkish forces have arrived at the out
skirts of Volo, AS yet there is no con-
hrmation of the rumOr that the town
has already fallen. but In any case it's
capture is only an affair of few hours,
as the defenses on the land side are
very feeble. A portion of the Greek
force has retreated by the coast road
TO Almyros, from which point it will
probably be conveyed by sea to Lamia
and rejoin the rest of the army at
Domokos."
The news Of the retreat from Phar-
salos was at first received with con-
sternation, but the public has already
accepted the situation, and now re-
CARDS the retreat to Domokos as
strategic movement dictated by pru-
dence. 1t Is generally felt that Gem
sral Smolenski's defense of Velestino
has vindicated the reputation of the
Greek army and wiped out the disgrace
Rf Matt and Larissa The national
hener is untarnished.
But while all this is so, the bellicose
enthusiasm of the Athenians has van
ashsd completely. On oil sides the de-
s'ra for peace is expressed, and should
the gove rnment invoke the interven-
ton of rhe powers 1t would probably
be supported by public opinion. The
qnti-royal feeling is visibly diminish =
ing. Tho demonstrations due to n
Change of cabihet and to the flight
from Larlssa, which were somewhat
Euperfcial, have not been repeated.
The gale " of the princes at Phar-
- Balos has also had good effect
The main body of General Smolen-
skis force arrived yesterday morning
al II o clock at AlmyroS. Numerous
messages have been exchanged be-
tween General Smolenski and the gov
ernment. All the Inhabitants of DOM
okos have iied to Lamla.
The Greeks having retreated upon
V0lo, the whole length of the railway
connecting Trllikala, VelestIno and
Larissa is now in the possession of the
Turks. This second general flight of
the Greek army shows plainly that
they viii rerus" to fight a pitched bat
tie, but their method OF conducting a
campaign is difficult to understand.
The general idea is that the war is
now over.
A newspaper correspondent inter-
Viewed an ade-de camp Of King
George, who said:
Since the loss of LarIssa the Greeks
have totally broken down. They have
no equipment, neither food nor tents.
They have to sleep in the open on the
coldest nights If Greece obtains even
trihing success she will sue for
peace"
The news from the seat of war is
still somewhat confusing us to the OK
act positions Of the Greeks, but it ap-
pears certain that General Smolcnski
at Almyros and Domokos is not in a
geographically strong position. The
Turks have fun control OF the road
leading from Thcssaly to the valley OF
Spherchiug and Lamia by the Moch-
luka pass, while no obstacle exists tc
prevent them from advancing by Turk
pass and cutting off all communication
with DOmCkos and Lamia
At no Point during the retreat Of
the Greeks from PharsnlOS on Wednes.
day was there anything like rcut, al.
though the ranks were moved by
Turkish ghgapnel, The Turkish lines
advanced quietly and irrosistably. tht
gaps ClCst1g up Instantly, az If tht
men wera not only Indifferent, but &C.
tually unconscious of the fire.
II is asserted that the king Of Greece
has formally asked the mediation Of
the emperor of Russia. The question
OF abdicution turns on financial con,
sjderatIuns. When King George came
to the crown 1t was agreed that II de,
posed he should have an allowance OF
$4,000 yearly but only one-third o.
that amount if he should abdicate.
1t is stated that Germany still clog!
the negotiations for mediation by til,
powers by insisting upo the evacuation
tf Crete and the unconditional &C
ceptance by Greece of such terms al
the powers approve.
Ii is persistent!y rumored that {
cabinet crisis IL impending. M. Rail
and bis colleagues advocate energeti,
preparations to continue the struggle
while the king desires to avo!2 furtls
bloodshed
d a 4 =