The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-20

ly always far over the object aimed at.
but by an accident two of the shells got
into the Greek battery killing an officer
and one soldier and wounding another.
Several shells fell and burst among the
infantry and train. but not one was effec-
tive. IL was very amusing to see one
fail near mule. which simply kicked and
continued grazing.
The Turks had two fun battles to-day,
one in the lips of the pass and one by the
village of Karatsali. The crown prince
arrived from Larissa at half past IL and
saw the waste of ammunition, but was
helpless to prevent ii. since 1t needs the
finest discipline in the world to refrain
from shooting when shot at. About l
o'clock the fire was more Intermittent, and
at the Turks deployed in battalion into
thin line on the north side of the valley
beyond glade of trees which shaded the
Evzones and regular infantry. The Turks
advanced a battery from the village, about
100 metres TO the east and their battalion
to the village of Kutavi, two miles to the
east of Karatsah A slight infantry Skin
msh was the result, but this was of no
value, the third Greek battery taking the
Turks partially in flank. The firing was
continued till night fall. SO ends the
story of another futile day"
1t is now only too clear that the defeat
of the Greeks from first TO last was due
almost wholly to leadership which was
worse than stupid. This was plainly evil
dent before the battle of Matt was fought,
and no explanation is yet forthcoming.
The correspondent of the Times at the
Greek headquarters on Thursday evening,
the day before the fated retreat from
Turnavo and Larissa, pointed out the
danger in this brief summary of the situa-
ton:
THE situation in Thessaly while I
write is a curious and perpleXing one.
There have been daily actions, carried out
with every circumstance of war, by one
organized army against another regular
and organized force. Yet, so far as we
know here, war has not even been de-
clared. There is an old military adage
that war often declares itself. 1t evil
IDENTIFY applies to the position Of matters
here for a week past.
"The Turks have invariably been the ag-
gressors, and when the Greeks have at
various points CALAMITY repealed the at
lacks of the enemy and followed up these
successes, orders have invariably been re-
ceived compelling them to stop just short
of the complete occupatioD of the con-
quered positions. These orders have, in
many instances, involved the abandon
ment of the fruits of considerable fight
ing attended by heavy loss, and again
and again the spectacle has been seen of
a victorious force retiring to its old posi-
ton. This state of things has caused
much establishment among the Greek
troops, and adverse comment has been
very freely INDUCED in. l can only sup
pose that political rather than military
reasons govern the situation.
For three days in succession the Greek
forces have been drawn up in battle ar
ray in front of Turnavo, opposite the
mouth of the Milouna Pass. At inter-
walls brief artillery duels have taken place,
sometimes accompanied by suffering
fire from the sharpshOoters. There has
been constant marching and counter
marching of the troops all over the field.
All this has proved very wearisome. 1t
may speedily become demoralizlng, and It
is assuredly most confusing"