The herald., 1897-05-06
May Yet Snatch Victory
From Defeat
FIGHTING NEAR PHARsALos
SHOWS THE TROOPS HAVE NOT
LOST HEART
emolenski Says the Brigade at velis-
tino r Delugsd With Blood, But
Has Conquered

Associated Press Special Wire.
ATHENS, May s, 5 p. ma private
dispatch received here from the front
eaye that the battle between theGreeks
and Turks began at Avail between
-velestino and Pharsalos.
Az GREEK VICTORY
LONDON, May 5.-rhe Athens cor
respondent of the Daily Mail says: Ten
thousand Turks attacked the Greek
position at velestino. The fire ceased
at 1 o'clock this afternoon and 1t is evil
dent that the Greeks have met with
great success.
"There has been slaughter at Phar-
salos, where the battle is proceeding
Grown Prince Constantine telegraphs
as to the engagement at Velestino:
with Gods help our side has conquer
ed"
The Athens correspondent of the
Times says: simultaneously with the
attack at velestino the Turks attacked
the Greek outposts at Tatar, near Phar-
salos. 1t is said that both attacks have
been repulsed by the Greeks. Gen.
smolenski says: 1.-THE brigade at Veles-
tino Is deluged with blood"
- TROOPS COMING
! LARISsA, May 5.-Six divisions of
Turkish troops have marched forward
TO Pharsalos, and 1t is understood here
that the Porte has given Edhem Pasha
free hand.
GREEK EXPULSION
CoNSTANTINOPLE, May 5.-The
French, Russian and British ambassa-
doris have replied to the Porte, insist
ing that the Greeks in the service of
the embassies, legations and consulates
throughout the Turkish empire be per-
mitted to remain. The Porte. there
fore, will extend the period of expul-
sion another fortnight and it is thought
that peace between the Turks and
Greece will have been arranged before
the time expires. sHsi ;fa-
~. TURKISH EXPENSES
LONDON, May GA dispatch to the
Times from Constantinople says that the
special expenses of the war department
from March 13, 1897, to April 13, 1897, were
three and half million pounds sterling.
An American man-of-war- has Joined
the international squadron at Phaler-
i. um.
The Greek government has protested
to the powers against the acts of. vio-
.rlenee and rapine being committed by the
Turks in Thessaly.
A FILIBUsTER TAKEN
ATHENS, May 5.-The Greek fleet has
captured. at the entrance of the gulf of
Salonica. the schooner in which Sir Ellis
Ashmead Bartlett, the Anglo-American
member of Parliament, recently visited
the Turks. The vessel will be taken to
Piraeus for examination.
1t Is reported that documents of SER
iously compromising character have
been found on the schooner. These will
be turned over to the government.
SCORES THE PRINCE
NEW YORK, May ga dispatch to
the Journal from Velestino says: In an
interview with General Smolenski. the
hero of the Greek people, he expressed
hie indignation over the rout of his coun-
trymen at Matt.
'How did all this come about?" he
said. 1T was panic without rea-
=. son, retreat without an excuse. Those
g troops at Matt must not be reproached
with cowardice. They are the same as
those with which we fought at Reveni
: for five days against tremendous odds
and still made headway. I believe it
was laundering on the part of the staff
and nothing else, that drove them into
q panic.
How are men to fight If they lose con-
ndence in their leaders? They say the
army was disheartened. Nonsense. The
men were ready to go ahead anywhere,
but how were they to understand pol
icy of continual retreat without defeat? ?
Our soldiers are like the French, they
want to go always ahead, but want to
zee the officers always in the lead.
II repeat, the troops we led at Dino
loui Janina, Reveni and Bougzee were
the very same, but then we did go ahead
and our men knew the Turks never
would compel up to retreat"
But. who gave the order for your re-
treat?"
Il may tell you from whom the order
came-from Prince Constantine. I re-
FUSED to believe 1t. waited and a sec
ond and more pressing order followed.
began to understand what fault ha d
been committed. saw, however, what
would be the consequence If refused to
obey and disregarded the misjudged or
der. and when the third came. insisting
on an immediate withdrawal and an
nouncing that no troops were left north
Of Larissa. saw all was lost. and
thought only Of saving for the country
the brave corps that had followed me in
side the Turkish frontier.
"Our retreat was in perfect order.
Nothing was lost. and there was not the
y slightest confusion. We marched back
with our eyes full of tears. We saw our
hopes hlighted, province lost and a
shadow cast on the honor of our army.
We were depressed, no doubt. but on our
way to Pharsala we thought our brave
army had been betrayed, and hoped that
our energy would allow us to repair the
mischief. Now we are here to try to do
1t. am here to defend Volo. The Turks
must pass over me. to reach Volo. and
Iswill die hard. should prefer march,
ing on Larissa, but cannot do 1t alone.
! ought to be helped. There should be
combined action of the staff and Prince
at Pharsala. but those people are slow.
When the army is completely reform
ed at Pffarsala, then we will combine
with the fleet, and hope to be more suc-
!. 'Eessful.
sas We have few friends. and appreciate
M