The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-08
And fastened tn, Volo, Where He ana
His Soldiers Went by Sea to
Port Farther south.
THURSDAYS GREAT BATTLE
DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING AS RE
PORTED By EYEWITNEssES.
Turks Charged with Butchering Nom
rus--No Mediation Yet.

~---A
LONDON, Mays 4The situation in Thes-
sally, the chief scene of the Graeco-T Turkish
war, as it appearsfthis morning, is: The
main portion of The Greek army is en-
trenched at Domokes, awaiting the arrival
of the Turks. General Smolenskis brigade
of Hellenes is at Almyros, south of Volo,
having retreated ffpm Velestino, where it
| made such gallant stand. The Turks have
| probably occupied Nolo although reports on
| this point are confActing. Edhem Pashas
army of Moslems ltas established headquar-
| ters at Phersala, add will probably proceed
to Domokos today where great battle
may be fought if tie Greeks made a stand.
| The Turks have full control of the road
| leading from Thessaly to the valley of
| Spherchios and Iamia by the Mochluka
| pass. No obstacle exists to prevent them
from advancing aud cutting off all com
munications with Tlomokos and Lamia. At
no point during the retreat of the Greeks
| from Phersala on Wednesday was there any
| thing like rout, although the ranks We're
moved by Turkisll shrapnel The Turkish
| lines advanced quietly and irresistibly the
gaps closing up instantly as if the men We're
not only Indifferent but actually uncon-
scious, of the fire.
The Greek wounded who were found at
Phersala said the Greeks hardly made
pause after entering the town, the retreat
| beginning almost Immediately. They left
behind them great quantities of army bis
| cults, $500 shells, large store of musketry
and ammunition. bat took their field guns.
| The retreat was nGI the result Of a general
/ plan, for the position could not have been
carried without eFsormous loss. Therefore
their sudden retreat must have been due
to tlleSfact thsse tals troops could no longer
| be trusted to fight even from the strongest
| position. Real soldiers would not have
| quilted the Greek positions the hills
without terrible resistance. The Greek
loss is estimated at 250. The streets of
| Phersala are now full of Turkish soldiery
chatting gaily and drinking eagerly at the
wells All the adjoining villages are de-
| serted except by old men, who have taken
refuge in the churches.
Z. "a STRATEGIC MOVEMENT"
The Athens correspondent of the Times
| saws: THE news of the retreat from
| Phersala was at first received with con-
| sternation, but the public has already ac-
| cepted the situation and now regards the
| retreat to Domokos as strategic move
ment dictated by prudence. 1t is generally
A1AA@SANAANANA
| Velestino has vindicated the reputation of
the Greek army and wiped out the disgrace
! of Matt and I4arissa. The national honor
| is untarnished. But while all this is so,
| the old bellicose enthusiasm of the Athen-
| ians has vanished completely. On all sides
! the desire for peace is expressed, and
| should the government invoke the interVen-
ton of the powers it would probably be
| supported by public opinion The anti
| royal feeling is visibly diminishing. The
| demonstrations due to a change of Cabinet
and to the fight from Larissa, which were
| somewhat superficial, have not been re-
! peated. The gallantry of the princes at
| Phersala has also had good effect. The
main body of General Smolenskis force
arrived this (F'riday) morning at IL o'clock
| at Almyros. Numerous messages have been
exchanged between General Smolenski and
| the government. All the Inhabitants OF
| Domokos have fled to Lamia."
The correspondent of the Times at Pher-
| sala says: Great skill is displayed in the
strategy of the Turks. Four divisions from
Trikhala and Larissa are being simultan-
eousuly concentrated at Phersala. In the
fighting at Veestno the Turks under
| Haiku Pasha stoTmed the first line Of the
intrenchments of the Greeks, who aban-
doned the second line during the night.
| Haiku Pasha then occupied the position,
| the Greeks having rereated upon Volo.
| The whole length of railway connecting
| Trikhala Veestino and I1arissa is now in
| the possession of the Turks. This second
general fight of the Greek army shows
! plainly that they will refuse to fight a
pitched battle, but their method of con-
Quoting a campaign is difficult to under
stand. The general idea is that the war is
now over
| A dispatch to the Daily Chronicle from
| Domokos, dated Thursday, says: THE
| Turkish artillery practice when the Greeks
were retreating from Phersala was, luckily,
| very bad Some confusion marked the be-
| ginning of the retreat but this soon disap-
peared. The rear guard behaved remarka-
bly, WELL and the artillery remained until
| dawn guarding the entrance to the pass.
| The troops marched all night and reached
! this lofty position soon after dawn They
Immediately began preparations for reso-
lutte defense Heavy guns have been al
! ready admirably mounted. There is no
sign of the Turks on all of the broad plain,
200 feet below. The Greeks are in excel
lent spirits"
SMOLENsKTS RETREAT.
A dispatch to the Chronicle from Athens
says: General Smolensds vanguard
reached Almyros at . clock this (Friday)
morning. The main body followed at noon.
One regiment remained at Velestino to
cover the retreat The Turks, perceiving
the Greek movement, made an attack in
force but the regiment fought until late in
the evening and succeeded in reaching
Almyros about two hours after the main
body. Two squadrons of dismounted cav
airy and one field battery have retreated to
VoIo. whence they will be transported to
Almyros"
a dispatch TO the Times from Velestino
dated noon yesterday says The Turkish
forces h~ve reached the outskirts Of Volo.