The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-08
DEFEAT OF THE GREEKS.
Frederick Palmer's Graphic Descrip-
ton of the Rout

MI Frederick Palmer. in the Novem-
Der Forum: Early on Friday evening
Larissa was speaking of the victories,
accounts of which were brought in
from the plain by the crazed shep-
herds. At 8 o'clock struggling soldiers
began to arrive from Nezeros. For
saying that the Greeks had been driven
out of the Vale of Tempe, they were
looked upon as oowardly liars by the
police who treasured the town. Two
hours later the truth could be no
longer concealed. Headquarters ad-
mitted that the way was open for the
enemy's Nezeros division to join his
right wing. From house to house ran
the versatile police. crying: The Turk
is upon u.s. The crown prince says,
Fly for your lives with all haster 4"
Probably this order, as given out by
headquarters, was scarcely so abrupt
and urgent, considering that the Greek
army stood at a distance Of eight miles
between Larissa and the Turks, with
six hours before daybreak in its favor;
and it is to be presumed that the po-
licemen, Greek fashion, amended their
instructions to suit their own tastes
and the inspiration of the moment
The natural result was a panic among
the inhabitants quickly aggravated by
the arrival of panic-stricken soldiers
from Nezeros. Seeing their supposed
protectors powerless, men and women
alike became frantic. Meanwhile the
Greek army was in full retreat on the
plain. For three days the reserves had
lain under the hot sun by day; shiver-
ing with cold at night; exposed to shell
fire, without once changing their places
or firing shot-enOugh to take the
starch out of hardened veterans
On Friday, April %, the great fast
n nf he ~,
disdained their usual scanty rations
To their imaginations thus overwrought
the shrek of shells, the "ung" of ex-
ploding shrapnel, however Slight the
execution, had furnished terrible food
The stragglers coming from the
Vale of Tempe stopped long enough
to tell of disaster and then to hurry on
to Larissa. Then came from headuuar-
ters an order to the guns and certain
companies of infantry to begin to re-
treat toward Larissa. This order flew
along the lines, fast following the news
of the defeat at NeZeros, and was acted
upon by the whole army, which moved
in increasing tumultuous disorder, to-
ward the road leading to Larissa. On
reaching the road there was a panic.
Officers forgot their responsibility;
companies disintegrated; the fear Of
each struggling man was heightened by
the community OIL Terror IN winch ne
found himself. When the Greek cav
airy. coming up from the rear, attempt
ed to pass along one side of the road,
some one raised the cry: The Turks
are upon u.s. Instantly there was a
universal shrek, followed by almost
general firing. Many pointed their rifles
into the air, many others into the faces
of comraes, instead of at the imaginary
enemy. Officers used their revolvers
with equal recklessness. OF those who
fell under foot, some had been shot;
others had tainted or sunk down from
sheer fright. At length the very weak
ness of the soldiers-the result of fast
ing, combined with their inherent lack
of observation-disclosures the helpmate
Of discipline. The suicidal, tumultuous
crowd moved on, gradually subsiding
as it lost strength, until it fiocked into
the town. At dawn, the spectacle in the
streets told dramatically what seven
dayS war had cost Greece