Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-11
MYSTERIES OF WAR.
SmOlsnSki Ordered to Retreat After a
Magnificent Victory.
CRYING AND ouRsIsG, He oBEys.


Stephen Crane wno saw the battle OF
Vslsstiuo, wnere General Smoienshi
hurled back Edhem Pssna.
Mr.. Crane says:
Viuestino has proved that the Greek
solcieis when well led can cope SUGGEST
fully with Turks even though outnum-
bered. This battle has proved them
Sreat fighters, long nghters and stsyers.
To be sure, the army reiterated from
Veiestiuo, but it was no fault OF the
army. The commander bit his fingers
and ourseu when the order came to re-
treat. He was at that time perfectly
confident OF success. For three days
he had been holding the Turks back
and inf citing upon them heavy losses.
rnen came the order to fall back, dus
to reverses or something in other
places.
Gen. Smolenski knew, OF course. his
retreat would be al the sacrifice OF V DO,
aud he ragged.
But orders must be obayed; hence
the occupation OF the Turks first oil
VeIestipo and later OF Volo. In the
middle of intoxication OF victory cam.
the orders 10 tail back. Why2
/ only arrived at noon OF the ascond
day. The roll of mussetry was tre-
menJous. From u distance it was
like tearing u cloth; nearer 1t sounded
Ike rain on roof anu Gloss up II was
just long crasb alter crash. 1t was
a beautiful gound-beautiiul as had
never dreamed. 1t was mOre impress
sive than the roar OF Niagara anu
finer than thunder or an svalanche--
because IL hal the wonder OF human
tragedy in 1t.
IL was the most beautiful sound OF
my experiences, barring no symphony.
The ctssh OF 1t was Ideal.
The slaughter OF the Turks was
enormous. The fire OF the Greeks
was go fierce that the Turkish soldiers
while charging shielded their eyes
with their nanus. Eight charges the
Turks made on Saturday, anu they
were rspuised each time. The desper-
ate Turkish cavalry even attached
their enemy on a steep, rocky hill.
The insane squadrons were practically
annihilated. Scattered fragments sliI
.lowIy black, leaving the plain black
with wounuei anu dead men aud
horses.
From a distance 1t was like game.
There wss no blood, no expression,
of the Turks this DAY resulted dtsas-
| trousiy to them. The Greek troops
fought with the steadiness of salaried
bo0kkepers, never tired, never com.
planning. The Greeks fought all the
Time with the artillery fire on them,
even Ia y muskotry lull, but nobody
minded anything. The Turks wer Q
Ia grest numbers and fought according
TO the precepts of their religion.
But the Greeks were never daunie d.
Some times IL WAS fighting am ong
gaunt hills, sometimes fighting on
green plsins, but always the Greeks
held their positions. When night
came shells burst In fury lightning the
darkness. BY the red flashes l saw
wounded taken to V0lo. There was
very little outcry among them. They
were mostly silent.
In the gray early morning the
muske.ry fire began again. 1t ratified
from hill to hill; batteries awoke, and
the whole play WAS resumed. The
Turkish guns were superior to those OF
the Greeks rho mad mostly mountain
howitzsrs. 1 watched for long time
the blue clad Greek inisntry marcia
Ing in position across Il small pisi n.
While watched the Turks changed
their attack from the Greek right on
the plain to the Crock left ON the
rucky hill. Then the fighting became
Obscured from view. The Grseks lay
in trenches snugly fiattened against
the ditt, firing CAREFULLY, while the
Turks loomed cloee before them.
Every ridge was iringed with smoke.
l saw soldiers In the trenches eass off
and take drink from their canteens,
twist their cartridge bolts ~ put the
empty links behind them, or turn
around to say something to q comrsde.
They then went at it again.
noticed one lieutenant standing up
In the rear ola trench rolling oigsT.
cite, his lips wide apart. In this csre-
lees attitude q shot went through his
trench and kDeit weeping over the
body regardless of the battle. The men
had to drag him In by the legs.
The reserves coming up passed a
| wayside shrine. The men paused to
Cross themselves aud pray. A shell
struck the shrine and demolished IL.
The msn In The rear of the column
we're obliged to pray 10 the spot where
the shrine had been.
News came rJm the LETT that the
Turks hal trieo to turn the flank and
failed. Tbs Turks formed on the right
anu novel slowly across the plain and
the battery opened on them. saw
| troops moving to the FEAR 10 prevent
possible flank stack, in the direc-
ton OF Volo. The hght on the plain
to the light began. Masses OF Turkish
troops like shadows elowly moved
forward toward the Greek trenches,
indicated by gray lines OF smoke.
Shots began TO rake the trenches on
| the hill anu to also rake the battery to
the rear. hoped the Greeks on the
plan would hurry aud drive the
Turks from their position. They did
| 1t CALAMITY In d short teroci0us In.
iaptry fight.
The biz OF woods where the fight oc.
Cured seemed Oh IRE. There was n
great railing and banging and then
the Turks went out defeated. There
was general rejoicing oil along the
Greek lines. fne officers walked
proudly; the men In the trenches
grinneo. Then, mind you, just at
this time, late Ia The afteraoon, after
another successful day, came the order
| to retreat,
sm1Ienski mad apparently received
the bIunt OF the fighting. Yet the
center and left near Karadjah and at
Phersnla had again retired.
No one could explain It, We were