The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-15
over 400 HeIIenes Hors De Combat
When NightfaII Temporarily
Ended the Contest.
SULTAN STILL HOLDING BACK
HE WILL NOT DISCUSS PEACE DUR
ING THE BAIRAM FESTIVAL.
Greeks Concentrating at Lamia, and
the Turks Near DOmokOs-signiii-
cant Hint from Russia.

LONDON, May 14-Except for the fight
ing in Epirus the Turco- Hellenic situation
is virtually unchanged from what it was
yesterday. 1t is toleraby certain that only
q few Greek troops remain in Domokos, the
bulk of Crown Prince Constantine's army
having Withdrawn to Lamia, where it will
be in closer communication with General
Smolenski. This probably explains the re-
ported movements of the Turkish army as
many Of Edhem Pash's troops have been
marching from Trkhala to Volo. Without
doubt the respite of the Feast of Bairam
is very welcome to the fatigued men.
The fighting in Epirus has been indecisive.
1t is believed that Nicopolis is not yet cap
tured, but only the heights commanding
the town.. The Greeks made a pretext of
the protection of the peasants but they evil
IDENTIFY have information as to the reasons
for the apparent inactivity of the Turks in
Epirus. This is the seventh time the Greeks
have attempted to advance to Janina and
have met with a repulse which the Turks
have never followed up. Evidently there Is
something wrong with the Turkish forces
at that point. The recent report that
number of officers were taken from Janina
to Constantinople in chains may perhaps
forces there through fear of a movement
from Bulgaria.
The correspondent of the Times at Athens
saws: THE resumption of offensive opera
tionsA in Epirus greatly complicates the sit
uation and tends to hamper the negotia-
tions for peace. The evident intention Of
the Greek commanders is to capture the
I Turkish positions there in order to show
that they have not been defeated In an
interview to-day, M. Ralli, the premier, re-
peated his statement that humanitarian
motives are responsible for the advance in
Epirus, but he did not deny the advan-
| tages which might be hoped for from the
! capture of Prevesa and the occupation of
| the adjoining Turkish territory. We are
| still at war he said, and until an armls-
! tice is concluded Greece retains her liberty
| of action. We cannot allow our activity to
| be confined to Thessaly, where the Turks
| are preponderant. The powers have him
! dered US from acting in Crete; but Greece
! cannot be barred everywhereinor compelled
! to restrict her operations to limited area.
| We have done our best to obtain an armis-
/ tce; and until it is accorded we must act
| where and when we can. If we have not
! already prosecuted the war at various
| points and among the islands of the
! Aegean, it is only because we have taken
| into consideration the sufferings to which
| the Greek population might be subjected.
1.-THE government apparently thinks that
! a renewal of the war will hasten instead
| of retard the armistice. This calculation
| may prove TO be correct, but it is more
| likely that Turkey will seize on 1t as an
| excuse for delaying the armistice and will
| deal a crushing blow in Thessaly."
| The Turkish government, in its reply TO
the note of the ambassadors of the powers
| Offering mediation between Turkey and
| Greece, says the Sultan will be in posi-
! ton to discuss mediation after the great
| Baram festival, which began yesterday
and ends Sunday night!
The correspondent of the Times at Con-
| stantinople says: THE Sultan is sorely
| perplexed and embarrassed by the Islmanic
| influences, military and theological, which
are united in vehement protests against
| leniency to Greece as defrauding Turkey of
the legitimate fruits of victory" The cor
| respondent adds that M. Gambon, the
| French ambassador addressing the French
| colony yesterday, spoke hopefully and pre-
| dicted an early restoration of normal con-
ditions and the conclusion of peace.
| The Athens correspondent of the Daily
Chronicle says: THE Turks who had taken
| refuge at Griboro were largely reinforced
| during the night (Thursday) and received
! the attack of the Greeks this morning (Fri-
| day) with terrible fire. The Greeks re-
tired with loss of five hundred men,
The Constantinople correspondent of the
| Daily Telegraph says: THE Sultan, acting
upon the advice of Emperor William, has
| declared to NJ Gambon, the French embas-
! sador, that he cannot agree to granting an
| armistice until the basis of peaceahas been
decided upon and approved by him."
Official dispatches received at Constants
nople from Larissa, dated yesterday, say
| the Turkish divisions which are marching
on Domokos, the Greek headquarters, have
occupied the villages Of Hadjlomar, Bek-
| riler Karalar Pounar and Vardali. VAR
| dali is only about five and one-haif miles
north OF Domokos and Bekriler Is situ-
ated about seven and one-half miles north
of Domokos and little to the westward
| of VardaIi. Consequently to-day the Turk
ish forces should now be before Domokos
| Eleven Greek sailing vessels, which, with
| their crews have been captured by Turkish
war vessels, have been taken into the Dar-
daneues. a dispatch to the Daily Telegraph
from Athens says that the Greek govern
ment learns that Turkey has decided to re-
sort to piracy against Greek merchants
men, and that NJ. Skouloudis, the foreign
minister, viii protest TO the powers
| The Vienna correspondent of the Daily
News says: General Smolenski has dis
missed all the irregulars from his camp,
believing that they are responsible for many
of the Greek disasters and he threatens
to punish with death any one who intrudes
among his troops"
IN LEAGUE WITH TURKEY