Evening star., 1897-05-07
Turks Occupy Velestino and Pharsalos
After Hard Fighting.
PROSPECT GOOD FOR MEDIATION
Greeks are Now Intrenched at
Domokos and AImyros.
TURKS HAVE ATTACKEDVOLO

LONDON, May IA special dispatch
from Athens says a telegram has been re-
ceived there from Prince Constantine saw
| frg: Our new position at Domokos is one
OF great strength. We are resolved 10 mold
IL at all costs. The retreat from Pharsalos
was rendered imperative by the overwhe
| ing numbers of the enemy and was effected
without mishap."
ATHENS. May IA dispatch lust re-
ceived from Almyros announces that Cen
eral Smolenski's brigade arrived there this
| morning after having effected retreat
frcm Nelestino in good order.
A panic prevails at Lamia on the gulf of
Lamia, which is now the base of supplies
Tor the Greek forces at Domoskos Many
or the inhabitants are fleeing from the
| place. fearing 1t will be attacked by the
Turks Three vessels brought refugees
from Lama to the PiraeUs yesterday even
irg.
CoNSTANTINOPLE. May 7.-an official
ccmmunique reiterates that the excesses
attributed to the Turkish troops at Larissa
are Infamous calumnies, and that the al
| legged Turkish evacuation of Trikhala is
unfounded.
Turkey FavOrs Mediation.
The proposed mediation of the powers be-
tween turkey ana Greece Is viewed with
favor by the Turkish government
Another batch of men who have been On
| trial. charged with participating in the
| massacre of Armenians in the streets of
Tokat. district of Sivas have been sem
fenced. Three of them have been con-
demned to death and four Others have bean
sentenced to terms of from three To len
years Imprisonment
The authorities of Erzeroum have been
ordered to hold eleven regiments of the
famous Hamidieh cavalry in readiness in
case they are wanted for services in Thes-
sally.
A battalion of Rcdifs has been sent TO
the Island of Mytiiine as a precaution
against a possible landing of the Greeks
there
Turks Occupy Pharsalos.
The Turkish government ias. night ,e-
ceived the following official dispatch from
Pharsalcs:
AT dawn the imperial troops, having at
| tackled the enemy occupying Pharsalos.
from which place a portion Of The Greek
troops had already begun to retreat during
The night, dictated them and captured the
town
"A division of cavalry pursued the en-
emy on the road to Domokos and the di-
vision OF khairi Pasha has been ordered to
advance in that direction.
The Greeks left ammunition and pro-
visions at PharsaIos"
Headquarters of the Turkish Army in
Thessaly. Pharsalos. May Q, night DELAYED
in transmission).-The Greeks, in retiring
across the plains toward the town. suf-
fered terrible loss from the murderous fire
OF the Turkish artillery. During the re-
treat the Greeks were compelled to cross
the river by a single bridge. As the Greek
troops were massed at that point the Tur-
kish artillery wrought fearful havoc among
them. Nevertheless, the Greeks fought
desperately until nightfan
VeIestinO Reported Captured.
LARISSA, May might delayed in
transmission. During the day many
wounded Turkish soldiers were brought In
here from the front. They confirm the
report OF the capture of Velesiao by the
Turks, where the fighting has been severe.
A Turkish brigade is marching on Volo,
which is expected soon to be In the hands
OF the Ottoman troops.
Everybody speaks Of the remarkable
courage displayed by the Albanian troops.
SALONICA, May 6 delayed in transmits
sion).-The Greek fleet today dropped a
number of shells into the Turkish camp at
Kassandra. but they did no harm. The
Greeks did not try to effect a landing.
Story of battle of PharsaIos.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE TURKISH
ARMY IN THESSALY, PHARSALOS, May
6 delayed in transmission).-Th Turkish
army tonight is bivouacking In the eighty
villages surrounding Pharsalos. captured
from the Greeks.
The battle began at o'clock In the morn
ing. After skirmishes between the advance
posts of the opposing forces, the Greek ar
tillery opened fire with great precision.
But the Turks pushed forward. exposing
themselves to the enemys fire with the
greatest sangfroid.
The Greeks then made a fatal error in
leaving the commanding positions which
they occupied, and retiring upon the plain,
which was commanded on all points Ly our
batteries, which were brought into action
SO soon as the Greeks left the hills. The
scene which followed was both interesting
and cruel The Greeks, from all parts OF
the plain were converging toward a stone
bridge spanning the river, and which was
the only means of getting over.
The mass of humanity at this point was
constantly growing. when the roar OF the
tanned the exact range of the enemy, and
shell after shell fell and exploded I'm the
midst Of the frgitives. The havoc created
by the shrapnel was terrible. Gradually
however. through this decimsting fire
the greater part CT the Greeks crossed the
river.
The Turks. who were then covering the
plain like bees, met with strong resist
ance while attacking Vasili. where the
Greeks, from hidden positions. opened
furious fire. In the face OF this. the Turks
advanced with marvellous temer1ty ana
captured the village not so much by force
of arms as by the fear which their splendid
insoucience inspired in the enemy.
Owing to the fact that 1t was not de-
signed to commence the decisive engage
ment unit, tomorrow. the Turkish division
intended to take the enemy In hank only
arrived half an hour before the close OF
the combat today. having marched thirty
miles.
oResl<s Began Wen.
The Greek guns. while they opened well,