The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
THE GREEK INVASION.
II Was Secretly PIanned-Said to BE
Part of Greece's Program.

""S secrety fInnned-Satd to BE
Part of Greece's Program.
Athens, April -Noon.-Accounts are
very conflicting as to what really hap
pened last Friday when the frontier was
crossed by the Greek insurgents. A spc
cal correspondent of the Associated
Press went to Larissa last evening (Sat
urday) and nscertained that the invaders
numbered upwards of 5000. Among then
were Amilieare Ciprioni and his Italian
volunteers. The entire force was undeI
the command of three ex-officers of the
Greek army, Kapsaloupoulas, Mylianos
and Iiepetros, and four Macedonian
chiefs, Zermas, Davelis, Vrakas and
Saranto.
The rendezvous was at Koniskos, a vii
lage near Kalabaka. The men were all
fully armed and wore the national cos
tune, their black fur caps bearing the
badge and initials of the Ethenike He.
tairia embroidered in blue and white
with the words "En Tonic Nika" cross
ing the initials in black
On Friday monk from Mount Athos
insisted by his abbot and two deacons,
held religious service at Koniskos. at
which all members of the invading body
partook OF the sacrament and registered
to the oath of the order, Liberty or
Death"
In addition, to large quantities of am
intuition and provisions. the force has
f3O0O in gold. During Friday night fol.
lowing the service the frontier was
crossed, the force moving in the direction
of Schuik. White this movement was
In progress second band. the number
OF which Is yet unknown, had rendez-
yous Mt Nezeros on the frontier about
thirtyrfve kilometers north of Larissa
and near the coast. This band was sim
ilarly equipped, had n similar mission
and took the same oath. 1t was COM
manded by the Macedonian chief Sinsin-
Kos. 1t crossed the frontier on Thursday
night and marched on Karya.
AS everywhere in the vale of Tempe
this portion of the frontier, the roads and
bridges are in u condition of thorough
repair.
This Sunday morning the roar Of mr.
tiiery can be plainly heard Mt Larssa
from the direction of Karya, where Sin
slnk0s IL evidently forcing matters.
Zen. Makris and his staff, with some
knowledge OF the movements afoot which
they were unwilling to impart, left yes
terday for Tyrnavos, the most important
Greek position near Eassonia. -Four bat
teries of renforcements followed them to
the same point. AT headquarters they
Ndeciare nothing is known MS to the raid
and will say nothing as to the probable
character of the invaders. However.
some. additional light has been thrown
on the subject today by an interview
between the representative of the Asso-
ciated Press and a prominent Greek
who is in close touch with the league and
the plans. The Greek said
THE movements of these bands are
In accordance with very clearly de-
fined program. For years thousands of
Greeks, even little children, on receiving
a shilling, have been in the habit of put
ting half of II into n national box in the
cause of Pan-Hellenism. For many
months il has been the plan of the league
to stir up all the Pan-Hellenic people by
means of armed bands. Now that a
great moment has come in Greek his
tory, we have seized upon it. Our aim
Mt present is to get behind the Turkish
lines and stir up all our brethren.
whether or not Europe insists upon
the integrity of Turkey, Greece is not
animated by selfish views or with any
desire for annexing territory to the king
dom. She demands not only true and
complete independence of heroic Crete.
but the same independence for Epirus.
Macedonia and Thrace. And she de-
mands this also for the subjugated nom
ulations of Asia Minor.
therefore, Greece will face any dam
ger in order to reach that end. Years of
lighting, suffering and unnumbered
crimes and tyrannies have been forced
upon those who are our kinsmen by faith
and blood in those countries and we are
pledged in the most solemn way and in