The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-03
GREEK PANIC IN EPIRUs.
Flight of the Hellenic Army After the
Fight at Pentepigadia.

LONDON, May "A dispatch to the
Times from Pentepigadia, dated Thursday
says that the Greeks are arming the pop
ulation of the district and have occupied
Turkish territory, many villagers escaping
through the Turkish lines and joining the
ranks of the Greeks. The Times corre-
spondent at Patras, giving further details
of the lighting at Pentepigadia, notes the
neglect of the officers to provide for the
timely arrival of reinforcements a matter
so difficult in that wild section of the coun-
try, and proceeds: when the Turks opened
the attack l realized that their fierce on
slaught might expel the mere handful of
Greeks, but l did not realize that this one
blow would throw the entire Greek army
in Epirus into hopeless panic and cause
the loss of all the positions gained since
the opening Il the campaign. Six thousand
Turks scaled the mountain, covered as it
is with bushes and rocks. and in the face
of firing which was rapid and continuous.
They lost heavily in spite of the fact that
two Greek guns were inexpiicably removed
from action shortly after the fusillade be-
gan. The Evzones fought bravely but were
compelled to retire. The rest of the Greek
positions have been abandoned. There has
been apparently no stand anywhere and
ing a shot
1--WE entered KumuZades, which 1000 men,
with six guns, had deserted, accompanied
by the terrified villagers, carrying their
property and then we descended the rough
pass, where for hours we met no one The
retreating and panic-stricken troops were
far ahead. About midnight we and our
mournful procession OF villagers overlook
the routed army on the road, crowded and
in utter confusion, packed with mass of
humanity tumbling through the dark
ness, without hurry and silently, for it
was a strange panic that had seized the
men. a sullen, uneXcited, stubborn de-
termination not to fight, but to press on
toward Arta in a sluggish, irresistible
wave. The officers, like their regiments,
walked with gloomy and shame-faced eX-
preston, quite unable to get their men in
hand.
"At Kanopoulo Colonel Botzari and his
staff vainy tried to check the rout and to
make a stand, but the mass continually
growing, kept rolling along, till presently
there mingled with the troops the scared
inhabitants of the villages on the line of re-
treat, who, fearing Turkish vengeance for
assisting the Greeks, were fleeing to Arta
with their families and chattels, their cat
tie, sheep and goats following. bleating
trampling and killing each other, while the
glare of burning homes behind reminded
them of all that they had lost
The correspondent of the Standard at
Constantinople says: said Eddin Pasha
arrived at Janina Thursday night with
eight battalions from Adrianople. Eighteen
other battalions were expected on the fol-
lowing day. He intends to assume the Of
fensive. and it sis considered that the
Greeks in Epirus have no alternative but
surrender, with the Turks advancing from
both Janina and Trikhala. Hafzi Pasha
complained bitterly of the lawlessness and
pillaging of the Albanians, and the palace
council has, therefore, decided to distribute
other regiments in that section"
A dispatch from Athens says: "After re-
naming inactive for two days the Greek
troops yesterday (Friday) reinvaded Epirus
The sixth regiment advanced and occupied
Philppiada for the third time without
fighting. The Turks are still at Pentepi
gadia, and Imaret has been fortified the
military bridge over the River Arta (Arach-
thos) having been destroyed. The streets
of Arta present strange scene, with the
continuous exodus of citizens and the
steady incoming of the peasantry, who
camp out in the streets, around fires, with
thousands of sheep and cattle"