The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-20
Greece's Desperate Chance.

Greece's Desperate Chance.
The situation on the frontier of Greece,
es developed 10y the morning dispatches
as very serious one for the gallant little
kingdom. It's evident that the Turks have
taken Milcuna Pass, and it = rot at all
likely that the Greek army viii be able to
recaptule it by direct attack Once in the
possession of a powerful force, amply sup
piled with artillery and machine guns,
and with the scientific German Officers
at the command of Edhem Pasha to dilect
the pelations, position like that rugged
Opening in the mountains ought to he iIp-
pregnable to any assault that Prince Con
stantine's army could un dertake. But
all is not lost because Milouna Pass has
been captured. The Turks now must at
tack and carry the Greek second line at
Tymavos, before the load to Larissa is
open to them. In front OF that line the
fierce conflict is waging today, and the
results are doubtful, although il must be
said that the chances seem to be against
Prince Constantine.
If Edheru Pasha had succeeded in his de-
sign OF breaking through the pass OF Reysni,
an opening in the ridges southeast Of Mount
Olympus, through which flows the river
Salamhria, he would have commanded The
plain OF Larissa cut off retreat Of the Greek
armyin that direction, and could have taken
thepldcet today His splendid repulse at that
point offers the one ground for hope that
the battle at large may result in a Greek
success Prince Constantine is reported to
have gone to Reveni and it is further said
that the divisioa of gen Mavroyemichaelis
has been started through the pass If the
Greeks have the force TO spare, il is possi-
bile that they might be able, through
movement like this, TO strike the Turkish
rear 10y way of Mount Olympus, and thus
create a diversion which might compel Ed
hem Pasha to withdraw from the attack ga
Tyrnavos
If ything of that character should kap-
pen, aud tits almost too good TO hope for,
the chances OF war would be likely to swing
Ia the Greek side; because the brilliant
successes of King Georges army and navy
on the Gulf Of Arta and in the invasion OF
Epirus at the Western end of the frontier,
will be certain e bring into action the en-
tire fighting force OF the Epirote and Al
bantam peoples, if a few days breathing
spell is allowed to the Greeks. Only a
crushing defeat of the latter at Tyrnavos
and Larissa will suffice to keep the wild
Hellenes OF the two provinces from falling
en- masse upon the ran ksand rear OF Edhem
Pasha's army, and. although they would
lack the organization and artillery to meet
him in the open, they could engage a very
large proportion of his available force in
resisting their guerrilla operations and in
protecting his communications, which the
momtaineers would continually threaten
if they did not aunihilaJe.
1t is too early to discuss what the powers
may do in the premises. On the surface,
matters seem to be quiet enough between
them, but it is evident that tits the quiet
Of cats and dogs crouching for spring
at each others threats on the occurrence
OF a good opening. The opening may not
come, and then there will be peace, aside
from the present belligerents: or il NAV
occur, and then there will be a war
for the settlement of the Eastern question
at large Itmay be said with truth, that
the great wars OF Europe have followed
causes much less exciting and fractional
than the bloody struggle now in progress
bet ween Greece and Turkey.