New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-20
THE ATTACK ON DOMOKO.
HOW THE BATTLE OF MONDAY WAS
FOUGHT.
FORWARD MOVEMENT OF EDHEM PAcHAs ARMY
MADE WITH GAII.ANTRY AND BRAvELY

Iurklsn headquarters, befOre DOmOho, Mdy
IL delayed In transmsson).-A great battle.
fought well into the night. and the most import
ant Of the war; is now ended. The combat can
only be described indecsive The hghtng
ragged from early morning until long after dark.
and when the last dropping shots were passing
over the field the advantage did not appear TO
rest with either side The Greeks maintained
their positions and acquitted themselves so we'll
as to earn the hearty praises Of the Turks. They
resisted with stubborn endurance the determined
attacks Of the Ottoman troops throughout the
liveOng day and still held their intrenchments
at nightfall. The Turks made a supreme eHort
late this evening. but It was met with the Ut
most bravery upon the part OF the Greeks ana
failed The losses Of the Turks were heavy. Inc
left division of the Turks engaged from
o'clock In the morning and appears to have sue
ceeded in forcing back the Greek right wing
TURKS MOVE FORWARD TO BATTLE.
The Turkish troops in movement at an
early hour and most " the divisions lert fhar-
salos at dawn, led by the Circassian ca'ars
which acted skirmishers during the carrier
part of the engagement The real fighting pe-
gan about II o'clock The Turks encountered
squadron OF Greek cavalry occupying as an ad-
vance post a village on the plain before Domoko
After a sharp exchange Of shots between 'he
TURKISH ana Greek CdNdTyIHtp 'hN
squadron retired from the village under fire ana
retreated toward Domoko. This preliminary
skrmish was the signal for t-e Greeks 10 pre-
pare all along their line to receive the TURKISH
attack.
The scene at that hour was really magnificent
The weather was everything which could be de-
sired for a battle and IL would be diIncuit u
imagine anything more attractive than the sish'
presented by the two divisions OF the lurNs"
Army as they depoyed in fine order upon '"e
plain their red fezes and glittering arms loi"-
ing a bright contrast to the dark-blue uniforms
and background of the hills ana piaihs' Ohe
Of the Turkish divisions was led by It's panos
of music and the troops moved forward as IL
parade.
The Greeks had established siege guns on the
SUBMITS OF the hills around Domoko. ana these
pieces opened the engagement Win "eh
directed fire upon the massed battaiions Oh
Turks advancing from the foot OF the hills
Although the Greek artillery was admiraoiy
handled 1t had no material effect IN checKihs
the Turkish advance.
Suddenly. at a given word OF command, the
Turkish troops. instead OF keeping straight
ahead in the direction Of Domoko deployed IN
fine order TO the right and took up position
behind hill where they waited while the "ihss
of the Turkish Army completed their lor"aiu
movements Then followed a period OF suspense
during which the Turks steadily TOOK up the
nos,,,ons assigned 10 them, ami at last. at 8
o'clock in the afternoon, the Turkish artiiiery'
% tho great relief OF the Ottoman troops, opened
era unon the enemy The Greek guns replied
with great precision and pretty artillery ouei
was the result both sides exchanging sDeh-
fire for about an hour. with no very great re-
suit. so far as could be seen. on either SIDE
although both Turks and Greeks ios' hui'''e'
of men, killed and wounded.
Toward o'clock in the afternoon Necha'
Pacha. who commanded the advance on me
Greek positions, ordered the infantfy prisaue
armed with Mauser rifles TO advance ,M' Inc
bugles sounded and, with commendanie sNil,'
taking advantage Of every Inequality ol elouhu'
the skirmishers little by little by pretty rushes'
halts for firing followed by more rushes Tor
ward TO other positions OF vantage crept up 10
the first position held by the creeks Inc
snitter-spattering Of the fire Of the skirmsh line
was answered by ong grinding rattle OF mus
kerry from the Greek intrenchments FORMING
long line which was well held by the Greek IN
| fantry and which cohiiii'''ueu '
| from the plain.
RATTLING IN GRIM EARNEST
The nrcmnaries over a terrific combat be-
t,veen the opposing forces began The skirniish-
| ers increased the rapidity Of their fire The main
| bodies of the Turkish troops advanced, their
| forward movements being covered by the nre
| of ten Turkish batteries OF artillery. Soon the
| eneagement was general, the grinding rattle OF
! the rifles increased In fury, the booming OF the
| neld-pieces became general, bullets whistled In
showers across the plain and shells burst on
| evorv side little white clouds OF smoke marking
the spots where the shrapne shells exploded.
The guns OF the Greeks were splendidy aimed
! ond sncceeded in putting one Turkish piece out
| NJ action: but the Turkish artillerymen re-
venged themselves by pumping a shell into
| q Greek caissOn in the rear or one or the
anemv's batteries. This caisson was filed with
ammunition and il promptly blew mp. Ihe Ell
! feet of the explosion was extraordinary. An I'M
mense white cloud rose suddenly from e the
| Greek battery and this followed by dull
! report showing that number of Greeks. in all
! probability. had been placed hors de combat by
the explosion. This caused the turkish gun
! ners to shout with JOS and wave their fezes
| wildly in the air. the discovery that they had
blown up Greek caisson seeming to cause them
| more delight than the dropping Of a shrapnel
| shell in the Greek intrenchments
! During this artillery duel, which was really
dja bolcal in its ferocity. the main bodies OF the
Turkish infantry opened fire at long range IN
! order TO discover the positions occupied by the
| enemy The Greeks were not long In replying
! No sooner did the Turkish commander feel
! the enemy accurately than he pushed forward
| his Irregular troops for the attack. The latter
! advanced with great spirit, and. In the race OF
a hot fire. drove the Greeks from several OF
| their advanced intrenched positions
FIERCE FIGHTING AS NIGHT DREW ON.
But. II the fighting had been gallant and des-
nerate on both sides up TO the present, II was
still more so from this line on. The firing on
| both sides became really terrific Both Greeks
and Turks realized the importance OF achieving
decisive results before nightfall. The sun was
getting near the horizon and there was no tell
! Ing what might happen during the night. There
fore the cannonading and rifle fire Increased In
| intensity
Eventually. however. night advanced and ma
ture seemed sternly to bid the combat cease and
| toward o'clock the Greeks. having gallantly
| hold their intrenchments against superior
/ forces. and having given proof of the greatest
! courage deserving OF all praise began to sacken
their fire. The firing OF the Turks at the same
,ir,a also abated and soon the deafenng rattle
of war smothered down into few dropping
/ eho,s here and there about the hills and plains
ard eventually silence reigned once more over
ltIt