The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-20
Many Skirmishes in ThessaIy Yester-
day, Notwithstanding the Agree
ment for an Armistice.
STATEMENT FROM THE PORTE
THAT THE POWERS WILL
HAVE DIFFICULT TASK.
Details of the Battle of DOmokOs-
Greeks, Who Fought Well.

LONDON, May 20.-The latest reports
from Athens show that skirmishes took
place in many places yesterday. The Turk
ish commanders in Thessaly, pending def
mite orders from Edhem Pasha will only
accept an armistice of twenty-four hours.
There is little doubt, however, that fort
nights armistice will be arranged. 1t is
difficult to ascertain exactly what occurred
after the retreat from Domokos. Appar-
emily the Turks continued to advance and,
either in ignorance or willfully ignoring the
armistice negotiations, attacked the Greek
rear guard. After several combats, lasting
three or four hours, the Greeks were COM
PEELED, about o'clock in the morning, to
retire towards Lamia The news of the
fighting caused a general flight from
Lama during the night. The telegraph Of
ficals fed with the rest, and this cutting
of communications led to the widest ru-
mors at Athens until the clerks could be
induced to return and communication with
Lamia was restored.
An official statement was published at
Constantinople last evening, which, after
briefly reciting the Turkish side of the war
up to the battle of Domokos says: 1.-THE
Gear sent to the Sultan a special telegram
expressing his sincere sentiments in reaf-
firming the pacific views of the powers, and
noting with appreciation the success of the
imperial troops. The capture of Domokos
forming the natural limit of the defensive
operations and the government being de-
sirous of giving fresh proof of it's pacific
intention, the Cabinet decided and it's deci-
sion was confirmed by an trade to cease
hostilities upon conditions to be arranged
by the respective commanders. The condi-
tions of peace, following the armistice will
fba fur rio a Of ia
imperial government, the frontiers of Tur-
key and the preservation of general peace"
The correspondent of the Standard at
Constantinople says IAN imperial trade
just issued orders the immediate dispatch
of d commission, including the German en-
gineer of the Anatolian Railway, to inspect
the railways in Thessaly, to repair it and
to draw plans for it's junction with the
Turkish line to Monastir This indicates an
intention to transfer the line to the
Deutsche Bank syndicate and to keep d
permanent hold on Thessaly."
The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at
Constantinople says the Sultan has stated
to Baron De Calice, the Austro-Hungarian
ambassador, that he is willing to modify
the terms of peace, which were formulated
under the pressure of irritation at fresh
Greek attacks in Epirus.
According to d dispatch to the Daily Mail
from Vienna, the Tageblatt says: THE
Sultan has consulted the Shiek ul Islam
who has declared it to be the will of Allah
that Thessaly should be reunited to Tur-
key. Should he act on this religious prompt
ing it may be extremely difficult for the
powers to prevent his purpose from being
carried OUT
The Times correspondent at Athens says:
THE news of fortnight's armistice
has caused a general feeling of unea-
siness here. kilograms are much delayed,
and the strangest rumors are current Re
ports of panic and of flight come from all
the towns in the districts around Lama and
Stylus These Turkish attacks at Phourka
and other positions en- the Othrys
range have compelled the army to retreat
to Mount Oetna and Thermopylae, while
the dislodgment of the Fourth Infantry
Regiment at Aidnitza threatens the retreat
of the main force.
A dispatch received from Lamia, dated
10 O'clock yesterday morning, announced
that the white flag had been hosted be-
tween the armies of Greece and Turkey
and that Crown Prince Constantine had
been authorized to suspend hostiltles with
the view of concluding arrangements for
armistice. Turkey demands as a condition
of armistice that all Turkish territory in
Epirus shall be evacuated and the bridges
over the Arta neutralized
M Rail-, on behalf OF the Greek govern
ment, has notified the crown prince of the
conditions of the armistice concluded at
Arta, adding: 'lmpart these conditions to
the commanders of the Turkish forces; de-
clare that from this moment you suspend
hostilites and will only resume them in
the event of an attack; disclam all re-
sponSibility for any violation of the
armistice and invite the Turkish command
erS to suspend all hostility"
telegram received at midnight an
nounces the arrival of General Smolenski
at Lamia, where his presence eXerts a
calming influence upon the population The
Greek government has ordered General
SmoIensk to occupy and defend Thermop-
ylae and Molos (Malos), which will con-
stitute the chief line of Greek defense. It
appears that portion of the army re-
was cut off by the Turkish oc-
lighting occurred there Tuesday morning
When the Greek commander informed the
enemy that an armistice had been signed
the latter replied that he had no knowI-
ment. He stopped the hghting, pending a
reference of the matter TO Edhem Pasha
at Domokos.
General Smolenski and Crown Prince
Constantine met late last night (Wednes-
day) at Imerhe, five miles from Lamia No
further progress has been made in the
peace negotiations.
A dispatch received at o'clock this morn
ing from Arta says that when the Greek
and Turkish delegates met late yesterday
to discuss the armiStice the latter declared
that they would submit the proposal of
the Greeks TO Edhem Pasha and, pending
the arrival of Instructions from him would
agree to an armistice for twenty-four hours.
l.