The herald., 1897-05-06
ship BY acting up to the hard-earned
reputation OF cur countrymen."
CONSTANTINE'S EXCUSES,

ship BY acting up to the hard-earned
reputation OF cur countrymen."
CONSTANTINE's EXCUSES.
| NEW YORK, May 5.-A dispatch to
| the Journal from Pharsala says: His
Royal Highnee's. Crown Prince Constan-
ltine, Commander-in-Chie of the Greek
army, 10 now staying with his stan in
very plain house. which may still be con-
sidered palace in Pharsala. 1t stands
5uct outside the town, on the slope of the
mountains, which surround a magnifi-
cent plain, in which for second time
the fate Of country will perhaps be
settled in few days.
| In the course Of an interview the cor
respondent said to the Prince: when
last had the honor of seeing your
Royal Highness little thought events
would take such disastrous turn. The
friende' Of Greece are at a loss to explain
how or why the forces of the country
were SO suddenly withdrawn from the
frontier, leaving the people to the
Turks"
II am well aware" his Highness an
ewered, that our decision has been ad-
versely criticised in Greece and else
where. Still, as chief of the army, I mean
to take the full responsibility for all that
has been done.
You have seen the way our troops
fought In the few days the campaign
lasted. was in the front. as was my
duty, and I may say the idea never
crossed my mind that a retreat was nec-
essary They now reproach me for lav-
ing given orders to leave our positions
You are at liberty to declare that no
such order was ever penned by me. /
know our soldiers too we'll and was al
ways in favor of going ahead. 1 felt
and still hold the same opinion. The
truth. is, all my orders to the command
erS might be summed up in two words:
Push forward
However, those in command, upon
their own responsibility and for reasons
| 1 cannot discuss, ordered the retreat
from Matt and Derelira. When once !
was confronted with the fact that a re-
treat had been ordered and, actually was
proceeding, l took 1t upon me to leave
Larissa and bring the army back to
pharsala, where we should occupy a
practically impregnable position.
"Yes, take the full responsibility OF
the order. I was absolutely convinced
that a retreat OF the army could not be
trusted to reform In the open plain in
which Larissa is situated They blame
me now because it has been learned that
the Turkish army waited two days be-
Efore venturing to occupy the town, but
how is a General to reckon on the slow
ness of his adversary's movements?
Who could imagine that Edhem would
thus waste time? And was 1t not more
natural to expect that the Turkish cav
airy would surround the town in a few
hours, cutting off all retreat and oblig-
ing our army to surrender?
my duty as chief of the army was
to secure the safety of the country, TO
guard It against any surprise. When
time has passed over these events and
people can Judge coolly, still believe
my action will be considered as the wis
/ est that could be taken under the cir
cumstancee Certainly, my heart broke
when I realized that must abandon
Larissa to its fate. However, we did
what we had to do"
"But now that events have driven you
to bring back your army" I said to his
Highness. may ask whether you ex-
lpect the war to continue?"
You have seen how our soldiers have
been fighting at Velestino. You were on
the battlefield and could Judge for your
1eelf Of the bravery and pluck of Smo-
i lenslxi. The Turks have been driven back
toward Larissa. You ask me now II
we shall limit our action to defending
our position. L personally remain con.
/ vinced that It would be preferable = tt
take the offensive. We want to give
the army time to settle down again, st
that the morale will be as good as it was
at the opening of the campaign. Before
taking any further steps, the staff mus1
be convinced that the army has com
lpletely regained its former confidence
and that the Government can keep II
supplied with everything that is neces-
sary.
1--WE are working hard to get every.
| thing in order. I can say no more, but
tell our friends that hasty judgment
would be unfair, and that we hope tc
show them soon that everything that
has been done was really In the interest
Of the country"
ATHENS, May 5.-The Government is
negotiating with the Admirals in COM
mand of the fleets Of the foreign powers
on Cretan water for permission to send
a Greek warship to Crete to bring of
Colonel Vassos and other Greek officers
who had beer recalled.
SAILED FOR LENMOS
SALONICA, May Sit is officially an !
nounced that eight Turkish warships
have left the Dardanelles and, after pro-
ceeding to the Cassandra peninsula
sailed for the island of Lemnos.
GREEK REJOICING
LONDON. May 5.-The Athens cor
respondent of the Standard, under date
Of Wednesday. says: There is great re-
joicing over the receipt of the official tel
egram from Pharsalos saying that the
Turks have been repulsed and that the
Greeks hold their positions after q
three hours battle. The dispatch says
that Crown. Prince Constantine and
Prince Nicholas fought courageously in
the front rank. risking their lives hun
dred times and that they had an ovation
from the whole army when the fighting
was over.
"The government has forwarded to
them its warmest congratulations. The
king and his cabinet have also addressed
manifesto to the troops congratulatine
them upon their courage and patriotic
devotion.
1.-THE public is overjoyed and is al
ready forgetting the earlier blunders OF
| the campaign. A. decisive battle is ex-
nactad at Pharsalos tomorrow (Thlrs-