Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-04-16
THE HELLENIC RAID
Greek Fiag Planted on Historic Mount
olympus.


Athens. April 13.-The Greco-TuriS-
ish situation is now extremely critical
and 1t does not seem possible that war
can be uverted.
An armed expedition equipped by the
Hthnike hetairia. or Panhellenic league,
has crossed the border from Thessaly
into Macedonia and made an attack on
the Turkish forces The garrison at
Baltimo was blockaded, and a consid-
cradle number Of Turks killed and
taken prisoners. Later the town of
Krania was besieged and taken, and Il
is reported that the lnsurgent force has
planted the Greek flag on Mount Olym-
pus.
IL has been ascertained that the in
vaders numbered upward of 5000.
Among them were Signor Sipriani and
his Italian volunteers The entire force
was under the command of three ex-
officers of the Greek army. Kapsalopou-
las, RIylanos and Ziepetros and four
Macedonian chiefs, Zermas, Davelis,
Vrakas and sarantio.
The rendezvous was at Koniskos,
village near Ealabaka. The men were
all fully armed and wore the national
costume, their black fur caps bearing
the badge and initials of the Ethnike
hetara. or National league embroidered
In blue and white, with the words En-
Toute Nlka" crossing the initials Ia
black
on Friday a monk from Mount Athos
assisted his abbot and two deaCons at
religious service at Koniskos, at which
all members of the invading body par
took of the sacrament and registered
the oath of the order, Liberty or
death"
In addition to large quantities of am
munition and provisions the force had
GOO in gold. During Friday night
following the service the frontier was
crossed, the force moving in the direc-
ton Of Schuik. While this movement
was in progress q second band the
number of whom is as yet unknown,
| had a rendezvous at Nezeros, on the
| frontier, about 80 llilometers north of
/ Larissa and near the coast. This band
was similarly equipped, had a similar
mission and took the same oath. 1t
was commanded by the Macedonian
| chief Snsinikos. It crossed the from
tier on Thursday night, marching on
/ Karya
General aIRlSris Leaves For the Front.
General Makris and his staff with
some knowledge of the movements
afoot which they were unwilling TO i'm
| part. have left for Tyrnavos. the most
! important Greek position near Elias
/ soma. Four batteries of reinforcements
/ have followed for the same point AT
| headquarters they declare that moth
| ing is known as to the raid and viii
say nothing as TO the probable charac-
/ ter of the raiders However, some ad-
| ditional light has been thrown on the
subject by an interview between a
/ press representative and a prominent
/ Greek who is evidently in close touch
with the league and it's plans. The
| Greek said
"The movement Of these bands is all
/ in accordance with a very clearly de-
fined programme. For years thousands
of Greeks, even little children, on re-
ceiving a shilling have been in the hab-
/ it of putting half of it into a national
box in the cause Of Pan Hellenism. For
many months it has been the plan OF
the league to stir up all the Pan Hell
lenic peoples by means of armed bands
Now that a great moment has come in
Greek history we have seized upon it
Our aim at present is to get behind tho
Turkish lines and to stir up all oui
/ brethren.
- w nelneT or not EUROPE lnSlSlS OF
the integrity of Turkey, Greece is not
animated by selfish views or with any
desire for annexing territory to the
kingdom. She demands not only a true
and complete independence for heroic
Crete, but the same independence fol
Eprus, Macedonia and Thrace And
she demands this also for all the sub
jugated populations of Asia Minor,
"Therefore Greece viii face any dan
ger in order to reach that end. Year,
Of frightful suffering and unnumbereC
crimes and tyranncs have been forcet
upon those who are cur kinsmen by
faith and blood in those countries, and
we are pledged in the most solemn way
and inspired by the most sacred and en-,
nobling principles Of liberty to do al
in our power TO lift from them tht
curse which burdens them"
When the attack began, strict orders
were sent to all the Greek outposts or
the frontier to preserve neutrality and
not to open fire until actually attacked
by the Turks. The only casualties re-
ported here are the deaths Of two lead
ers and of three Italians.