The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-04-29
A TERRIFIC BATTLE.
The Greek Army Driven Back by
Force of Numbers.
Larissn In the Hands of the Turks
King George Will Go to the
Front Powers Preparing
to Intervene.

Athens, April 26.-The Greek army
has fallen back to second line of de-
Tense. A dispatch was received from
Prince Constantine Saturday to the eff
feet that the Greek army, after ter
rifle battle at Matt, was driven back by
force of numbers and had retreated to
Pharsalos. Col. Mastrapas' brigade,
which had been repulsing repeated at
tacks of the Turks at Matt with great
heroism, was not able to keep it's posi-
ton and withdrew toward Tyrnavos. In
a war council presided over by Prince
Constantine it was DECIDED to leave
Tyrnavos and Larissa and withdraw to-
ward Pharsalos, about 20 miles south
probably take place. The Greek army
withdrew in perfect order, although
pursued by overwhelming numbers of
Turkish infantry and cavalry. The
brigades under Coils. Smolentz and DIM
opoulos withdrew from the passes of
Reveni and Boughazi in good order.
The wounded remain at Larissa under
the protection of the Red Cross flag.
Half a dozen or more attacks were
made by the Turks before they final
ly succeeded in driving the Greeks back
to Kazaklar. From Kazaklar they re-
treated to Larissa, which place they
evacuated without struggle simply
because the Turkish troops were rap
idly inclosing them in trap. With the
south still open, the Greeks took ad-
vantage and withdrew to Pharsalos.
where it is expected the next battle will
take place. Upon reaching Pharsalos
selves in anticipation of pursuit by the
Turks. Strange to say, the enemy has
remained in the vicinity of Larissa and
has yet made no movement southwark.
Outlook Gloomy.
Athens, April 26.-1t is useless to
deny that very gloomy outlook of the
war prospect is taken here by the bet
ter informed. There are, however, no
signs of panic. The city exhibits an
attitude of dignified endurance, while
many persons still show an undated
enthusiasm for fight. Although it is
said that the. Greeks carried off all their
gums from Tyrnavo and Larissa, and
also destroyed the provisions at both
places, they could not transport the
guns to Pharsala. 1t is reluctantly be-
lieved by some in Athcnian circles that
the retreat was somewhat disorderly
and that some of the guns were aban-
doned with but feeble defense.
Will Continue to Fight.
The Greek government has decided to
persevere in the struggle and to resist
the further advance of the enemy with
greater energy than has hitherto been
displayed. 1t is officially declared that
the new line of defense is far stronger
than the frontier where the Turks
gained their advantage in consequence
of the superiority of their positions.
King George means to go to the front
and to take decided stand at Pharsala,
which was the line of defense advised
by Gen. Vosseur and some members of
his staff from the very beginning. The
Greeks have destroyed the railway from
Larissa to VoIo. 1t is reported that the
Greeks have arrived in the vicinity of
Janina.
End May Be in Sight.
London, April 26.-What seems likely
to be the last week of the war was en-
tered upon Sunday. 1t is difficult from
the tangle of conflicting kilograms to
understand the exact position of af-
fairs. Following the Greek defeat at
Larissa, London opinion is almost unan-
imous that the end is in sight, and this
view is probably shared by the powers,
as they are already moving to intervene.
It is believed that Intervention will first
take the form of a suggestion of armis-
tice, to which the combatants would
no doubt agree. Since Saturday after
neon the British foreign office has been
in close communication with the other
members of the European concert, Great
Britain suggesting that the time has
now arrived for them to act