The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-17
CREEKS LEAVE EPIRUs.
Forced to Fall Lack on Arta-.Many
Slain al GriborO.


GREEKS LEAVE EPIRUS.
Forced to Fall Lack on Arta-.Many
Slain al GriborO.
LONDON, May 1.-THE Greek army in
Epirus has been compelled to fall back on
Arta, but continues to occupy a few posi-
tions beyond the bridge The Greek losses
at Griboro were 55S killed and wounded, SO
being officers. 1t is stated that the Greek
government has ordered the forces in Thes-
sally and in Epirus to remain strictly on
the defensive.
The correspondent of the Daily Chronicle
at Arta, telegraphing Saturday at noon
says: I'VE retired from our position at
dawn in good order but with heavy loss
Reinforcement was impossible. We are now
established about a mile south of Imaret
The Turks began creeping down at 8
o'clock. L can see groups of them search
ing the rocks along our yesterdays line
bat I think we brought all our killed and
wounded with us. A big gun from the Arta
barracks is now driving them back. But
they are gathering in large numbers in the
woods behind Grebenitza, and we expect
them to attack us on the right Yesterday
the mayor drove out everybody able to
bear arms to the scene of action. Women
and children stood on the surrounding
heights and the walls of Arta to watch the
battle all day long through the drenching
rain All night the men slept in their posi-
tion, soaked through"
The Times's correspondent now at Imaret
Heights, describing the fight in Epirus.
under Saturdays date, says: Throughout
the day Colonel Manos set an excellent ex-
ample, riding under fire with his staff to
oil tl,a I.otf
every point where his troops were scaling
the heights The Greeks greatly distin-
guished themselves by their splendid cool
ness under hot fire, proving that when well
led in properly conducted enterprise they
are as fine a type of troops as one could
wish to see. At the moment 1 am writing
this, o'clock Saturday morning the action
is very fierce. The Greeks are still gallant
ly advancing and on all sides getting the
best of it,
A dispatch from Constantinople SAYS: The
Council Of Ministers met again Sunday and
the Sultan has ordered a distribution of
troops at various points along the Salonica
Railway. Official dispatches have been re-
ceived from the commandant at Janina,
who says that division Of the Greek forces
approaching the town by a narrow gorge
from the direction of Gremenitza, charged
the heights of Griboro and Konoari, but
suffered heavily, losing two hundred killed.
while the other side the Greeks were
driven back upon Paraskevi. The COM
mandant states also that fighting has oc-
Cured at Kumusades. No further details
are given except that all these battles
lasted until evening, and that the imperial
troops retained their position, with the
probability that the Greeks will be rein
forced and the fighting renewed on the
morrow. No statement is made as to the
Turkish losses. The Turkish commander at
Luros telegraphs under yesterdays date as
follows: The outcome of desperate battle,
lasting two days against force of Is, 900
Greeks, is that the latter have abandoned
the position bn the heights they had pre-
yiously captured and have withdrawn to
the olive groves of Gremenitza.'
The Times correspondent at Athens says:
To-day Sunday M. Ralh, the premier,
visited the various legations and obtained
assurances that the powers would under
take to prevent any offensive action on the
part of the Turks, providing the Greek
forces maintained a strictly defensive at
titude. On this understanding he immedi-
ately wired to the commanders Of the Greek
divisions at Domokos, Sourpi and Arta, in
structing them to abstain from all hostile
action unless attacked by the enemy. The
losses at Griboro were the heaviest since
the beginning of the war. Seven officers
were killed Requiems were sung to-day in
all the churches and the opposition papers
accuse the government of wantonly sane
tioning needless bloodshed learn that the
advance was due to Colonel Manos, who
desired to regain the Greek army's lost
prestige. The government considered his
plan very hazardous one, but finally con-
sented. The fierceness of the fighting at
Griboro requiring reinforcements, he was
compelled to abandon the original plan, and
probably all have now returned to Arta.
The girl standard-bearer of the Bozzaris
volunteers was in the thick of the hand-to-
hand conflict"
A dispatch to the Daily Chronicle from
Athens says that the Bozzaris band safely
re-embarked on the coast of Epirus under
cover of the Greek gunboats Sunday morn
ing. All the Greeks are now out of Epirus.
According to the same correspondent the
Egyptian government has protested against
the capture of the steamer Tenedos
Nicholas Smolenski, brother of the gen.
eral in command at Aimyros, has been ap-
pointed to the chief command in Epirus,
with Colonel Constantinidis as his chief of
staff Colonel Lembritis has been appoint
ed chief of staff to the crown prince.