The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-07
TURK FORTRESS
OF JAN|NA FALLS
Greek Now in Posses
sion of Key to Epirus
Province.
S DEFENSE BRILLIANT
Since Last October Besicging
Army Has Been Battering
Fortifications.

Athens, Greece. March 6.--The Turk
ish fortress OF Janina, key TO the pos
session OF Epirus Province, with It's
garrison OF 81, 600 men, surrendered to
the Greek army o-day. after de-
fense which stands out az one of the
most brilliant episodes Of the Balkan
War.
The surrender was preceded by
fierce bonn ba rdment, continuing two
days and nights. Every available gun.
including heavy howitzors lent by the
Servian artillery, was brought to bear
on the forts defending tho belcasured
city.
Thirty thousand shells were fired by
the Greek guns during the first days
cannonade. Gradually the Turks bat
| tercs at Bisani, Manoliara, Sakni and
! elsewhere were silcnced.
The Greek commanders. by a feint.
led the Turks to believe that their at
tack would he made from the right.
AS soon rs the attention OF the de-
tenders had been distracted the
Greeks hurled large bodies of infantry
onto the Turkish left. The Ottoman
troops, utterly surprised. fell back in
disorder.
Reduced 10 silence.
Batteries on the heights OF Bisaui,
the mainstay Of tho defense, had been
unable to stand the pclting OF the
shells. and were reduced to complete
silence at II o'clock yesterday morn
ing.
| Tho Greeks pushed their forward
movement during the afternoon and oc-
cupied The Turkish batteries on the
60 I'm nd Ill
guns and 10 artillerymen. Then tho
Greek battalions gradually dcpIoyed
onto the plain In front OF the city it
! self
The Turkish flight Immediately be
came general. Whole detachments
succumbed to panic and joined In IL
mad race into the city. The Greek
troops followed almost to the walls.
! With all the defending batteries in
| the hands of the Greeks and the Hell
! lenic soldiers ut the gates of Janina,
/ Essad Pasha, Turkish commander. at
! 6 o'clock this morning sent messen-
| gers to Crown Prince Constantine, OF
| Greece. announcing the surrender OF
| the city and all tho troops under his
! command.
The fall of Janina was announced by
/ the Crown Prince TO the Greek War
! Office Wild enthusia SIN reigned in
tho streets OF Athens on announcement
! of the news. All houses were deco
rated with flags Excited people
| thronged tho thoroughfares, singing
J the Greek national anthem.
The Greek advance on Janina began
/ late In October. The Turks retired
rapidly before their opponents, and OPP
! erations around tho fortress opened
! about the beginning OF December. The
attack continued with varying success
! even during tho period Of the armis-
( tice. to which the Greeks never for
mally agreed.
| Several OF the outlying forts fell be-
| fore the Greek assaults. and the at
tack on the principal fortifications Was
gradually pressed home.
| IT was ont known until this morning
! how many Turkish troops were In the
/ city. estimates here OF them varying
! from $4,000 to 10000 men. The pop
ulation numbered $4,000. mostly
! Greeks.
Forts Are Antiauntcd.
The fortifications. which had at one
time been considered strong, were an
| tiauated and could not resist modern
cannon.
Provisions throughout the siege had
been plentiful, as Janina is centre
! OF the grain trade.
Premier Vcnlzelos announced the
victory In the Chamber of Deputies.
| All leaders OF the opposition spoke,
his army on the brilliant achievement.
4 telegram was dispatched to tho
| Crown Prince in behalf OF the Cham
her OF Deputies by the Premier, cx-
prcssve of the gratitude OF the ma
/. tion.
I, At the close OF the sitting the mem
| bers OF the Cabinet and the Deputies
followed by cheering crowds, marched
(Continued on Second PaScD