Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-06
TWO DAYS AND NIGHTS
OF TERRIFIC GUNNERY
Fierce Assault by Hellenic Troops
Crushes Ottoman Hopes.
SERvIANS PERISH IN AEGEAN
Three Transports Loaded With
Troops Reported to Have Been
Sunk by Turkish Cruiser
Hamidieh.

ATHENS, Greece, March 6.-The Turk
ish fortress Of Janina, the key to the
possession of the province Of Epirus with
its garrison Of Sc, 600 men, SURRENDERED
TO the Greek army today. after a defense
which forms one of the most brilliant
episodes OF the Balkan war.
The surrender was preceded by fierce
bombardment lasting, without cessation
for two days and two nights. Ever,
available gun, including a number oi
{ heavy howitzers lent by the Servian ar
tiilery. was brought to bear on the fort.
defending the heleaguered city.
No fewer than 10000 shells were fireS
by the Greek guns during the first day.
cannonade. Gradually the Turkish bat
teries at Bizani, Manoliara, Sakni anf
elsewhere were silenced.
Fooled Ottoman Commanders.
The Greek commanders. by feint, led
the Turks to believe that their attack
would be made from the right. As soon
IS the attention OF the defenders had
been distracted the Greeks hurled large
bodies of infantry onto the Turkish left.
The Ottoman troops, utterly surprised.
feli back In disorder.
The batteries on the heights of Bizani,
able to stand the pelting OF the shells and
were reduced to complete silence at II
o'clock yesterday morning.
The Greeks pushed their forward
movement during the afternoon and oc-
cupied the Turkish batteries on the Sakni
and Elias hills. capturing all the guns and
40 artillerymen. Then the Greek bat
talions gradually depioyed on to the plain
in front of the city itself.
Flight Becomes General.
The Turkish flight Immediately became
general despite all the efforts Of the
Ottoman officers to rally their men. Whole
detaehments succumbed to panic and
joined IN the mad race into the city The
Greek troops fczIaxsas m nor pursuit, al
most to the walls.
With all the defending batteries in the
hands Of the Greeks ana the Hellenic
soldiers at the gates of Janina. Essaad
Pasha, the Turkish commander at q
der q nag Of truce to Crown Prince Con-
stantine OF Greece announcing the sur
render Of the city and all the troops un-
der his command.
The fall of Janina was announced by
the crown prince to the Greek war Office
In the following dispatch:
sENIMAGA Greek Headquarters),
a.m--The Greek army having occupied
the entire left front OF the city OF Janin1
and also Bizani. ana Castritza having
been surrounded by our troops, EssaaG
Pasha has just informed me that hi,
troops surrendered as prisoners OF war.
"I will send you shortly details OF the
great victory Of our gallant army"
Athens wild with Joy.
Wild enthusiasm reigned In the street.
of Athens on the announcement OF tn.
news. All the houses were decorated witt
nags- Excited people thronged the thor
oughfares singing the Greek national an.
them. while joyous peaIs rang out from
every church steepie in the capital.
The Greek advance on Janina began
late In October. The Turks retired rapid
ly before their opponents and operations
round the fortress opened about the be-
ginning Of December. The attack con-
ttnued with varying success even during
the period OF the armistice. with which
'ns seysrs1 Greeks 81 never I'VE ,, f0fmaliy asreed
Tore the Greek assaults and the attack
on the principal Notifications was gradu-
ally pressed home.
Defenders Had $50 Guns.
The Turkish garrison possessed 15e
guns. distributed among forts at Bizan,
to the south, Duruti to the southwest
Sadevftza 70 the west and Cardinki tc
the northwest.
1t was not known until this morn
ing how many Turkish troops were in
the city. estimates heretofore carry
ing from 1900 to $1,000 men. The
population numbered $4,000. mostly
Greeks.
The fortiHcations. which at one time
4
quated and could not resist modern
Provisions throughout the siege had
been PLENTIFUL as Janina is a center
of the grain trade.
Servian Transports Sunk.
VIENNA. March s.-The Turkish
4eruiser Hamidieh today sunk three
transports loaded with Servian troop,
on the way to Scutari. according to .
Constantinople dispatch to the Neu,
Freie Presse.
The attack on the transports oc.
CURED. II is said. near the peninsula
OF Hagion Oros in the Aegean sea
From this it would appear that tn.
transports We're proceeding not to Scu
tart. but to Gallipoli, where Ii was pro
posed some time ago by the Balkan al
lies to make a hank attack on the
Turkish troops defending the Darda
nelles.
The convoy Of Greek transports wa,
large one. consisting Of twenty -four
vessels. which carried thirty four guns
They were encountered by the Hamadiel
shortly after they had left the coast
With her battery Of powerful 4.7-inci
guns she was able to create havoc
among the practically unprotectes
transports. loaded with soldiers. accord
ing to the report received here.
Suffer in Snowstorms.
LONDON. March IA Belgrade dis
patch to the Daily Telegraph says tn
Servian siege guns are now In positio
around Adrianople. but heavy snowfall
prevent operations.
A Consfantinopie dispatch to the Dali
Mall says that severe snowstorms hav
caused terrible suffering among the troop
at Tchatalja Fifty or more outpos
men have been frozen to death. an
others so frostbitten that il was neces
sary to resort to amputation.