Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22

wading streams and marching, seal
ing mountains, and having little rest,
we were completely worn out on the
fourth day when we reached a de-
| tachment of our army of 5000 men.
They were encamped under a big hill,
planning surprise on the Turks.
Also several thousand were encamped
on an opposite hill across a narrow
valley
"All that night word was passed
along that we would fight next day.
On the side Of the hill where the enc
my could not see our soldiers were
placing cannon and throwing up
breastworks. Nobody was able to
sleep-they were too excited. But
they did not seem afraid. Our people
everywhere had the spirit Of Fight to
the death
AT daybreak our cannon opened on
the Turks We surprised them as we
planned-but 1t was only a minute or
so till they answered US. Then we
were running fun speed into the val
ley to meet them and push them up
the side Of their hill where they were
pouring down. Ten minutes after the
whole sky was smoke and fire and
light and people falling everywhere.
At first we were rushing forward and
firing upon one another from dis
lance, but we rapidly got so near to-
gether that we were fighting through
the ranks and stabbing each other
with our bayOaets.
God! Men get to be like animals in
battle! It's Kill or be killed. have
seen some horrible sights!
Fought All Day.
I'VE fought all day. Once or twice
we pushed the enemy almost to the
top of the hill and they drove us back.
So many poor unarmed Greek slaves
persisted. The Turks had forced them
in front Of them for protection As a
result the poor fellows were fired on
from front and back We took many
of them prisoners and as their SYM
pathies were all with US we gave them
suits and arms, and they fought with
us in later battles"
Speaking Of his own wounds, the
Balkan soldier said he didn't know he
was hurt until the Turks became
panic stricken and fied-and the bat
tie was over.
You don't feel anything when
you're fighting" he declared. 81 know
the volley that injured me, though,
for [ saw the lieutenant and numbers
Of soldiers fall at the time. Most of
them We're instantly killed After the
battle | managed to crawl over two or
three bodies and get to the lieutenant.
| took off his helmet. His skull had
been crushed in.
4 can never forget that night on
the battle field. The Red Cross aides
couldn't get TO US till next morning.
There was another battle nearer them,
and they had to attend to the wound
ed there first.
II lay down beside the lieutenan,
and stuck my bayonet and gun in the
ground so that nobody would step on
US BY this time my knee was swol-
| len to twice its size, and the pain was
intense. ! could not straighten 1t, and
at times ] almost tainted. ! had ag-
gravated it during the hour before
| the battle stopped by crawling for
ward on it and firing took my bay
onet and slit the pants leg, but got no
relief Everywhere under the stars
could hear groans and cries or some
one calling Mother or other loved
names.
The following morning when ply
| sicians came, they took US, several at
a time. in autos back to PreVisa to
/ hospital boat and from there to Ath-
ems, where l was i'll for several weeks
and unconscious a large part of the
I time. 1t was from Athens ! was later
relieved from army duty"