The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-03-13
SURRENDER
TURKISH FORTRESS FALLS INTO
HANDS or GREEK
BEslEGERS.
lNCESSANT COMMANDMENT
Brilliant Victory Finally Won After
Fighting Which Began Last
October-Greek Boats
Sunk.

Athens, Greece, Marcn 8. - The
Turkish fortress of Janina, the key
to the possession OF the province oil
Epirus, with its garrison of $4,000
men, surrendered to the Greek army
yesterday afternoon after a defense
which forms one of the most brilliant
episodes of the Balkan war.
Two Day Bombardment.
The surrender was preceded by a
fierce bombardment, lasting without
cessation for two days and two nights
Every available gun, including sew.
eral heavy howitzers lent by the
Servian artillery, was brought TO bear
on the forts defending the b~eleagured
city.
No fewer than 10000 shells were
fred by the Greek guns during the
FIRST day. Gradually the Turkish bat.
leries at Bizani, Manoliara, Sakni and
elsewhere we're silenced.
The Greek commanders, by a feint,
led the Turks to believe that their at.
tack would be from the right. As
soon as the attention of the defenders
lad been distracted the Greeks hurled
large bodies of infantry against the
Turkish left. The Ottoman troops, ut
Ierly surprised, fell back in disorder.
rhe batteries on the heights of Bizani,
he mainstay of the defense, had been
lnable to stand the pelting of shells
ind were reduced to complete silence
1T IL a. m. yesterday.
The Greeks pushed their forward
movement during the afternoon and
occupied the Turkish batteries on the
Sakni gad Elias hills, capturing all the
guns and 10 artillerymen. Then the
Greek b~attalions gradually deployed
D to the plain in front of the city
itself.
The Turkish flight Immediately be-
anne general despite all the efforts of
he Ottoman officers to rally their
men. Whole detachments succumbed
70 panic and joined in a mad race
INTO the city. The Greek troops fol-
owed in hot pursuit almost to the
walls.
With all the defending batteries in
he hands of the Greeks and the Hell
lenic soldiers at the gates Of Janina,
Essaad Pasha, the Turkish commander,
At 6 a. m. today sent messengers un-
Ter a flag of truce to Crown Prince
Constantine Of Greece announcing the
surrender OF the city and all the
tr~n,g unAor hsg onn,n,onA
The fall of Janina was announced
the crown prince TO che Greek
var office In the following dispatch:
"Enimaga Greek Eeadquarters) 6
l. m.
"The Greek army having occupied
he entire left front of the city of
and also Bizari and Castritza
been surrounded by our troops,
Essaad Pasha has just informed me
hat his troops surrender as prisoners
war. / will send you shortly de-
Of the great victory of our gal
ant army"
Wild enthusiasm reigned in the
of Athens on the announce
nent Of the news. All the houses
we're decorated with flags, Excited
people thronged the thoroughfares
the Greek national anthem
while joyous peals rang out from
svery church steeple in the capital.
The Greek advance on Janina began
ate in October. The Turks retired
before their opponents and
operations round the fortress opened
about the beginning of December.
rhe attack continued with varying
success even during the period of the
armistice, with which the Greeks
never formally agreed.
Vienna.-The Turkish cruiser Ha-
nidieh today sunk three Greek trans
ports loaded with Servian troops on
he way to Scutari, according TO a
Constantinople dispatch to the Nueue
Freie Press.