New-York tribune., 1916-01-19
BEFORE SALONICA
Impressions and Opinions Of a
Greek Soldier.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Being steady reader Of The Tribune
take pleasure to send you the following
letter, which I received yesterday from ny
brother, now a corporal OF the Greek army
stationed near Salonics:
"Vathi-Laco Deep swamp. four miles
north Of Salonica), December III. 1915.
Dear Aristotle From the beginning Of ,hs
Greek mobilization last September the 5,h
Army Corps, in which belong, is encampei
outside Of Salonca, between Batcha and
Lagada. Owing TO the persistence OF the
Franco British generals we were ordered By
the Greek government TO remove toward NJ.
grita northwest Of Salonical, in order -
clear the ground for better energetic action
for the Allied troops-from Doirsn 70 Sailor.
ica-in case the Austro- German Bulgarian
Turkish troops pursue the Franco British.
"Up to this date no Bulgarian foot crossed
the Greek soil, but it Is generally believed
that they Bulgarians) will never keep thsi,
promise, because they desire TO snatch Salon.
ica and Kavalla. Before I started 10 write
this letter was sitting in small lunch
room reading the New York Greek news
paper, Atlantis which you sent me With
The New York Tribune, when carts were
heard passing all along the road with great
fury, causing much noise. | walked toward
the road and saw British artillery.
at caused me 70 wonder why so much AZ
tillery passed by, and asked British ser
geant IL they landed from the steamer g.
Eofo - b ~ frarr tha
front He said that they came from tf'
front, and that after a strong battle with tns
Bulgarians, the Allied troops were obliged 70
retire to the territory, and that In TIE is'
battle of Doiran they lost 1000 dead snd
wounded besides leaving eight new cannon N
Bulgarian hands; but they succeeded IN re-
tiring toward Asvestohori lest they should be
outhanked by the enemy.
"'Were there any Austro -Germ,ns WE w
2ulgarians? I asked.
"'Probably, he replied, but We did ro'
have a chance TO perceive them
Then he remarked with sorrow no" We
Greeks let the Bulgarians menace our groan'.
end thus by our attitude suffer Bulgaria sh'
Turkey to grow stronger Are you no' u,
Greeks who threw such barbarians CUT q
Greece three years ago q he ended IN s''0H'
but polite tone.
81 therefore expressed 20 him the sFei
ielt, as a Greek when | heard that the l''''
Bulgarians invaded Greek territory pursu's
cur friends And / explained 70 him ''-'
this is the work of the German propagahO''
which succeeded in persuading tne u'
government and the Greek General stan 'D.'
Germany is unconquerable, although
Greek people love and appreciate the ',O',. ,'.
struggle of the Anglo-French forces anu o., -,
have confidence in the final victory o.
Entente. 1.
well. after all, what is destined 20 y
played outside Of Sslonica no one AhO"-
The Allies, as far as know, are in Lao sH'I,
cannot accurately state what the h'ns n
the government will do. We soldiers %
ranks. ask each other. but no ohe H.' "a,
1t seems to me that even they VINO hV.S 40
reins Of the Greek government h'
answer 10 give TO the Greek people La,
Things are very complicated. on! md
that from here to two hours distance ,o,s
S.lonica il is hard for anybody 70 ns;.h
freely, owing TO the masses OF cro~1' c'n,eb
move 20 and fro--troops OF British s,e,
French, Australians. Serbians. GreeAs' r.,.
passing with military bicycles, motors
"Your bro.her,
"DFNFTRIos N. MACHELAs.,,
list Battalion. 18th Regiment, sth
9TH Army Corps" B., bo.s
wish TO add that my brother was 10 IRE
Balkan wars, l9l2-I3. and he Aep' an,
spondence with me during the previous S S,os
gathered all his letters and MADE h-.n.
and offered it as a gift to the Public L'Vi Vrs,i,
II you wish to see it apply to the ImIvtis man
inc room ARISTOTLE NJ MAChhL'