LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10423, 22 April 1897, Page 5

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

SEVERE FIGHTING IN MALUNA PASS. FEARFUL CARNAGE. THE GREEKS IN FULL RETREAT. A TURKISH GENERAL KILLED. , SITUATION IN CRETE. THE POWERS ASKED TO WITHDRAW. Athens, April 20. The Greeks have recaptured Gritsoveli, in the vicinity of the Matunfi Pass.. . • The Turks renewed the attack on the Reveni pass and penetrated the entrenchments for a distance of a hundred yards. l 1 — •. >'*•><-... .• The Greeks offered a desperate resistance, and the fighting was of the. bitterest * character,, the.i? carnage being fearful. ' . ' " ! ; ,'i The Duke .of Sparta, who, at the out-. break' of hostilities went to the front to assume command of the Greek forces, lias returned to Larissa, the chief town of Thessaly.' ~ frg) K,

The Turks 1 Are now bombarding Turnavo, in Macddhia. Latest reports from the front state that the Greeks are in full retreat on Larissa, pursued by the Turks, They ate suffering terribly from the heavy artillery fire directed upon them by their pursue!*. ,A> s The Turkish soldiers are highly elated . at their success, and are ringing and , .laughing like children. ... \ ' , . Later. • The Greek National League irregu- - lars are in the neighbourhood ,qi Salooica. The bombardment of Arta by the Greek batteries has caused great destruction, and half the town is in ruins. , Following the Turkish notification that' the Greek forces were allowed fifteen days in which to leave Crete, the Greek Government has asked the Powers to Withdraw their forces from the Island. Athens, April 21. Details of the fighting at the Maluna ! pass show that after the Greeks were driven from the pass, and were retiring across the plain below, the Turkish artillery kept up a constant and murderous fire from the heights, the shells bursting amongst the-bat-talions, as they retired in close marching order, with terrible slaughter. The' Greeks left their dead and wounded on the field. Hafiz Pasha, who is eighty years of age, and took part in theßusso-Turkisb war, was leading the Turkish attack at Maluna when he was killed. An orderly suggested he should di» mount, but he replied, "I never did mounted during the Russian war.' Before he received his death wound he was twice struck by bullets in the left arm and right hand, but despite his - wounds, insisted on retaining command of the attack. The fatal bullet struck him in the mouth, and killed him instantaneously, Fighting has been renewed at Turnavo, where the Turkish artillery silenced the Greek batteries, and compelled the Greeks to evacuate the town. London, April 21. The Athens correspondent of the Times says the scene of conflict has now been removed to Kontra, south of Damasi . where the Turkish batteries engage the Greek artillery and to Zsi'kos. When these points have been occupied Edhem Pasha's advance oil Larissa will be easy. Constantinople, April 20. The Imperial Ottoman Bank here has offered to establish and maintain a hospital at Elassona.