THE WAR IN THE EAST.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 36

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

GREAT BATTLE AT PHERSALA. DEFEAT OF THE TURKS AT "VELESTINO. Athens, May 4. A hundred boxes of Government funds have been shipped from Volo to Athens. The chief Greek military depot in Thessaly contains 1200 rounds of shell. The Government is offering to purchase discarded French rifles. Two hundred thousand have been sold to the Greek National Society at 7s 6d a-piece. The Austrian authorities have delayed forwarding Greece a supply of cartridges recently purchased in Austria. A mob wrecked the furniture in the resi-

French troops protecting the Greek resi- - dents in Turkey until the date fixed for their departure. Athens, May 6. The Turks made vigorous attack on the Greek outposts at Phersala. The Duke of Sparta and Prince Nicholas, ’fch’Td son of the King, led the defence. The fighting was sharp,' but indecisive. ' J * ; li£ter-reports‘ show that a great battle iirrkgirig at Phersala.- ' ( f- :i / 4 i; -- | * i - The' Turks renewed the attack on Velestino, and there was fierce fighting and severe losses on both sides. ‘Eventually the Turks were repulsed.- - The Turks have abandoned Trikhala, find occupied the heights dominating 'iArtai' ...... .

Athens, May 7. The Turks to the number of 30.000'descended from the lieights above Phersala. Their infantry advanced under cover of the artillery, and they succeeded in reaching the enemy’s lines. The artillery occupied a strong position. Sharp fighting was maintained for fifteen hours, when the Greek troops were completely routed, and the Turks occupied the town.- ■ • i Volo has been left without protection, except from the fleet anchored in the Gulf of Volo. - , ’• •• > The'Turkish cavalry pursued the Duke of "Sparta’s, forces, and are now closely pressing the Greeks at Dumoku. It is reported in Athens that Britain,

i France, Russia and Italy propose mediation between Turkey and G recce Further details of the battle at Phersala show that the Greek centre was cut, and the Greeks just escaped being outflanked. The Duke of Sparta had thrown out n< scouts. It is doubtful whether Colonel Smolenski’s brigade, which retreated upon Almyro, will be able to rejoin the main body of H>< Greeks at Domoku. Edham Pasha, <vith 60,000 troops, has left Phersala, and is rapidly advancing on Domoku. The residents of Domoku are fleeing from the town. The Greeks, in retreating from Phersala, had to cross a river by a single bridge,* and suffered fearful havoc from the Turkish artillery. Turkish cavalry is occupying Karditza, about 20 miles south-east of Trikhala. Sir Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, member o< the House of Commons, who was among the passengers on a vessel captured by the Greeks, has been released. The baggage of the Duke of Sparta and his brother, Princo Nicholas, has faihi; into thehands of the enemy. The bravery of the Turks is amazing. The Greek troops were decimated whih crossing the rivers after the battle at Phersala. Athens, May 8. Further details of the battle at Phersala show that Edhem Pasha directed four divisions of tho Turkish army to move upon Phtrsala, intending to force the position held by the Greeks on Thursday. On Wednesday, however, the advance line came in contact with the Greek outposts, and a series of skirmishes developed into a general engagement. After fighting fiercely for many hours, the Greeks, towards evening, retired. They were heavily shelled by the Turkish artillery while crossing the river during the night. The entire line of tho Greek main army, comprising 30,000 troops, retreated, compelling General Smolenski to abandon the position held by him at Velestino.

The Turkish loss during the fighting is estimed at 100 (? 1000), and the Greek at 300 (? 3000). The Greeks refused to engage in a pitched battle. In their retreat they managed to save their artillery, but left behind a large quantity of stores, which fell into the hands of the Turks. The victory has given the Turks the entire command of the railway running from Volo through Phersala to Trikhala. They also hold the spurs in the Othrys mountains, some distance to the southward of Phersala, separating the lines communicating General Smolenski’s and the Duke of Sparta’s forces. Ten thousand Greeks have evacuated Volo, and the Greek fleet, cruising in the Gulf of Volo, has been ordered not to oppose the Turks entering the town. Ricciotti Garibaldi and his band of Italian volunteers left Athens for the front on Friday. A drunken crowd shouted and hurrahed for a social ievolution. London, May 8. Germany has declined to share in the efforts being made by the Powers to mediate between Turkey and Greece, until Greece consents to retire from Crete and invokes the aid of the Powers. Athens, May 9. s ~ Greece has despatched a Note to the Powers offering to withdraw her troops from Crete gradually. She also expects a 15 days’ armistice. - - Greece has asked the Powers to mediate, and-the Ambassadors of the various nations at Athens have promised their good offices in that direction. Turkey, however, objects to granting an armistice. Her troops now occupy Volo, where tho Greeks liberated the prisoners from, the gaols before quitting. The Turks also occupy Velestino, which General Smolenski was compelled to evacuate after the Duke of Sparta’s reverse at Phersala.

1 |Athens, May 10. In connection with the efforts to secure a cessation of hostilities between Greece and Turkey, it is believed that the Sultan l will "accept ,an indemnity, with a slight rectifying of the frontier between Analipsis and Nezeros, adjoining the Gulf of Salonica.. An incident in the battle, at Phersala was the gallantry displayed by a detachment of British volunteers, which saved one of the rogiments.

The general commanding the Greek j forces publicly thanked the Englishmen for. their gallant services. Reports to hand show that Edhem Pasha’s forces cut up General Smolenski’s left wing at Velestino, forcing his retirement upon Almyro. The whole of the right wing fled in disorder to Volo, from whence the disorganised troops were removed by the Greek fleet. The panic resembled that witnessed at Larissa. Steamers are conveying the residents of Volo to Chalcis, and they are packed on board like herrings. Peasants are escaping from the mainland to the adjoining islands in caiquos. The Turks, who, after the victory at Phersala, marched on Volo, remained outside the town, with the exception of one battalion, and Edhem Pasha issued a proclamation that life and property of the residents must be safeguarded. The poople replied with frantic shouts of “Long live the Sultan !”

Fifty thousand Greek troops are massed at Domoku, and the positions occupied by them are described as impregnable. Colonel Vassos, with 25 officers and 400 men, after hiding for two nights in caverns on the Cretan coast, escaped and landed at Athens. The King and people of Greece have tacitly acquiesced in the recall of the Greek troops from Crete. M. Ralli has asked that the Powers be allowed to send ships to convey the remainder of the Greek troops from Crete. Greece intrusts the terms of peace to the Powers.

RICCIOTTI GARIBALDI. 'l’he adventurous Italian, who has with a small band of volunteers gone to the assistance of the Greeks in their struggle with Turkey, is a true son of the great Guiseppo Garibaldi, and, as a matter of fact, served with distinction in his late father’s army. He was born in 1847, and saw aerive service in the war for the liberation of Venice in 1866. He was with the volunteers when they advanced into the Trontino, and the command of which he was a member gained the only victory for the Italians in the inglorious campaign. When the elder Garibaldi advanced against the Papal troops a year later and tried to liberate Rome, his son was again one of his officers, and was among those who defeated the Papal forces near Monterotondo on October 25, 1867. He followed his father towards the Papal stronghold, and was in the battle near Montana when the French and the Papal army defeated the volunteers. In 1870, in response to an appeal from Gambetta, Garibaldi and his sons went to France and offered their services to the Republic in the war against Germany. Ricciotti received a commission in his father’s corps, which was called the

‘‘Volunteers of the Vosges,” and his services in that command are still referred to with pride by the French and the Italians. On October 9, in the engagement near Dijon, he gained a small victory over the Germans and personally captured the only German flag which fell into the hands of the French soldiers during the campaign. One historian of the battle said that the failure of the German forces to advance further in the direction chosen by their commander was due to the corps commanded by Garibaldi. After that war, Ricciotti Garibaldi visited South America and Australia, and went into business in Rome on his return. He was a member of the Italian Parliament elected in 1887, but has since retired from politics, and holds a general’s commission in the Italian army. It was reported that he had threo rogi- ;

ments of volunteers ready for service on the side of Greece, but only 250 men have accompanied him.

A meeting of Greeks was held on Saturday to take into consideration the advisability of raising funds to assist the Grecian soldiers wounded in the war. There are not rnank Greeks in this city, and some of them are fishermen, and could not attend. Subscriptions were raised in tho room. Mr Fernandos has already £26 in hand (having contributed jGIO himself), and it is expected that, with the promises given, the total amount available will exceed .£3O. Lists will be opened at the Evening Post and New Zealand Times offices; at 'Mr Fernandos’ shop, Lambton quay ; and at the premises of Messrs P. Garbes and George Andrews, fishmongers, Cuba street. A list of subscriptions will be published from time to time.