THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 21

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

FURTHER TURKISH

SUCCESSES.

THE KING OFFERS TO ABDICATE.

A SHAMEFUL PANIC.

THE TURKISH WAB SPIRIT AROUSED.

Athens, April 26.

Further particulars of the recent fighting show that Koidka was captured by the Tnrks on Thursday after a. fierce battle.

Battles at Raveni and Mati were fought on Friday. The Greeks fought with splendid dash and doggedness. The Duke of Sparta and Prince Nicholas (the third son of the King) were under fire. Prince 1 Nicholas acted with great gallantry.

The Duke of Sparta, who is in command of the Greek forces in this part, telegraphed to Kicg George at noon on Friday that the situation at Mati was highly satisfactory, but later a defeat of the brigade at Raveni enabled the Turks to outflank Mati, and the Greeks were compelled to retreat after six and a-balf hours' fighting. The Turkish cavalry charged splendidly, and the complete rout of the Greeks was only prevented by nightfall.

Greek officers shot several fugitives on the retreat from Mati. Fourteen guns were caDtured by the Turks at Mati during the night.

The Dake of Sparta formed his army into three columns, and has retreated on Pijarsala. He hopes to mass 40,000 troops there.

Before the Greeks left Larissa the Turkish portion of the town waß burned and the bridges and part of the railway were destroyed. The wounded Greeks were left behind and the heavy guvs abandoned.

Larissa has been occupied by the Tarkish cavalry. Large quantifies of arms and supplies were captured. Four thousand women and children have left Larissa.

Edhem -Pasha has placed a cordon of cavalry round Tirnovas, and has forbidden the TuTkish troops to enter the town.

Reports from- Epirus as to the result of the fighting are conflicting. Each side claima that it gained the advantage.

Nicopolis is being bombarded.

The people of Athens are stunned at the news of the defeat and retreat of the Greek army, and sobbed ' in the streets. They demand that a new commander shall be appointed.

The intended expulsion of 200,000 Greeks from Turkey within a fortnight is causing a feeling of dismay in Greece, and the Powers are pressing the Sultan to modify hie decision.

Kicoiotti Garibaldi, son of General Garibaldi, and a general in the Italian army, who recently offered to come to the assistance of Greece with 100,000 G^ribaldians if she declared vrar against Tarkey, has arrived at Athens at the head of 250 Italian volun-

A great panic prevails at Volo, where 10,000 Greek refugees are ■ congregated. Bhips are being sent from Athens to convey women and children to a placa of safety.

Troops have been sent from Monastir to quell the mutiny amongst the Albanian troops at Janina. The Turks have recaptured Peute Pigadia, one of the strongest and most rugged passes on the western frontier leading to Albania, and a position of great strategical importance to the Greeks in their contemplated march from Arta to Janina. The Turkish troops are charg3d with committing outrages.

April 27.

The battle fought on Friday extended from

Mati to Deliler. The Greeks numbered 13,000 - men with 36 guns, and the Turks 9000 men with 22 gunp. Neither side gained much advantage until after nightfall, when Edhem Pasha sent a strong force against the Greeks' light wing. The habit of the Albanians of singing while on the march prevented the Turks from effecting a surprise.. A priest with the Greeks shouted : " The army is outflanked." A great stampede at once set in, the troops being thrown into extreme confusidn and dismay. In Friday's battle the foreign legion, in the darkness, fired upon the Greek cavalry, believing they were a portion of the Turkish force. A terrible panic prevailed. Tarnavos and Larissa residents hastily took flight. Edem Pasha declares that if the panic had been delayed six hours he would have crushed the Greeks. Much discontent prevails among the populace of Athena, and the reigning dynasty is menaced. Senor Ralli, leader of the Opposition in the Greek Chamber, made startling charges oE incapacity and cowardice against the staff. The Dake of Sparta insists that these charges

be formulated.

The Premier, M. Delyannis, has appointed Colonel Smolenski (the nominee of Sanor Ralli) as chief officer on the Daks of Sparta's staff, and has recalled the three principal officers on the staff of Colonel Vassos, the commander of the Greek forces in Crete, in order that they may be despatched to the front to assist Colonel Smolenski.

In order to save the dynasty the King urges the inhabitants of Greece to join the army. The Greek fleet has been sighted about 20 miles from Salonica. The mutiny of Albanian troops iv Janina fizzled out. It is reported that the town of Frikhala, the second largest in Thessaly, has been evacuated. Affairs at Larissa are quiet, and many shops are reopening. The Turks are busily engaged fortifying the place. When the Greeki were about to evacnate the town they emptied the gaols of prisoners. Members of the Chamber of Deputies are proceeding to Phersala to take an active part in the defence of tbsir country. The Greek advance in Epirus has bsen suspended temporarily. Colonel Metaxas, Minister for War, has resigned his office.

April 28. The Chamber oE Deputies has been especially summoned to deal with matters arising out of the war. The Greek forces at Manos, in Epirus, have been reinforced from Arta preparatory to advancing. The Albanian garrison evacuated Pentepigadia after its capture by the Turks, marched to JAnina and demanded a new commander. The Governor conceded the demand, whereupon they marched back and expelled the Turks from the fort. Ten thousand Greek troops are reported to be massing. The popnlace of Athens are furious at the King's meddling in the campaign and his appointment of courtiers to the principal naval and military commands. ExtremistQ demand the recall of the Koyal Princes. Several gun shops in Athens have been pillaged, and grave fears of a revolution are entertained. King George has appealed to M. Ralli, loader of the Opposition, to help the Govern-

ment to maintain order. v Ib is probabla that a Coalition Ministry of Dafence wilt be formed. The nation clamours for a supreme effort being.put forth to regain Thessaly. Oiman Pasha has been ordered to remain at Salonica. The Turkish generals consider that the positions held by the Greeks were exceedingly strong, and express amazement that they should have been abandoned.

Everything indicates that a shameful panic occurred. Horses were detached, from cartridge waggons and utilised as a means of flight. The safety of royal property was the first care, while at Larissa women and children vainly appealed for permission to enter the

trains. However, the Turkish occupation of

Larissa inspired confidence in the residents, as pillaging was punished by death, and Turkish sentinels patrolled the streets protecting the banks and residences of the wealthy.

The Greeks are retiring from Epirus .towards the Gulf of Arta, and have reached Lannos between Pentipigadia and head of the

Five hundred rioters paraded the streets of Athens yesterday. Eventually the troops dispersed them in front of the Royal palace. The rioters entered cafes and smashed portraits of the king. Edhem Pasha is despatching troops from Larissa to Trikkala and Valestino at the head of the Gulf of Volo.

The panic amorgßt the Greeks at Larissa

occurred during the night. Amidst agonised roars of " The Turks are here ! " a general stampede commenced, the consternation

beitig terrible. Officers led the flight. Many werctrampled to death in their eagerness to escape, while ifc is estimated fcbat 500 were killed through firing at each other in mistake.

- April 29.

Farther details of the panic which seized the Greek army during the flight at Larissa show that in the general melee the terrified citizens, encumbered with household goods, weeping women, and children, and sullen soldiers cursing their generals, were hopelossly mixed up on the road.

The n'ght was pitch dark. Suddenly galloping waa heard in the rear, and instantly there was a mad rush in -the opposite direction. The alarm extended for miles, and created a perfect pandemonium.

Soldiers fired in all directions for upwards of half an hour, believing that they were being assailed by the Turks. Special war correspondents on the field declare that the scene eclipsed the worst horrors of their experience.

When the Tnrkß entered Larissa they secured possession of 20,000 boxes of cartridges left by the Greeks.

In the fl : gat five of the correspondents, including the special representatives of the London Time?, Renter's Agency, and the Illustrated London News, were nearly killed. The carriage in which they were driving overturned, and Renter's representative was nearly shot by one of the soldiers.

Tb.6 road for miles was strewn with the dead and dying, abandoned guns, munitions of war, and furniture. Riderless, frantic horses increased the danger.

Many of those who were unable to secure horses for the purposes of flight fought with and dislodged those who were mounted.

A few officers .vainly endeavoured to stop tha stampede.

The struggle to cross the solitary bridge across the liver Epinius, which runs diagonally with the road, was terrible, and lasted for hours. When Larissa was reached the fugitives lay in the streetsjutterly exhausted. The frenzy calmed down somewhat when the moon rose, and some semblance of discipline ws s restored at daybreak.

The soldiers jeeringly refused the Duke of Soarta's entreaties to defend the town.

"Feeling at Athens is now calmer.

It is believed that the Sultan is willing to agree to peace, provided that Greece is reasonable in regard to the conditions. The leisnrely movements of Edhem Pasba, the Turkish commander, gives support to this idea.

The special summons of the Greek Chamber to deal with the situation ariaing out of the war proved futile. Two meetings were held, but proved abortive, owing to the absence of Government supporters.

An angry feeling prevails amongst the people of Athens.

In consequence of the Government's inaction the King has asked M. Delyannis to resign ths Premiership and form a new Cabinet.

Ia view of the threatening state of affairs in Athens, Mr Egerton, the British Minister, is prepared to land marines at the Piraeus, the port of Athens, if their services are required.

The Greeks have evacuated Volo. Women and children were removed by sea. The Tarks have occupied Yarkos on the Greek line of retreat to Phersala, and seized a large store of ammunition left by the Greeks when they fled.

April 30.

M. Delyannis having refused to accede to the King's request to resign has been dismissed, and M. Ralli, leader of the Opposition, has formed a coalition Ministry, with

the object of reorganising the army and concluding an honourable peace.

Thousands of Greek troops who invaded Epirus have returned to Arta. The Turks have occupied Trikkala. The Duke of Sparta is in command o! 25.0C0 troops at Phersala.

The Turks are rapidly advancing on the town, and the outposts of the two armies have already touched.

Oiman Pasha, who recently arrived at Salonica, proceeds to Janina at the head of 30,000 Turkish reinforcements.

The Greeks are gradually returning to Larissa, and are amazed at finding their property intact and the residents being kindly treated.

The Greek League for the Encouragement of War is provoking risings in the Turkish provinces, and threats have been made to set fire to Constantinople.

In Athena turbulent hostility of an intense kind continues to be shown towards members of the Royal family.

The Dake of Sparta's wife has been hooted, and it has been found necessary to remove the coat-of-arms from the Royal carriages and alter the servants' livery in order to protect the occupants from insult.

, The Greeks sustained severe reverses at Epirreus, and are now fleeing towards Arta, where the Turks are advancing.

Volo has been captured without resistance. Many guns and much munitions and supplies fell into the hands of the Turks.

The whole Turkish army are now receiving Mauser riflas.

Protests have been made in the churches against prayers being offered on behalf of royalties.

Edhem Pasha occupies the Dake of Sparta's quarters at Larissa.

The German warship Kaiserin Augusta and the British warship Pelorus will protect the Royal Family in the event of their being in a position of extreme darger.

M. Delyannis, ex-Premier, who was dismissed from office by King GBorge, has promised to support M. Ralii, who has formed a coalition Ministry, so long as the Turks occupy an inch of Greek territory.

Colonel Smolenski and a force of 15,000 Greek 3 defeated 9000 Turks at Velestino, repulsing three charges of Turkish cavalry and decimating one regiment.

The expulsion of Greeks from Turkey has been delayed for a week.

M. Jtalli, the Premier, is anxious to secure a fortnight's armistice, though he hesitates to propose it.

M. Delyannie, the ex-Premier, declares that the King of Greece refused to withdraw from Crete or to accept an amended frontier.

The er-Minister of Marine (M. Levides) complains that King George is responsible for the ineffectiveness of the fleet, his Majesty having secretly altered the plans of attack.