THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 55

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHTING. From San Francisco papers to hand by the mail we make the following extracts :—: — Telegraphing on April 10, the Athens correspondent of the London Times stated that the Greek Government disclaimed all responsibility for the acts of the Ethnike Hefcairia, and knew nothing «>f the formation and movements of the band. He added that the ex-officers who commanded it had long since ceased to serve in the Greek army. "It is obvious that so large a. force could not have been brought together on the frontier without the knowledge of the Greek civil end military authorities. But the authorities are powerless. It has been already pointed out in The Times that the choice of the moment for beginning hostilities rests, not with the King or the Government, but with the Ethnike He tain's. During the paist winter I- have frequently drawn attention to the proceedings of (his lociety. Its activity was mainly centred upon Macedonia, and only incidentally upon - Crete. The insurrection in " Crete, which was planned for the month of March, was precipitated by the violence of" tho Cretan Mphammedanp, and broke out six weeks earlier than was intended. The Cretan movement, 'which was meant to be subsidiary to the Macedonian, was designed for an earlier date owing to the greater rigour of the Macedonian climate; which is unfavourable to active operations before the month of May. Events, however, travelled faster than was anticipated. Even if the Cretan question bad been arranged, it seems probable that an attempt would have been made to carry oat the intended rising in Macedonia." THE INVASION. Despatches received at Athens from Larissa give details of the invasion of Macedonia by a force of irregular Greek troops. Three thousand men crossed the frontier the day after the celebration of the anniversary of the declara- - tien of Greek independence in 1821. Tuesday, the d*y of the celebration, was looked upon as likely to be the day the Greeks Ttould select for opening hostilities ; but Tuesday, in Greece, is considered an unlucky day upon which to embark upon sDy undertaking of importance, and so the crossing of the frontier was postponed until Wednesday. The Greeks' expeditionary force was commanded by ex-officers of the regular army .of Greece, and included the band of Italian volunteers commanded by Colonel Cipriani. The so-called insurgents were all \rell armed and equipped at the expense of the Ethnike Hetairia, the famous and powerful Greek secret society, which^has been the root and branch of the present crisis — practically controlling the country. The members of the expedition all wore the badge of the Efchnike Hetairia, and were given an enthusiastic sendoff by the Thessalians and Greek troops. The latter, it is almost unnecessary to add, made no attempt to prevent the departure of the expedition, and therefore it cannot be claimed that the movement was unknown to the Greek authorities. Two Greek flags were solemnly entrusted to the charge of the insurgents, aud good arrangements made for forwarding food Bad other supnlies to the exneditionary force.

The news of the invasion, caused the ' moit intsnse excitement at Athens. The Athens correspondent of The Times tolegraphed as follows :—": — " The band of invaders was organised under the personal directions of Gonzos, a Greek .of Alexandria. The headquarters were in the valley of the mountainous district of Eelebaka, ne&r the famous monasteries of Memora. Most of the members of the bftnd, whioh included a number of Italian volunteers, arrived last week by special train from Volo. A suitable camp was chosen, and military organisation was then proceeded with. Two former Greek officers, Mylonas and Kapsialotonlos, were given the supreme command. Six captains were appointed, two of whom, Zerm&B and Davelis, are well-known insurgent chiefs. A largo number of subalterns, two surgeons, aud three chaplains, one of whom is a man of gigantic stature and carries the standard, were also appointed. Another chaplain is a priest from Mount Athos. The day after the arrival of the band, arms and uniforms, badged with the arms of the Ethnike Hetiiiria (National League), were served ont and a commissariat corps of 60 men was formed. Mules arrived for the transport service, and on Thursday the standard was blessed by the monks of the Memora monastery. It bears the inscription, in Greek, of ' En Touto Nika,' the equivalent of 'In Hoc Signo Vinces.'" THE BATTLE IN MILOUNA PASS. The Associated .Press correspondent wired on April 19 thab the engagement at Milouna Pass was waged with admirable courage and determication on both sides. The Turks occupied tbe whole" extent of the Pass acd all the commanding- heights from Neckehe to Papalyvava, ai well as the defiles. The whole Pasß rang with the roar of the artillery and the rattle of the musketry. It was, however, ; around the two Greek blockhouses that the most furious conflict occurred. They were I defended with the utmost valour and tenacity. J The most important Greek bloekhouso, near ! Kritchova, was strongly fortified and defended I by earthworks. Tb3 Turks mostly attacked in ' skirmishing order, firing indfpendently. They I seldom fired in volleys. The Greek*, who entered and descended toward tho valley, encountered four battalions of Turks, who drove them back, aud at the point of the bayonet rescued the force gariisoningtheTurkish blockhouse, which the Greeks had encircled before entering tbo Pass. Neshad Pasha, coramaudiug the Fifth Division, occupied Mount Harr.ia with a g:eat force, while Hairi Pasha, commandirjg the Sixth Division, prepared to enter the Tehalshan Pass, and Haidar Pasha, with the Fourth Division, occupied the Milouna Pass. Before dawn Edhem Pasha rode out to direct i the disposition of these divisions. A general engagement en3ned. The Greeks, from all their positions in the Karya district, began tha advance toward the frontier 6.t 7 o'clock on Friday evenir-g. The fighting lasted all that night and extended on Saturday to within 10 miles of the frontier. It is estimated that 15.000 Greeks were engaged. The battle continued with great vigour throughout Friday night and Saturday, when altogether 50,000 men were engaged. On Sunday morning the fighting was concentrated toward the south-east of Milouna. About noon (Sunday) the Greeks began to give way, after the hottest fighting of the engagement. The Turks advanced only & little beyond theXrontier into Greek territory. Cou3idering the rapidity 'of tbe firing and the great expenditure I of ammunition, the Dumber of killed was j comparatively small, probably under 200. - Altogether the behaviour of the Turkish troops was better than that of the Greeks. Their officers remained cool and collected. During the severe fighting Greeks and Taik« alike fought and behaved in the most admirable manner. Tte correspondent was gceatly struck with the coolness aud discipline of the Turk 3. The scene while the engagement was itt its height was exceedingly picturesque. Edaam Pasha, surrounded by a brilliant stiff, was the centre of a striking group, with the constantly going and coming of orderlies carrying reports, ; instructions, &c. The correspondent of the Associated Press counted 100 Greek corpses on ; the hill opposite the Turkish position. The hill slopes on the northern side of the pass are strewn with Greek dead, mostly Euzones, , splendid men. The faces of many of the dead are as calm as though asleep. The Turks declare that the Greeks were drunk during the i fighting, being constantly supplied with liquor. j Later despatches state that the total Greek lots in the various engage menta in the Milouna Pass is estimated at 1000 killed and wounded. i Over 200 wounded soldiers and officers of the j Greek army arrived at Larissa, Tyrnavos, and Volo. The looses of (he Turks are declartd to be murh greater than those of the Greeks. j Priacj Csnstontine refcarued to Larissa fcom | Gri'zovali. where he witnessed some severe fighting. Tae Grr ek reverse at that place was due to the facfc that General Mastrcpas, who was in command of the Greek artillery, misunderstood Pi-ince Constantine's orders, and I ordered a retreat of the Greek forces. Tha I Turks ttereupou advanced and soon occupied , Crritzovali, pursuing the retreating Greeks and j wounding 200 of them. General Mastrop&s'* i brigade later rtllied amd made a stand. Iv the j meantime Prices Constantine hurried rein- ; f nrcements forward to the essisfcance of General I Mastropas, and General Smoleuitz (formerly I Greek Minister of War) succeeded in forcing the enemy back. Prince Constautine has severely censured General Mastropas for his blander. j GRITZOVALI RETAKEN. ! It was announced that the Greeks had re- . cxptnred Gritzovali. Colonel Manes, in com- | mand of the Greek forces of the frontier of Epirus, telegraphed to the Government that the Turks bombarded the military hospital at Arta, although the Red Cross flag was hoisted over it. I The Athenian ladie.«, under the patronage of I the <J aee n, converted the steamer Thessaly into | a floating hospital. Three hundred beds for the wounded were fitted on board the steamer, and ! she proceeded to Volo^ EDHEH PASHA NEARLY CAPTURED. General Smolenitz was in command of 14,000 Greeks at Raveni, not far from Tyrnavoa, north-west of Larissa. At this point Edhem Pa6ha, closely pressed, was nearly taken prisoner. His plan w&s to force the Pass of Reveni. to enter the plain of Larigsa, to cut off the retreat of the Greek army with his cavalry, and thus take Larissa without resistance. But this plan was defeated. General Demopoulos, at the head of one Greek division, i forced the Turkish line at Boughazl, close to Tyrnavo, and General Mavromochale broke through at Konigkos. The two generals united their troops near Damaei. The news of this success at Reveni and of the imminent fall of Prevesa changed the dismay caused at Athens by the loss of Milouna into the wiide3t rejoicing. The latest advices were that the Greek troops were advancing to reoccupy their positions at Milouua and at Griizovali, the latter of which, it is alleged, was abandoned owing to a misunderstanding by the general in command,"who interpreted as an order of retreat what was really intended as an order of advance. Captain Tagarde, who was woundsd at Gritzovali, shot himself in order to avoid falling into

the hands of the Turks. The Greeks report that the Turks losb 7000 killed and wounded at Reyeni, but this estimate is probably excessive. The Greek engineers constructed a bridge at Pachyskalos to enable their troops to cross the river. It is stated that the Turkish forces attacking Reveni numbered more than 10,000 men. GREEK ADVANCE INTO EPIRUS. Dispatches from Arta on April 19 state that Colonel Manoe, afc the head of 25,000 Greek troops, crossed tha River Arkaphos, on the frontier of Epirus, and was entering that part of South Albania, after having driven baok the Turkish advance posts. Later in the day confirmation was received of the report that a large Greek force had crossed the River Arkaphos. The crossing of the army under Colonel Mano3 was attended by Bevere fighting, during which the Greek artillery batteries distinguished , themselves. Tha Greeks captured the Turkish positions from Nezeros to Koutca, and the Turks were in full retreat toward the interior, where the farces were massing. When Crown Prince Constantine received news of the capture of the Turkish positions between Nezeros and Bapsani he wired to the Greek commanders there to «top fighting immediately. The Greeks captured Meuexa, the key to Milouna Pass, after oevere fighting. The Turkish losses were very heavy and the Greek comparatively light. , The Gresks were partially successful in their ' movement at Karya, which was aimed at cutting off the Turkish communications with \ Salonica. j TURKISH BATTERIES SILENCED. \ The Shaiidiki batteries near Prevesa, whioh were attacked by Greek war*hips shortly before 3 o'clock ou the afternoon of April 18, were completely destroyed. The Greuk battery at Kefalipanaghla co-operated effectively with tho flotilla in the bombardment. The Turkish batteries at Prevesa, on the north shore of the Gulf of Arta, where, according to the Treaty of Berlin, the Turks had no right to erect fortifications, fired on and sank a Greek steamer, the Macedonia, while she was attempting to leavo the Gulf of Ambracia. Acbium was formerly a. telegraph statiou, but the building was converted into r fort and garrisoned by 500 men. - Tho Turkish lire completely destroyed ifc, several of the garrison being killed and wounded, although the Turk'sh aim waß offcea wide. The Greek commander requested instructions by telegraph, and the Minister for War ordered him to bombard Prevesa immediately. At 10 o'clock the ShaQdiki fort fired a few shots on a Greek gunboat, which replied effectually, silencing the Turkish battery. At 11 o'clock the Greeks began to attack the Turkish forts ontside the entrance of the gulf, partly to divert the enemy's attention and partly in order to prevent the massacre of the Greeks at Prevesa. The Greek ironclad Spe^zai arrived to ss3ist in bombarding Prevesa, and the gunboats continued to bombard from inside the gulf. All the forts except one, which is the stronge&t, were destroyed by the bombardment of the Greek fleet. The Greeks hold that it was an attempt upon the part ot the Turkish forces to occupy a I stategic poeition near Mount Analipsis, not far from Nezsrcs, in the neutral zone, which led to the encouuter between the Greeks and the j Turks. .This, ib i 3 added, was used at Constantinople as a reason for ordering Edhem | Pasha, J;b.e Turkish eommander-in-chief, ' to assume the offensive, and led to the rupture of ; diplomatic relations between the countries. The so-called outrage at Prevesa, when the Turkish batteries there sank the Greek steamer Macedonia, further justified Greece, in the minds of the Athenians, in waging war to the death against Turkey. FORCES HOTLY ENGAGED ABOUT KARYA. The correspondent of the Associated Press, on returning to Elassona from Karya, on the Greek frontier, north of Tyrnavos, after a three horns' ride, reported that he was enabled to watch the battle between the Turks and the Greeks from a point near the tent of Hamdi Pasha, who is in command of the Sixth Army Corps, the Turkish force there engaged. Hamdi Pasha, surrounded by his staff, was watching the movements of the opposing forces. The combatants were posted on the faces of two hills overlooking a small valley, a distance of about a mile. It appeared that the Greek force, whioh was evidently comoosed of regular troops of Greece, crossed the frontier at 8 o'clock in the evening, and advanced upon the valley ' | referred to at an early hour in the morning. The Greeks, later, were engaged by four batj talions of Turkish infantry, and after soms sharp fighting were driven back towards th 9 I frontier. The Greek force, however, then took up a position on the crest of several hills, and the combat was resumed at 10 o'clock. Among the invaders wore considerable numbers of Sicilian volunteer. After an interval of about ; two hours the Greeks renewed their attacks upon the Turkish position. The Turks remained calm, and stood upon the defensive, ! though suffering considerable loss.