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The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, April 25, 1897, Image 1

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VOLUME LXXXI.-]Sro£-J4i
LARISSA IS
EVACUATED BY
THE GREEKS.
Crown Prince Constantine
Withdraws His Forces
to Pharsalia.
HORRORS OF THE HOLY DAY OF
THE MOSLEMS.
j
There Is- a Terrible Slaughter During the Suc
cession of Turkish Victories — Disasters
That Cause the Outlook for the
Hellenes to Appear Hopeless*
'Copyrighted. 1897, by tne New York Snn.]
LONDON, Eng., April 24.— Yesterday
was Holy day for all worshipers of Mo
hammed. The Turkish hosts who con
fronted the Greek armies in Thessaly
and Epirus invoked the aid of Allah
ai.d the prophet and flung themselves
-with resistless fury against the enemy
all along the line. Nothing human
could withstand the mad, demon-like
assaults which the Sultan's troops
made— not once, twice, but half a score
of times— upon every position held by
■ the Christian foes.
The burdened wires bring only brief,
laconic details of the bloodiest day's
work in recent history. The principal
battle was fought at Mati, between
Milouna Pass and Larissa. Seven times
did the brave Greeks, led by the Crown
Prince himself, beat back the army of
fanatics, whose frenzy was only in
creased by each repulse.
The Turkish commander had secured
the strongest ally known in ancient or
modern warfare when he appealed to j
the religious spirit of his men, aud vie- j
ti-ry- «--<•? fiisu.-e.-t from tho liist. *.'
The same thing is happening in '■
lipirus, -where the same spirit inspired -
the Mussulman hosts to attack- again |
and again the strong fort which the
Greeks captured early , in the week,
until the crescent Anally supplanted
the cross above it.
At other points on the frontier the
bloody work went on, almost always,
alas, to the undoing of King George's
soldiers. There wan method as well ns !
fury in it. and a masterful disnlay of
military genius. This was also chiefly i
on the side ofthe Turks. JMhem, who ■
was reported yesterday in disfavor with I
his sovereign, established the right to
shape with his new chief the title of
•'Ghazi, the Victorious." . He failed
only at one point in his great plan of
campaign against the Greeks iv Thes
saly. He hoped not only *to take La
rissa and the rest of the province, but
to deal a death blow to the Greek
cause by making a prisoner of the )
Crown Prince. J.arissa is his, also
Turnavo and the I hessalian plains, but |
the Greek army and royal commander j
escaped him. The horns of Ills crescent- |
shaped advance did not come together
until his opponents discovered the trap
closing in upon them and slipped
away.
■ Such is the story of a single day of
Turkish victories, as far as it has
reached the outside world at this hour
of wr.ting. Fragmentary details are
coming in from hour to hour all con
firming the general plan as described
The most Information conies from Greek
sources, so there is little hope the day
has been less disastrous to George's
cause than indicated.
||On the other hand there is gloom in
Constantinople, where one would ex
pect wild rejoicing. The correspond
ent of the Sun and Call telegraphs to
night from Philippppolis, tweive hours'
ride from the Porte, that the Covein
ment put a sudden embargo on the '
wires 1-ast night, and Yildiz Kiosk was
greatly disturbed- The British Govern
ment has taken possession of the lines
of the Indo-Kuropeau telegraph, so di
rect communication wilh the Turkish
capital is now impossible The attitude
of Bulgaria is undo.tbted . y causing
serious alarm, and it declaration of in
dependence is expected st any moment.
his would Indeed Offset the great Turk
ish victories yesterday, and threaten the
peace of Europe as well. "We have the
assurance from the German r-.'inperor
to-day that the cause of peace is quite
safe, but the fact that this erratic
monarch thought it necessary to make
such a public declaration is really an
additional reason for uneasiness.
it must be admitted that in the issue
between Greece and Turkey the out
look to-night seems almost, hopeles ' for
the Hellenic cause. The ouly possible j
chance to retrieve fortune lies in some
.. eat victory of the fleet. Turkish im- '
potence on the sea is now confessed. j
Early this week Admiral You Hou", the I
PRINCE FERDINAND READY TO FIGHT.
BERLIN, GERMANY, April 24.— Prince Ferdinand's visit is of more than ordinary im-
portance. His audience with the Emperor was unsatisfactory. The Emperor strongly
dissuaded the Prince from engaging in warlike enterprises, and plainly warned him of
unpleasant consequences. The Prince, however, was apparently not discouraged, for he
• entered into negotiations with Berlin financiers for raising a Bulgarian loan; and also with
the Krupps for a supply of quick-firing and heavy guns/ "" '
The San Francisco Call
General View of the City of Larissa, Which the Greeks Evacuated Yesterday.
German commander of the so-called
fleet, wont to Constantinople to beg the
Sultan not to commit wholesale murder
by sending to sea ships which were cer
tain to sink. The correspondent to-day
send* the sequel. Yon Hon* took occasion
not only to tell the Sultan the truth
about the fleet, but denounced Hassan
Pasha ns the man responsible.
Yon HolTs indictment categorically
charged Ha-iaau among other things
which in a cizilized country would send
him to the scaffold of habitual ly apply
ing to his own purposes the bulk of the
money set apart for maintaining the
navy. Hassan had heard through his
creatures at the palace of the coming
storm and had managed to plant a sus
picion ofthe German's good faith in the
Sultan's brea.t. The result is Yon Hoff
ban thrown up the Ottoman commission
and has retired disgusted from the Sul
tan's service, in which he declares it is
now impossible for any honest man to
remain.
Little is heard about Crete while the
exciting events are crowding each
other, but attention will soon bo re
called to the island. Tho Itritlsh Gov
ernment would certainly hesitate to use
its fleet in active operations against j
Vassos in case of an attack on the
Turkish troops there. "English public '
opinion would not tolerate such an |
open alliance with Turkey. Now that j
the war is in progress the Kaiser's I
prejudice against the Greek* and his j
owu sister is said to have been inten-
SAN FRANCISCO, SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 25, 1807 -THIRTY-TWO PAGES.
silled by the reply Princess Sophie sent
his invitation to attend William's first
centennry.- The Princess telegraphed:
♦•Your Majesty forgets that I share the
anxieties and troubles of my new and
only couutry. " ■• ';, J
ROUT OF THE GREEKS.
j Compelled to Retreat Before the
| Advancing- Turks and Abandon
Turnavo and Larissa.
ELASSONA, Greece, April 24.— The
i Greeks have been routed at Mati, and as a
result the entire Greek army has with
drawn from Turnavo and Larissa. The
Greek headquarters is now established at
Pharsales, twenty-five miles south of
Larissa.
The Turks attacked Mati in 9 trong force
yesterday afternoon. Aithouph greatly
outnumbered, General Mastrapa with his
brigade made a gallant defense. After
six hours' fighting a council of war was
held on the field, presided over by Crown
Prince Constantine, who participated in
the battle. It was decided to fall back
upon Turnavo, and the retreat was imme
diately effected in good order.
ATHENS. Greece, April 24.— The vic
tory of the Turks at Mati is officially con- -
firmed. The carnage on both sides was
terrific, but the Greeks suffered the most.
The Greek army is in full retreat. They
abandoned the entire plains of Thessaly.
They are not being pursued by the Turks.
LONDON, Exg., April 24.— Dispatches
this afternoon say that hard fighting oc
curred before Turnavo was abandoned by
the Greeks. After resisting severe attacks
the Greeks fell back upon Kazablarin
Plain, between Turnavo and Larissa. It
is understood that Larissa was evacuated
by the Greeks without fighting, in order
I to avoid the capture of the Greek gar
| rison. Edhem Pasha's troops were ad
; vancing in the form of a crescent, and had
almost encircled the city when the Greek
j commander withdrew. Then the evacu
: ating troops joined the forces of the Crown
i Prince and the general retreat to Phar
i ai-ales be an. Edhem Pasha said a few
j days ago he would be in Larissa Friday.
EVACUATION OF LARISSA.
Retiring: Troops Followed by In
habitants and a Big: Crowd of
Refugees.
ATHENS, Greece, April 24.— The battle
of Mali was decided by the combat at
Reveni, where the Greeks, after a splendid
defense, were compelled to retreat. As
soon as he bad seen the battle had gone
against him, General Mavromicahlis, di
visional commander, sent a laconic dis
patch to Colonel Dinopoulo, saying: "*I
am beaten; take your measures." There
upon a council of war resolved to retreat.
Larissa was hastily evacuated, the with
drawal of troops beginning Friday ingot
and continuing until late this morning.
The troops were followed by the inhabi
tants and a crowd of refugees, and shortly
after noon to-day nobody was in tlie
town except the Prefect, a few policemen
and telegraph operators. These left about
2 o'clock in the afternoon. One operator,
who remained until the last moment, sent
a message before he lef., saying he couid
see on the horizon a cloud of dust, which
was probably caused "by the advancing
The Greet Fleet Bombarding the Batteries on Cape Kara at the Entrance to Salonica Harbor.
At sunrise on Friday the Greek fleet appeared off the entrance to the harbor of Salonica, and soon afterward opened fire on the batteries on Touzla Point the
southeastern extremi yof Cape .Kara, a bold headland jutting out into the bay. The vessels of the fleet steamed up in single line, the forward one delivering the fire
from her starboard guns, and then, keeping away to port, hove around, giving the batteries the benefit of her port guns as she passed out. The others followed in th*
same way, and were thus able to use all their guns on the Turkish fortress. v *
squadron of Ottoman cavalry. A little
later all telegraphic communication with
Larissa was cut ' off. It is supposed the
Turks occupied the place to-night. .",'.*
News of- the defeat of the Greek army
caused intense popular emotion here.. Di
rectly after the receipt the intelligence
a prolonged council was held by the Cabi
net. What occurred at 'the meeting was
not divulged. . Nothing is known of the
losses sustained by either side at Mati.
It appears, from the dispatches there
was also severe fighting to-day . in the vi
cinity of Dereli nnd Kapsane. ..Vr-
PARIS, France, April 24.— A dispatch
from Constantinople says , the plan of
Osman Pasha, the newly appointed Turk
ish commander-in-chief, is to, recall the
whole of the forces in Epirus, only leav
ing a strong garrison at Janina and 'to
abandon the rest of the province. The
army in Epirus will .then join the army
of the east under command of , Edhem
Pasha. Ofliciai circles have received in
formation that Osman Pasha will act
merely as adviser to Edhem Pasha, who
will retain the active command.
FIGHTING IN CRETE.
Greek Regulars . Join the Insur
gents In Making It Lively
for the Turks.
CANEA," Crete. April 24.— Colonel
Cbermeside, commander, of the interna
tional forces at Candia, has asked for re
enforcements. The insurgents are block
ading the town and an attack is momen
tarily expected. The Turkish troops have
abandoned t:.eir position around the fort
guarding the approach to the town and :
sought* refuge within' the walls' of the
blockhouse. Greek soldiers are with the
insurgents, who are investing ! the' place.'
The insurgents are commanded by Zera
kas, a Gicek. "
VIENNA, Austria, April' 24.— A dis
patch from Trieste says the King of
Greece has granted a moratorium (legal
suspension of debt-paying) of t one month.
. . CONSTANTINOPLE. Turkey, April
24. — The foreign .diplomats, met to-day to
discuss the question of affording protec-'
' tion (o Greeks employed in the offices of
the Government and elsewhere. It "was
decided * the embassies would grant pro
tection to such persons, anil all Consuls in
Turkey should have discretion to give pro
tection in every case where injury is prob
able to the interests of foreign subjects. -
ROME. Italy, April -24.— The police are
preventing the departure; of volunteers
for Greece from the various towns. .* :,','':"/
.TOULON,* Fraxce. April 24.— A French
fleet is coaling * in "readtnes- to sail for the
Levant-to-morrow if 'necessary. ' *
ATHENS, Greece, April 24 —Greek war
ships aire reported to be preparing to make
a dash. through the Dardanelles. Several
foreign warships . have -arrived off Pha
lerum, a short distance south of Pirjeus.
ONE GREEK VICTORY.
Capture of the Town of Karla, on
*•-. Turkish" Soil, Between Plato
■ ' ■' • mona and Eiassona.
SALON A, Turkey, April 24. — The
Greeks, after a fierce engagement Tues
day, occupied the town of Karia, on Turk
ish soil, between Platomona and Eias
sona. Fighting continues throughout the
line. The Greek squadron is maneuver
ing in the Gulf of Salonica,
ATHENS, Greece, April 24.— A highly
emotional scene occurred here ' last even
ing upon the customary Greek Good Fri
day celebration. Several processions
marched through the streets to Constitu
tion square, which was densely packed by
thousands, holding lighted candles. At
the square the crowds formed Into one
procession and marched to the cathedral,
where the King and Queen attended
mass.' The procession included all the of
ficials of the capital, headed by the Metro
politan of . Athens, wearing . gold-em
broidered robes and golden tiara glittering
with terns, and the choirs chanted pray
ers as the cortege passed along. !
The procession stopped in the middle of
the square, where the Metropolitan prayed
to God to protect the soldiers who are de
fending the national ■ honor and ■'. fighting
for the glory of the cross. At this point
the - emotion of the people was at its
height. The silent multitude stood with
uncovered heads in the flickering light of
the candles, while passionate sobs mingled
with the voice of the Metropolitan. After
the ceremonies the people dispersed
quickly.
WILL AID THE GREEKS.
At the Same Time Bulgaria Will
Strike a Blow for Her Own
Independence.
SOFIA, Bulgaria, April 24.— A band of J
Bulgarian insurgents has crossed the !
Macedonian frontier under command ofa
chief of the insurgent; leaders,, who was ;
recently put under police supervision by
the Bulgarian Government. Other insur
gent bands have gone northward, and it
is understood their intention is to work
around and meet in Macedonia.
LONDON, Eng.,. April 24.— Dispatches
from several sources con m the reports J
of. the insurrection, of several Albanian j
regiments. Four regiments have revolted
and joined the Greets. Dispatches from
several Continental capitals say the re
fusal of Bulgaria to break off diplomatic
relations with Greece at the request of the
Porte is regarded a very serious matter, )
and construed as foreshadowing a decla
ration of Bulgarian independence. : 'A,*/-'^
GENERAL MILES' MISSION.
Going to Europe to Observe Modern
Military Appliances of War- i
ring- Nations.
WASHINGTON. D. C, April 24.— The
President formally cave vis consent to
day to the suggestion of "Secretary Alger
that General Miles be sent to observe the
operations of the hostile forces on the
Grecian frontier. The official order di
recting the commanding general to pro
ceed to the seat of war will be promul
gated Monday. Miles will not sail until
May 5. He will be accompanied by Can
tain M. P. Maus, one of his aides de camp.
The general said this afternoon he would
not determine until he arrived in Europe
what his exact course would be. He was
going, be said, to observe the appliances of
strategy and armament of the opposing
force?, field equipment, uniforms, trans
portation, medical and hospital appli
ances and all matteis pertaining to mili
tary operation in the field. He thought
it probable he.would | inspect some of the
other European armies.
The Army and Navy Journal says to
night:
Major-General Miles in likely to visit the
theater of war in the East. He will do so unless
President McKinley interposes objection. He
is ready to start, and will leave for Europe to
day if the ollicial authority ne has requested
is granted in time. ',■'* "
For several days "secretary Alger has been
| considering the question of having creditable
representatives in the field with the armies of
Turkey and Greece. Early in the week Captain
Scriven, our efficient military attache at Rome,
cabled Secretary Alger and asked permission
to join the 'Sultan's troops, with a view to
officially reporting the incidents of their,
campaigns and military lessons to be derived
therefrom. ~. "-.'•; i^'i J. yjjj. t 'A '.-;«• ' -. • -
Wnile the Secretary was considering the ap
plication it was suggested to him that an offi
cer should also be authorized to go.with the
Greek troops. Captain Dorst, our zealous at
taci c at Vienna, was recommended for the
detail. Shortly afterwards the Secretary con
ferred with General Miles. It was at tnis con
ference that General Miles proposed that he
should go to Europe, accompanied by one or
two aids, observe the hostile forces and upon
his return make an official report of his expe
riences. The general's suggestion was heart
ily indorsed by the Secretary, who expressed a
desire that an officer of high rank should go
to Europe. ' f-^-- ;
Tho present war will not present as many
great opportunities to gain information of
modern warfare as would be the case if the
foes were Germany and France. But who can
sny that it will not eventually draw into con
flict, not only those two great military powers,
but Russia, England and Austria? The far
seeing ones realize that the combat between
Turkey and Greece may involve the chief
powers of Europe. If it is prolonged and the
Greeks are joined by one or two sympathizing
states, does anything seem to be more- cer
tain? i ; '• *" -' ,"■'■'• •
Should a conflict come about it. would be
highly appropriate that an officer of General
Miles' distinction ana ability as a soldier
should be this country's chief representative
to witness and record the great battles that
would surely ensue. Even if hostilities are
limited to the troops of the Sultan and King
George it is advisable that an "officer of ""high
rank should be the accredited American
representative at the front. If "a general
European war should follow" it would be par
ticularly appropriate tnat General Miles, like
Scott, Sherman' and Sheridan bet ore him,
should be assigned to the important duty.
: President McKinley now -has General Miles'
request under , consideration. The present
probability is that he will approve it. . Secre
tary Alger was in conference with the Presi
dent on the subject on Thursday and again
yesterday. V_ The Secretary . ; has advised that
General Miles be given the authority be has
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
' * J-j A.'" . ■
asked for. There are a number of cases where
general officers have been sent to Europe In
time of war to represent this country. Gen
eral Scott observed the Napoleon wars In 1815,
General Sherman the brief hostilities between
Germany and Austria and General Sheridan he
conflict between Germany and France. McClel
lnn. Helsfleld and Mordecai reported on the
Crimean war and Hazen and Green on the lest
Turkish war. Upton, Forsyth and Sanger in
spected to armies of the world In 1875.
- Should General Miles go to Europe he will
be accompanied by Captain Michier and possi
bly Captain Maus. Ke will make no final ar
| rangements about starting until the Presideut
! speaks. It Is understood that he has already;
; perfected some preliminary .plans in order
I that he may get away promptly when the
order to "march" issued. Naturally Geueral
Miles is exceedingly reticent in referring to
the probabilities.' When he speaks of the sub
ject It is evident that he is extremely enthusi
astic over the prospects. • . ,
As to Captains Striven and Uorst the Presi
dent has approved a recommendation of Secre
j tary Alger, that the former be authorized to
j join the Sultans .army and the latter, King
George's forces. * ' - • l• x ■ ■'»
■ Captain Scriven has been directed to report
to the American Minister at Constantinople.
Instructions have been sent the Minister by
the Secretary of State to request authority for
J the captain to go to -the front. No application
I has been received from Captain Dorst to join
the Greek army. In his case the orders issued
grant him permission to go to Athens and re
port for duty to the American* Minister. It is
assumed that he will gladly avail himself of
this opportunity and it is expected that some
particularly interesting reports will be made
by him to the War Department -—"-*-' *-
Greeks Beaten In Epirus.
CONSTANTINOPLE. Turkey, April
24. — The commander of the Turkish army
corps at Janina telegraphs under to-day's
date that after seven Hours of righting ha
gained a 'victory over the Greeks in
Epirus, ending with the capture of the
fort at Pentepighadia, northwest of Arta,
where the Greeks entrenched after, cross
ing the Luros River. ■ • .
William Is for Peace.
LONDON, Eng., April Emperor
William arrived at Carlsrube to-day. Re
plying to the address of welcome by the
Burgomaster, the Emperor said: "Jean
:ii*-ur*» you peace will be maintained, not
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