The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 24, 1897, Page 1

VOLUME LXXXI.- NO. 145. " SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 24, 1897, GREEKS TURN THE TABLES IN THESSALY Troops of the Sultan Said to Be Destitute and Demoralized. | | i KING GEORGE'S FORCES NOW HOLD THEIR OWN. Decided Check of the Onward March of the| Invading Moslem Hordes Followed by a General Changing of Turkish Commanders. That something of importance has occurred on the Thessalian frontier to check the advance of the Moslems upon Larissa is noted by the recall of Edhem Pasha, commander-in-chief . of the Turkish forces. as been ordered to succeed Edhem. Changes are also | urkish generals in Epirus. Now the general political situation promi tion than the actual military operations. visit to Vi s to attract more atten- Emperor William’s recent is followed by a willingness on the part of Francis Joseph to drop Italy from the triple alliance, if Russia is substituted. Official reports relate the gallant defense of the bridge over the river Arta by the Greek troops, who on the 20th inst. defeated the | attacking Turkish forces, killed their commander and scattered them over the plain beyond the river. Thessaly. Greeks are also holding their own in From Constantinople comes the news that the Turkish fleet has | returned there. were afraid to take any chances. The vessels were unseaworthy and the commanders Quite different are the reports con- | cerning the Greek Western squadron. These modern warships are bombarding towns along the western Albanian coast, and soon a bom- | bardment of Salonica isexpected. THEIR ADVANCE CHECKED. Turks Have Not Yet Reached Lar- Issa and May Not Arrive There at All. [Copyrighted 1897, by the New York Sun.| LONDON, £x6., April 23.—The advance | of the Turks on Larissa has undoubtedly been partially checked, but no news has been received here which justifies or ex- plains the recall of Edhem Pasha, the | to put pressure on the Sultan are creating The first | uneasiness, but no serious fear is enter- report that Osman Pasha had superseded | tained yet that the war will become gen- Edhem is not believed in London, for the | eral. latter’s march into Thessaly was regarded | such trifies as Salisbury remaining at the Turkish commander-in-chiel. | ! as a trinmphal one. Later accounts of | the gloomy feeling 1n Constantinople nave created a belief that the Turks have suf- | fered reverses which have not been re- | ported to the outstde world. The general political situation is begin- ning to attract more attention than the military operations. The aetivity of Em- peror William and the efforts of Bulzaria London bases its confidence on The summit of Milouna Pass is reached by two roads from Elassona. THE FIGHT IN MILOUNA PASS. One climbs up from the west through Tcharitchena, crosses the frontier at the very summit, then winds down on the east side aronnd the side of Vide Malouna to L garia through the footnills to Turnavo and on to Larissa. The other roa , leaving Elassona in a northeasterly direction, follows the course of the Elassonitko River up to the ba<e of Olympus, then turns to the south and strikes the ridge along which runs the frontier bounday at Mount Psiloraki, ridge which carries it have u sharp descent al lished detaiis of the battle. artillery. nd, following it down, joins the main road just at the summitof the pass. This road and the 1the way down from Psiloraki to the pass, a distance of some five miles. Taking advantage of these features, Edhem Pasha advanced histroops by both roads at the same time, that occupied by tue Giresks, gave him a large advantage in the position of In the right foreground of the picture is a Greek battery striving to make the best of s bad position. In tke distance to the left are the Turkish batteries on the ridge road. is the struggle between the infantry. The picture was drawn by a CALL artist from & sketch made by a resi assaulting in front by the main road, and in flank by the ridge road, which, being on higher ground than In the middle, along the highway, ident of San Francisco who is thoroughbly familiar with the ground and has carefully foliowed all the pub- Riviera and the steadiness of the markets. On the other hand there are some dis- turbing symptoms. It is clear the recent visit of Emperor William to Vienna is of the highest significance. It is practically admitted that be incited the Sultan to | war, and the question now is whether he secretly desires 1t to spread. Bulgaria did not threaten the Sultan uautil Ferdinand, the ruler of that country, consuited Wil- liam, and it is now presumed the latter is seeking to bring Austria and Russia into ! accord. It is reported in Vienna that Francis Joseph is willing to drop Italy from the Triple Alliance if Russia is substituted. ALEXANDER I, KING OF SERVIA, One of the Monarchs Who Is Expected to Aid Greece in the War With Turkey. The latest Paris advices indicate that France is vecoming so restive on account |of these maneuvers .ihat the Cabinet would be in great danger if the Chamber of Deputies were in session. It will proba- biy be found that Salisbury will be ready to take fall advantage of the latter situa- | tion the moment the relations of Frauce and Russia become strained. In the meantime the prospect is diminishing of a quick sweeping victory by the Turks over the Greeks. The Turkish navy has utterly collapsed as was expected it would do. Every day the Greeks can hold the enemy in check in Thessaly their chance of gaining their object increases. Still it is impossible to judge accurately of the situation on the frontier, but the dispatches from both sides indicate that the Greek fortures have improved distinct — HOLDING THEIR OWN. Advices From Athens Show That the Greeks Have Dealt Severe Blows to the Turks. LONDON, Exe., April 23.—A dispatch to the Chronicle from Athens states that the Greeks are holding their own in Thes- saly. Tpe Turks do not possess any Greek territory. Nothing can prevent the victorious Greek flest from reaching Balonica and Smyrna. Everything is go- ing well financially.' Greeks abroad are pouring in and the value of paper money has risen materially. The dispatch adds the wounded troops from Gritzovali declare when the Greeks began to retreat from that place at night- fall and several of their wounded were left behind the Turks shut these in a small church, which they then set afire. All were burned to death. Crown Prince Constantine telegrapaed this evening: “‘The Turks are quiet to-day owing to our guccess yesterday. We have destroyed the Turkish battery at Ligaria. The Turks have retired from Nezeros and Rapsani. I was in the first line of fire yesterday."”’ A dispatch to the Times from Kalam- baka dated to-day says: “There was fight- ing at midday yesterday at Ssproklissia, westward of here, where the Greeks on Tuesday burned the Turkish blockhouse. The Turks afterward made rifle pits. The engagement resnlted ina Greek victory. The Tarkish loss must have been consid- erable, nine shells having burst in the rifle pits and several over them.” The Daily News has a dispatch from Salonica dated yesterday saying it is reported the Turkish forces have sustained zevere rever: nd have been repulsed all along the line. Their losses are said to have been heavy. Radically contradictory dispatches to the Times dated Milouna this morning say the Turks continued yesterday and to- day to advance through the plain of Larissa, The Greeks are avoiding a general engagement and are gradually retiring. Edhem Pashs, the correspond- ent declared. was pursuing a cautious policy. i The Athens correspondent of the Man- chester Guardisn says King Georee will appeal soon to the Greeks throughout the world to assist the country with men and money. : Subscriptions from | The Chronicle has started a fund for the relief of the Greek wounded. A commit- tee has been formed to administer the fand’ which inciudes Lady Dilke, Lady Henry Somerset, Mrs. Gladstone, Mrs. Asquith and Mrs. Labouchere. —_— IN DESPERATE STRAITS. The Army In Thessaly Need Sup- plies, and Forces In Epirus Panic Stricken. ATHENS, Greece, April 23.—A decres was issued by the King to-night summon- ing the two classes of the National Guard for active service. Late dispatches from Larissa say the ‘Turks have burned the viliages of Karayo- land of Moralaria and part of Igaria, in- cluding churches. Dispatches from Epirus say the Turks in that province panic stricken and, instead of remaining to defend their posi- tions, flee in terror as the Greeks ap- proach. Many cannon and quantities of ammunition and an abundance of booty are said to have fallen into the hands of the invaders. . It is learned the position of the army of Edhem Pasha is desperate. Supplies of all kinds are needed. Appeals for re-enforcements are due to serious losses the Turks sustained. At Reveni ana Boughazi whole battalions of Turkish troops were decimated. CONSTANTINOPLE, TurkeY, April 23. Edbem Pasha has telegraphed from the front that the Greeks are msking only a feeble defense to Larissa. He says the Tarks are advancing very cautiously, be- lieving the Greeks have planted dynamite mines in the outskirts of the city. Eaargs S OSMAN IN COMMAND. By Palace Intrigue Edhem Pasha, the Leader of the Turkish Forces, Is Recalled. 5 CONSTANTINOPLE, Turkey, April 23.—Osman Pasha has’ been assigned to command the Turkish troops before La- risss. Kdbem Pasha, ' commander-in- chief' of the Turkish' forces, with head- quarters at: Elassona, has been recailed. Itis said that Eddin Pasha has also been appointed to command the Turkisii troops at Janina, in Epirus, replacing Abmed Hafiz Pasha. The palace intriguers are again on the move and it is possible they may have caused the recall of Edhem Pasha, although. it ‘seems clearly suicidal to stop in the development of his pian of campaign. Osman Pashaleft Constantinople for the front to-night. The Sultan has conferred the’ fullest powers upon Osman and as- sured him he will not be fetterea by pal- ace intriguers. Edbem Pasha has been appointed adjutant-general to the Sultan. LONDON, Exe., April 23.—A dispatch to the Times from Constantinople states that Osman Pasha will have the supreme command ol all the Turkish forces. Edhem Pasha will remain commander of the Army of the East. It issaid Eddin Pasha will command the Army of the West. —_— AT THE ARTA BRIDGE. Valor of the Greeks, Who Routed .the Turks and Pursued Them 5 ' Beyond the River. ATHENS, GrexcE, April 23.—Official re- ports of the defense made April 20 by the Greeks on the bridge over the river Arta, which divides Greece from Turkey, show Athey conducted themselves with the greatest valor. Three times the enemy advanced to the bridge, only to meet a murderous fire. The Turks did not get farther than the center of the bridge, at which poiut their commander was shot dead. ’ In the afternoon the Turks made an- other assault, but the Greeks were then sheltered in the trenches ana repuised them. The Greeks crossed the river near Komena, three miles from its mouth, where the current is rapid and the water deep. They nailed planks across barrels and threw them overboard, forming an excellent bridge. Arriving on the otier side, they found the Turks some distance from the river entrenched upon the plain. The Greeks shelled the Turks out. The Turks retreated and formed in several other positions, but were invariably dis- lodged. Stories of Mussulman atrocities are cur- rent in Arta. One eye-witness says & number of Christian women, captives of the Turks, were marched in front of the Turkish lines in the hope their country- men would not fi S oy NOT FIT FOR SERVICE. Return of the Turkish Fleet Be- cause the Captalns Were Afraid to Go to Sea. CONSTANTINOPLE, Turkey, April 23. The captains of the vessels comprising the Turkish flest in the Dardanelles. have presented to the Navy Depariment a rouud robin declaring that they are convinced of the unfitness of ail the ships for active service, and in consequence the vessels were ordered to return to Constantinople singly 1n order that it might not attract public attention. This order has been carried out. B BOMBARDING TOWNS. Cruilse of the Greek Squadron Along the Albanian Coast on the Way to Salonica. ATHENS, GRrEECE, April 23.—The Greek Western squadron, consisting of a cruiser and three gunboats, left Corfu, bound northward, with orders to bombard the Albanian coast towns as far as Aolona, the principal port on the west coast of Albania, having 6000 inhabitants. The fleet has already bombarded the town of Agioi Saranta. All the buildings were destroyed, excepting the Austrian Agency. A cispatch from the commander of a Greek ironclad, in the squadron in the Gulf of Salonica, says the warships have captured the town of Katerina. The Greeks destroyed large quantities of sup- plies destined for Elassona. Upon re- turning to Platomona the squadron shelled the town of Litokharion. The Turks detached a force of 8000 to prevent the Greeks from landing. The squadron also captured three Turkish vessels laden with wheat. LONDON, E~e., April 23.—The Daily | News correspondent in Salonica says it is reported the Greek squadron is outside in tke gulf, but it cannot be authenticated. It is believed, however, the Greek Eastern squaaron is under orders to attack Sa- lonica. gt ONLY A RELIGIOUS WAR. Already Egypt Is Contributing, and the Mecca Appeals to India to Ald the Sultan. LONDON, ExG., April 23.—The Con- stantinople correspondent of the Speaker, who is high in authority on the subject, and cognizant of the inside workings at embassies, writing on April 19, says: simply because the concert of Europe have | taken’ sides with Turkey and given the Sultan to understand be can have a§ free a hand in Greece as Armenia. The Sultan was not much inclined 1o take chances of war, and it is believed here tha: Germany mnfluenced him to take the final steo. | Other powers advised peace, but assured | bim Europe would not intervene in sia of | Greece. Even now the war might be | stopped, but no power honestly wishes it | “Salisbury preferred to let things drift, | with the vague idea that war would be better than nothing and sometuing would | come which would ‘end the long and wearisome period of fruitless negotia- tions. He hoped the Turks might pos- sibly be beaten and the Sultan be beaten | into submission, and that even if Victori- ous he would come out of the war in a condition of helpless bankruptey, too | Weak to resist the powers., | “The Turkish armies ought to be in | Athens within a month.. For the Turks | this is strictly a reiigious war. They are | full of fanaticism and drunk with the blood of Armenians. The idea that the Sultan, even if he should be victorious, will come out of the war rather than abdi- | cate comes from a mistaken view of his | character and policy. Itdoes not follow | from his fear of ation and appar- | ent vacillation in dealing with Embassa- | dors that he is a weak man without a | fixed policy. On the contrary, he is a | very strong man, with the indomitable purpose to restore the power and glory of the Caliphat. The success of this war | will mak+ him more defiant than ever. 1t will arouse the courage and fanaticism of Moslems throughout the worid. Al- ready Egypt is coatributing for the war against the infidel, and the Mecca has ap- pealed to [ndia to come to the Sultan’s aid.” N REED REFUSES. The Speaker Will Not Lat Maglure Present Resolutions Expressing Sympathy for Greece. WASHINGTON, D. C., April 23— Speaker Reed refused to-day to permit the resolutions presented by Representa- tive Maguire, extending sympathy to the Greeks, to come before the House. The Californian, to secure immediate action, asked Reed to recognize him for unani- | mous consent to take up the resolutions. | *‘L cannot assume the responsibility of | permitting these resolutions to come up,” | replied Reed. “They meddle in affatrs that do not belong tous. This country got one severe slap from Bismarck for meddling, and I do not propose tolay it open to a second.’’ Maguire was finally compelled to intro- { duce the resolutions in the regular way, | which means the shelving of them until | the Committee on Foreign Affairs is ap- | pointed. it ! Are the Powers Allles? | LONDON, Exc., Apxil 23.—A dispatch from Caneasays a Greek officer to-day brought a dispatch from Colonel Va: commander of the Greek army occupying d to the admirals of | the foreign fleets inquiring whether the powers were allies of Turkey. Vassos add- ed that he had received orders to attack the Ottoman troops in the island. What reply the admirals made is not known. — | Wou'd Not Stop a Yankee. LONDON, Exc., April 23.—Gladstone, i in conversation with a calier yesterday on the Eastern situation, said he boped some Yankee skipper would run a cargo into a Cretan port. He imagined, he said, the blockading squadron in Cretan waters ‘I there is war to-day in Thessaly it is | would not dare to stop him. A i AN Ao