The Greek Rout from Turnavo.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 289, 9 June 1897, Page 2

The Greek Rout from Turnavo.

A TEERIBLE SCENE. WOMEN AND CHILDREN TRAMPLED TO DEATH. Reuter'a correspondent, describing ths Greek rout from Turnavo, says :— At the junction of Turnavo and Kuzaklor roads, I the struggling lines of both divisions of ! the retiring army were travelling on the i road, and upon the ploughed land upon either side. The sullenness had now given place to clamour, and the disappointed and dispirited forgot their weariness in imprecations against their generals and officers. The retreat had become a rout. Our carriage was picking its way slowly through a crowd of desperate men, crying women and children, horses and donkeys overburdened, and creeping at ■ snail's pace, or prancing in nervous fright and I had just remarked to the Times' correspondent, who had just joined our carriage, that the Greeks at the mouth of Boughazi Pass seemed to be signalling to Larissa with the night heliograph, when suddenly above the din of the confusion on the road and the adjoining fields, came a roar sharpening into a fierce sustained yell, rolling with lightning speed from the distant rear. There was no rearguard, and, so far as I have observed, no screen of cavalry covered the retreat. In a few moments above all the noise of shouting could be distinguished prolonged cries of 11 The Turks are npon us." One had hardly time to realise what was happening when a dozen or more horsemen, accompanied by a few riderless steeds, appeared in the left at full speed, ohouting in a perfect frenzy, "Knn, run, the Turks am here. WOMAN AND CHILDREN TRAMPLED TO DEATH. Up into tko night air there arose an agonised roar, fairly paralysing the imagination, and destined to remain in the memory for ever, The stampede was instantaneous. Woman, children and soldiers pell-mell made one mad rush forward. Many fell, and were trampled to death. Vehicles of every description were overturned, mixing together in inextricable confusion bedding, furniture ammunition, horses, donkeys, oxen, buffaloes. In the depths of the black night, at the side of our carriage, two infantry soldiers appeared, their faces blanched with terror. They jumped on the step, and when we tried to keep them out, one levelled his rifle at us. Then suddenly their weight ovor baK anced the vehicle, which was overturned, and smashed to pieces, all the occupants, including the Times correspondent and myself, being thrown out. My leg was pinned down by broken timbers, but I somehow managed to re - lease myself and join the Times corressondent. All the others disappeared in the darkness. Then began a perfect paudemonium. INSANE FIRING BY SOLDIERS, In their insane terror, soldiers, irregulars and armed peasants commenced to tire their rifles in all directions. From front, rear, right and left, bullets whizzed, the reports being scarcely beard above the roar of human voices, and the screaming terror of stricken animals. I bad been through the battle of Shipka Pass, and in the hottest part of the fighting at Plevna, but never beforo bad I witnessed such wild firing as now took place. The whole plain was lit by constant flashes. Keeping together, tbo Times correspondent and myself, we got into a roadside ditch, but we had only walked for* ward a short distance when we were thrown down by a rush from behind. When I regaiued my feet, after being trampled upon by scores of fugitives, an irregular who was rushing past suddenly turned and) deliberately raising bis rifle within three inches of my head, fired. Just in time I ducked and fell, thus saving my life. Meanwhile I had lost my companion. There was nothing to do but to walk on now in the ditcb, and anon on the plougbed land, keeping as free as possible from the thickest part of the stampede. The insane firing continued for SO minutes. Buglers were then heard on left sounding " Cease firing," but it teemed a long time before the continuous rattle of musketry showed any sign of slackening. Gradually, however, it died away to single shots. THE PANDEMONIUM SPREAD OVER MANY MILES. The pandemonium had spread over many miles. When I returned to the road, stumbling over dead and dying animals, and men and women, the scene was terrible in the extreme. It was piled^up agony, " Ossa upon Pelion," with a vengeance. The way was strewn with ammunition boxes, broken carts, furniture, bedding, soldiers' blankets, and tin pannikins, the latter causing a constant clattering as they were kicked by horses' feet, which also be came entangled in the blankets and other litter. The horses continued to gallop frantically among tbe flying crowds. Many of them were riderless. Deserted guns, munition waggons and carts added to the general obstruction. Tbe traces of horses had been cut to enable the drivers and fugitives to fly more speedily. Those who were without horses attempted to dislodge those who wero mounted. In some cases they succeeded, and taking tbe place of the dispossessed riders disappeared iv tbo dark. In this maddened crowd I struggled on for several miles. Some of the Greek officers I knew did their duty. They ordered the trumpeters to sound the " Cease firing," arid rode about attempting to call a bait. Others, lam sorry to say, lost their reason and rushed ahead as terror stricken as their men. I saw one gallant officer endeavoring $q bring his fellows |o (heir sences by preFentiug bis revolver and shouting " Stasu, stasu "— " Halt, halt"— but lie might as well have given tbe word of command to a whirlwind, The entrance to Larissa is by a bridge crossing the river Peneios, and here the block of vehicles, guns, men and horses was for hours terrific and agonising. When I entered Larissa the streets presented scenes of indescribable confusion. Troops of all arms were inextricably mixed. They threw themselves down in utter exhaustion, heedless to calls by voice or trumpet to fall in. It is hard to say how many live 8 were lost in the stampede and by the indiscriminate firing. Various estimates ranged between 500 and COO. This may be an exaggeration, but peoplo declare they saw many waggons bearing the dead going into Larissa.