Greece and Turkey.

Manawatu Herald, 22 April 1897, Page 2

Greece and Turkey.

Since our last issue, matters be* tween Greece and Turkey have at last culminated in war. The Turks drove the Grecian irregulars who raided the Turkish territory at Kraina back across the frontier and killed 60 of their number.

Edhera Pasha, Commander of the Turkish forces, baa informed the Sultan that the Greek National League forces are rendering the position on the Turco- Grecian frontier untenable, and has requested authority to cross the Greek frontier, and on Friday last instructions were given him to assume the offensive against Greece. Prior to this step being taken the Porte insisted that Greek regular troops were concerned in the attack at Metsovo, on the Turkish frontier, but the assertion waa denied by Greece, but a member of the National League, captured by the Turk?, admitted that he was a soldier, and that Greek officers commanded t.he Leaguers, and that the Government supplied -them with arms.

Russia and Austria secured the neutrality of the Balkan States in the event of war between Turkey and Greece, unless their co-national-ists are attacked, and the Powers have postponed the blockaHe of the Pirteus, thus depriving Greece of any pretence for breaking the peace.

The Turkish Ambassador at Athens, Assim Bey, has been recalled, and the Greek Minister at Constantinople, Prince Mavrocordato, has been handed his passports.

The Porte has issued a circular Note to the Ottoman Embassies in the European capitals, declaring that the Greek regular troqps are at Krania, on . the frontier, and that they have taken part in more recent incursions across the frontier. The hope is expressed that the Powers will recognise that Greece is re sponsible for the war. Turkey, it is added, has no idea of conquest, and is willing to withdraw her troops on condition that Greece withdraws her troops from the frontier and Crete.

M. Delyannis has sent a protest to the Powers declaring that the Turks are the aggressors. A general advance of the Greek army has been ordered, with a view to repelling the Turkish invasion. The Turkish troops made an attempt to occupy Analipsis, which is in a neutral position near Negeros, but were repulsed.

The fighting was renewed on Saturday.

The outbreak of hostilities has extended to Elephtika and Gentekia.

After a march of an hour and a halt in the afternoon, the Qreek artillery forced the Turks to abandon Tsemteje and other outposts.

The Turks have been reinforced again, and attacked Analipsis on Saturday night.

Fighting is also proceeding at Gritsovali and Molima.

Further details from the Beat of war show that 50,000 troops took part in the fighting on Saturday and Sunday, and were mostly without food and sleep the whole time. The chief point of conflict were Karya Damasi, Skumpa and Malana. la the battle at Maluna Pass,

which commands the road to Larissa 20,000 troops were engaged. The fighting lasted throughout the whole day and night. At first the Turkish forces, under Edhem Pasha, were successful. They succeeded in repulsing the Greeks and rescued the garrison and the Turkish blockhouse which the Greeks had surrounded. They stormed the Greek blockhouse at the point of the bayonet, the defenders offering a desperate resistance. The artillery caused great execution and eventually the Turks succeeded in clearing the greater portion of the pass. The Greeks, however, oaptured the Turkish battery. Amongst those killed was Hafid Pasha, a leading Turkish officer. Latest telegrams state that their chief officers (presumably Turkish) and a large number of men were killed and wounded. Nine Turkish battalions were engaged against 15,000 Greeks at Earya, and from the opposite hillside a heavy artillery fire was kept up. The intention of the Greeks was to secure the road to Larissa. Both sides lost heavily. The Greeks have captured Menexe in Macedonia. A murderous firing is proceeding along the whole frontier. The Turka are massing in the direction of Furnavao, and are occupying the passes leading on Larissa, preparatory to a general advance of the army into Greece. Greece has called out the last of their reserves. The Turks have destroyed Actium, a fort opposite Prevesa. The Greeks have silenced the Turkish battery at Prevesa. Severe fighting is taking place in ' connection with the defence of the Salonica Railway. The efforts of the Turks to seize Analap3is failed. The Greek merchants are being ordered to quit Turkey within a fortnight. Two thousand Greek troops are approaching Prevesa by land. Four Greek gunboats are attacking Salalkhura, a Turkish town on the north shore of the Gulf of Arta-. The Greeks repulsed a fresh attack upon Analipsis. The Greek ironclad Spetdia, assisted by a flotilla of gunboats, is inside the strait, and bombarding Prevesa with so much effect that the town is now in ashes. Two Turkish shore batterios have been silenced, but a third commanding the town of Arta 13 still replying to the fire of the fleet. After two days' desperate fighting the Turks captured the whole of Maznra Pass. The losses on both sides were enormous. Furious fighting is going on round the Gulf of Arta. Desperate hand to hand fighting has taken place between the Turks and Greeks at Raveni, on the northern frontier, which resulted in the repulse of the Turks. The Greeks are attacking Vigalia, and have captured one battery. The Grecian forces are invading Epirus at several points. Many shells fired by the Turkish artillery during the recent battles failed to explode. Greek irregulars are menacing the Salonica railway, with a view to blooking the arrival of Turkish reinforcements from Constantinople. Later reports show that the fighting in the vicinity of Raveni proved disastrous to the Greeks. The Turks eventually repelled the attack on Viglia, and captured one of the Grecian batteries. - The Turkish forces are now in turn invading the districts in the Epirus held by the Greeks.