THE RAID OF BALTINON. 651 In Thessaly, on the Greek side, the young CrownPrince Constantine had taken command in the last week of March. His headquarters were at Larissa, where he had arrived on the 28th, accompanied by his wife, a sister of the German Emperor. He had at his disposal about 40,000 men. One division watched the Meluna Pass,another that of Danaasi. Detachments faced the Turks wherever a hill path crossed the border.

hours, when a relieving force appeared. It w.s only three companies (600 or 700 men) of an Albanian rifle battalion. After a very brief resistance the raiders retired across the frontier.

The Albanians did not follow them beyond the border line,as the Turkish officers had orders to act strictly on the defensive. The raiders had lost about sixty men killed and wounded. On the same day there were less important raids near Arta, on the extreme west of the border line,and at Leptokarya,nearits easternend. Inboth cases the Greeks retired after a desultoryfusillade with the Turkish outposts.

Rumour said that Gr,eek regular officers had led the raiil of Baffinon. Edhem Pasha had reported what had occurred by telegraph to Constantinople. In the night between the9th and 10th of April he received a telegram ordering him to advance upon Larissa, but this was almost immediately countermanded by another, showing that the Sultan still hesitated to risk the wager of battle.

But, although The bulk of his force was in the Lower Salamvria Vallev.Intheupper valleytherewas only a brigade,based on Kalabaka, at the head of the railway above Trikhala. This brigade was considered sufficient toguardthefrontier inthat quarter. The mainattack,whether by Greek or Turk, was certain to be made elsewhere.

Along the hill frontier the guards that held the rival blockhousesonevery pass and goat path. had been so long near neighbour: without any fighting that almost friendly relatii were springing up betweenthem.Even those who were rc-THE CROWN PRINCE CONSTANTINE OF GRLECE, ported good jui of the situation were beginning to say that there would be no war, when, on the evening of April 8th, one of the bands organised by the Ethnike Hctairci1 started from its camp at the monastery of Kakoplevri, near Kalabaka, to cross the border into Macedonia. It was about 1,500 strong. Crossing the border under the cover of darkness, it marched at daybreak on the village of Baltinon (or Valtinos). There were three Turkish blocks near the village. Two were abandoned by their garrisons and seized by the raiders, but the third made a dogged defence. The firing had continued for some there was as yet no official declaration of war from either side, the Greek irregular warfare had begun. On the nth tlae partisans of the Ethnike Hetaireia were over the frontiei again near Baltinon, but they found this time a whole brigade of Turks waiting sor them, and beat a rapid retreat. In tlae night between the 13th and14th a company ol Greek regulars crossed the frontier near Damasuli ; but, on being challenged, they explained they had lost their way, and they were allowed to retire in peace. 611 the eveningof the 10th,at seven o'clock, a strong force of Greek irregulars, with whom there certainly were a number of