6Q4 CHAPTER VIII.

THE THIRD BATTLE OF VELESTINO AND THE SURRENDER OF VOLO.

TTTE must now see what had been happen-W m& on tlie °tner s'e ° the Kara * * Dagh on May 5th, while the pro-As the sun sank down to the hills,theTurks massed for a final effort. " The moment was critical," writes Mr. Kinnaird Rose (one of the correspondents on the Greek side). "Colonel Smolenski,with somethingof Skobeleffs electric enthusiasm,rode along the lines addressing the Greeks. Inshort terse sentences he told them they mustremember the traditions of their race, and fight, if need be, until the sacred soil of Thessaly had been saturated with their blood. What an inspiration that was! Uniformed soldiers, and men with only bandoliers filled with cartridges, and in their native dress, cheered. They grappled their Gras rifles more firmly ;gave another shout, half a gasp andhalf aresponsive determination to do or die. Reckless of the wild,but at times searching, shell-lire of the Turkish batteries, the Greek lines fared volleys steadily on the intrepid Turks. Then they left their shelter trenches and charged the Turks witha will. The Turkish lines quivered for a moment, then turned andretired in confusion to the shelter of the mountain ridges beyond. It was a brilliant success for the Greeks."

longed rearguard action was in progress at Pharsala. Early in the morning Hakki Pasha began his advance from Gherli to attack Smolenski's position. The result was the third battle of Velestino (known as the second battle of that name by some writers on the war, who pass over in silence Suleiman's action on April 27th). This time the superior force was on the side of the Turks. Hakkihadunder his command eighteen battalions, four squadrons, and four batteries;or roughly, 9,000 bayonets, 180 sabres, and twenty-sour guns. To these Smolenski could opposeonly two lineregiments (of three battalions each),abattalionof Euzonoi (stationed at Aivali), two field batteries and a mountain battery, and a number of irregulars. In all he had about 5,000 men with eighteen guns. They held, it is true, an excellent position,further strengthened byentrenchments, but they could not hope for any reinforcements beyond thebattalion at Aivali,alreadymentioned inreckoningup Smolenski's force.

When the sun set, the Greek position was intact, and Smolenski had scored a third victory.

On the morning of the 5th, Smolenski had three battalions in his front line holding the trenches on the hills on both flanks, and the woods in tlae plain. Twelve guns were in positionon a spur of the hills above Velestino. The other battery and the rest of the infantry were in reserve near the little town. Hakki Pasha advanced fromGherli at half-past six,and, moving very slowly, came in contact with the Greek outposts three hours later. The advanced troops fell back before him to the mainposition, but after that tlae Turks made rro further progress. Hakki massed the greaterpart of his force on the right, only keeping enough troops on the left to guard against a possible counterattack. Two strong columns were pushed forward east of the railway, supported by the fire of all tlae four batteries. One columnmade repeatedattacks on the hamlet of Kephalo, the other strove to gain tlae high ground and turn and force back the Greek left. Attack after attack was steadily met and repulsed.

At six o'clock in the evening, the Crown Prince sent Smolenskia messageinforminghim that he had decided to retire from Pharsalain the night, and ordering him to withdraw to Halmyros, where he could protect the extreme right of the Domokos position, and be able to reopencommunication withthe main army. It is not certain whether this messageeverreached Smolenski; but, however this may be, he remained in position at Velestino, and the fighting began again at daybreak on the 6th. Thebattalion of Euzonoi which held Aivali had received directly from Pharsala the order to retreat, andhad started for Halmyros, without informing Smolenski, who had only his six regular battalions and the volunteers at Velestino. Nevertheless,he heldhis own against the Turkish attacks till the afternoon. It was only at three o'clock that the Turks at last gained a