483 
WITH THE TURKS. 
THE BATTLE OB" DHOMOKOS, 
BY 
MAJOR A. C. BAIL WARD, R.A. 
As the only officer of the Regiment who, so far as I am aware, 
accompanied the Turkish army daring part of the recent campaign 
in Thessaly, it has occurred to me that some account of my experiences 
might be of interest to members of the R.A. Institution. 
Having obtained the necessary sanction from the War Office, and 
being provided with the equally necessary introductions, I left London 
on the 26th April and travelled via Vienna and Kustendje to Con¬ 
stantinople. On entering the Bosphorus I could not help noticing the 
apparent weakness of the defences on that side, but it is very possible 
that the batteries armed with guns of very moderate calibre at the 
water’s edge, which are most en evidence , may be supplemented by 
better placed and concealed ones and by a strong system of submarine 
mines. 
During the three days that I was delayed in Constantinople I visited 
the usual sights in the-city of Stamboul and did not notice any par¬ 
ticular excitement on account of the war; there was an entire absence 
of auv reliable news except such as could be obtained from foreign 
newspapers some three or four days old and the most absurd rumours 
were prevalent in the bazaars, such as, for instance, that the Euglish 
had occupied Crete to the exclusion of the other powers and that an 
Austrian man-of-war had been sunk by an English one at Salonica. 
I also took the opportunity of visiting the English cemetery at 
Scutari. The excellent order in which it is kept reflects great credit 
on those responsible for it. The almonds, jasmine, banksia roses and 
lilacs, with which it is planted, were all in bloom, and it would be 
difficult to find a more picturesque and picturesquely situated garden. 
On leaving Constantinople, on the 3rd May, I was compelled to 
travel via Nisch, in Servia, a long and troublesome detour, instead of 
10. VOLc XXIV. 64 
i 
Journey to 
Constanti¬ 
nople. 
Constanti¬ 
nople, 
Hail to 
Salonica. 
