WITH THE TURKS. 
491 
The 5fch division was ordered from Yelestino to advance and 
occupy Halmyros so as to threaten the retreat of the Greeks on 
Laroit. 
The 7th division formed a reserve and protected the communi¬ 
cations. 
About 9 a.m. we found the Head-Quarters of the 2nd division on 
the main road five miles from Pharsala. The advance was very slow, 
possibly to give time to a flanking party of about half a battalion sent 
to examine the hills on its left. 
At 10.30, from a ridge near the road, the 1st division could be seen 
advancing on the right through the village of Bekriler against Tsiola, 
which was found to be occupied by the Greeks, who, however, with¬ 
drew as soon as the Turkish infantry were deployed to attack. They 
appeared to consist of about a company of infantry and a few cavalry, 
the latter remaining for a few minutes to cover the retreat of the rest. 
At about the same time firing could be heard in the hills to the east, 
the 6th division being evidently engaged and its Mountain Batteries 
in action ; this continued throughout the afternoon with more or less 
intensity, the Greeks apparently falling back slowly and disputing 
ridge after ridge. 
The 1st division had meanwhile occupied Tsiola and continued to 
advance against the village of Yelisiades, immediately opposite to 
them at the foot of the hills. At about midday some Greek troops 
(cavalry and infantry) could be seen moving out of Yelisiades towards 
Hhomokos along the foot of the hills and the 1st division bringing a 
battery into action made some fairly good practice, which rather 
accelerated their movements. The village of Yelisiades, however, 
continued to be held by the Greeks in some force throughout the day, 
and they afterwards brought a battery (mountain ?) into action on the 
hill above it with good effect, the advance of the 1st division being 
checked about 500 yards short of it and no further progress being 
made in that direction. 
Meanwhile the advance-guard of the 2nd division, with a “ grey ” 
battery of artillery, continued to move slowly along the road, some 
infantry being’ extended across it in the orthodox fashion, though with¬ 
out any sufficient reason, no enemy being in view nearer than the foot 
of the hills, some four miles distant. 
At 12.20 a village (Yardali), a mile east of the road at the foot of the 
hills, was seen to be in flames, showing that the flanking party, already 
mentioned, had reached this point. The main body of the 2nd division 
was now advancing down the road in column, followed by the corps 
artillery, and at 1 o^clock the Greek guns of position placed about 
Dhomokos opened fire on them at a range of 5000 or 6000 yards, 
making very long brackets and producing, at all events, considerable 
moral effect from the uncertainty as to where the next shell should 
pitch ; the intervals between the smoke of the guns and the hurtle of 
the shell through the air being somewhat trying to the nerves. I 
65 
Turkish 
advance— 
battle 
of 
Dhomokos. 
Greek guns 
of 
position. 
