505 
WITH THE GREEKS. 
THE ARTILLERY AT DOMOKOS. 
BY 
MAJOR C. E. CALLWELL, R.A. 
In appearance the battle of Domokos was one in which artillery 
played a very prominent part; and, as the expenditure of ammunition 
on both sides was considerable and as a large number of guns came 
into action, some notes on their performances may be of interest. 
Long accounts of this combat have appeared in the newspapers, but 
the writers very properly avoid questions of technical detail which 
are of little interest to the general public. The artillery was upon the 
whole a failure. But its want of success is traceable to preventable 
causes and, on this account, there is something to be learnt from the 
conduct of batteries which might have played a very important part in 
deciding the issue. 
From the nature of the ground there was an admirable view over 
the field to be obtained from many points within the Greek position. 
We—I was with the Greeks and one naturally identifies one’s self with 
the side of which one follows the fortunes—had five batteries in posi¬ 
tion and also three guns of position ; these latter were Krupps, on over¬ 
bank carriages and about 25 prs. Three of the batteries were, I think, 
mountain batteries and two were field batteries, but it is surprising how 
difficult it is to distinguish one from the other at any distance on rocky 
ground patched with dark green scrub. They were scattered about on 
knolls and spurs a considerable distance apart and they worked quite 
independently. Two or three field batteries were kept in reserve, 
apparently because it was thought that no place could be found for 
them, although there were many excellent positions available easy of 
access to auy battery of moderate mobility. 
The greater part of the Turkish army, and the whole of the Turkish 
artillery as far as I could see, was down on the plain of Pharsala and 
the Greeks had all the advantage of position for their guns. Their 
batteries were posted on ground varying in different cases from 200 to 
600 feet above the plain. One 25 pr., which was fairly well in the 
line of battle, was probably 800 feet above the plain, and the two 
others, which were perched on commanding summits in rear of the 
10. VOL. XXIV. 
