Page:McClure's Magazine volume 10.djvu/532

CONSTANTINE, THE CROWN PRINCE OF GREECE AND COMMANDER OF THE GREEK ARMY IN THE RECENT WAR WITH TURKEY.

KING GEORGE OF GREECE.

PRINCE GEORGE OF GREECE, COMMANDER OF THE GREEK NAVY IN THE RECENT WAR WITH TURKEY.

{{c|AT THE FRONT WITH THE GREEK ARMY.

As soon as possible I made arrangements to go to the camp of the Greek army—a not difficult journey, as we were able to go up the eastern coast by steamer to Santa Marina and thence by rail to Lamia, a distance of only eight miles. On arriving, I reported my presence to the Crown Prince Constantine, who was in the command of the Greek army. I found him a very courtly, distinguished-looking officer, twenty-nine years of age, tall, and of commanding presence, but somewhat depressed on account of the result of his recent campaign. His great misfortunes had resulted largely from the fact that he had been pitted against an overwhelming army, and that he had not had the experience requisite to organize, mobilize, discipline, and command troops in battle. This can only be acquired by actual experience in war; it cannot be learned elsewhere. General Sherman uttered a positive truth when he asserted that "the best school of war is war."

When we compare the Crown Prince in his preparation for commanding an army with Edhem Pasha, the leader of the Turks, we have a forcible lesson in the value of experience. The name of Edhem Pasha was almost unknown when he took the Turkish army in 1897. Yet he had really made himself a reputation in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. He was only thirty-five years old then, but he fought with honor at the side of Osman Pasha throughout the terrible siege of Plevna; and when at last the city surrendered, he was one of the last to leave. He carried away a wound received the very day of the capitulation. Since then he had filled several important positions in Turkey. He was hardened to service when he went against the Greeks in 1897, and it was not long before his skill in strategy attracted the attention of the world.

I was kindly received by the Crown Prince, and was afforded every opportunity of seeing the entire Greek army as it then lay camped in three grand divisions—two practically in reserve, while the third occupied the advance line. The last named was in order of battle, with its main and advance lines and a line of skirmishers, or vedettes. Along the front line were posted flags of truce, at intervals of from two to five hundred yards. Immediately in front of the Greek army lay the Turkish army, drawn up in order of battle. In the advance was a strong line of sentinels with picket supports and reserves in their order; and a short distance in the rear, their main line of battle. The distance between the advance line of the Greek army and the picket line of the Turkish army, I should judge, was about four hundred yards. On the ground occupied by the former force and between the lines were scattered the graves of those who had fallen on both sides in the last engagement of the campaign, which had occurred on this spot, a short distance from the little town of Lamia.