2805 LE MONITEUR UNIVERSEL

LE MONITEUR UNIVERSEL

No. 180. Vendredi, 29 Juin 1827. Reply from Vienna, 18 June. General Tsorts sent his report to the Greek administration about the massacre of the guard of the fortress of Agios Spyridon. The result in substance was that after the capitulation, and when the Turks had surrendered their flags to General Karaiskakis, they marched under the escort of a detachment of cavalry which was placed between them and the Greek troops who had occupied more distant monastery positions. In the center of the Turkish column were the hostages and among others General Tzavellas and some distinguished officers, the other Greek commanders were also present to protect the Turks, and General Karaiskakis had taken all possible measures to ensure their salvation. Unfortunately a rumor had spread in the Greek camp that Seraskieris and several of the principal officers who were part of the garrison, that there would be great riches in the fortress of Saint Spyridon, so some soldiers who occupied a neighboring position went to the monastery, hoping to take booty Their expectations being dashed, they fell back behind the Turkish line, and one of them reached out to seize the sword from a Turk. The latter responded with a shot and in a moment the fire between the Turks and the Greeks became general. The generals and officers who were protecting the Turks were attacked by their enraged soldiers, and escaped with great difficulty, and several soldiers were killed... ...There are no words, concludes the general, to express to you what I feel about this event, but I can say that it has caused great discontent throughout the whole army, especially among the generals and officers, and I hope that the guilty will be punished exemplary... 2nd, p. 4. In French.