This indeed seems to be necessary, for even the Turks laughed at the want of generalship shown in the retreat made by the Greeks.
The Greeks are not cowards by any means, but without good officers to lead them, the bravest men are of little use.
King George seems fully to understand that his son cannot lead the troops, and is willing to meet the wishes of the people.
As far as known at the present moment, he has recalled the staff of officers who advised the Crown Prince, and has sent in their place men who are thought to be better soldiers.
The loss of Larissa is declared to be solely due to the bad generalship of the Crown Prince.
The people of Athens were very much enraged when they heard the mistakes that had been made by the army, and the foolish way that several of the battles had been lost.
They insisted that the trouble was due to the King's interference in military matters; they declared that the men he had sent with Prince Constantine to command the army were not soldiers, but merely favorites at court.
The Greek fleet and the troops in Epirus may yet do a good deal to offset the mischief that has been done in Thessaly, but the fate of Greece seems to depend upon the result of the next few days.
It must not be forgotten that many armies that have met with defeat at first, have gathered courage, and gained victories that have changed the whole course of events. With the memories of Marathon, Thermopylæ, and Salamis in their hearts, the Greeks need never despair.
We told you of these celebrated battles in No. 25—in the story of Ancient Greece. Miss Yonge in her stories of Greek History has written a very complete and interesting account of them also.