THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

KHOSREW ATTACKS SAMOS 161
accustomed to fighting on land,
of effective combination. Only
and quite incapable
a few succeeded in
reaching the vessels in the harbour, and making their
escape; the majority were put to the sword. A small
band, under Dimitri Prazano, retreated to the fort of
Palseocastro, and defended it till further resistance was
hopeless; they then received the communion, and as
the Turks swarmed over the defences, the Greek
leader fired his pistol into the powder magazine, and
buried the defenders and some 2,000 of the enemy
under the ruins of the fort. 1
The news of the destruction of Psara spread dismay
among the Greeks, and, for the time, inspired
the selfish Government at Nauplia with some energy
against the common enemy. It was now that the Lord
Commissioner of the Ionian Islands allowed the first
instalment of the loan to be handed over to the Greek
Government; and this, as has already been mentioned,
2
was used in fitting out a squadron of ships in
the harbours of Hydra and Spezzia. With these
The
Miaoulis now sailed to Psara, and destroyed the vessels
which Ivhosrew had left to hold the place.
return of the Ottoman fleet, however, compelled him
to retire;
and the island remained, for the time, in
the hands of the Turks.
It never again recovered its
i Prokesch, i. 290. ' 2
See p. 146.
11