GREAT BATTLE BEGINNING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 7

GREAT BATTLE BEGINNING.

MAIN ARMIES MEETING.

FIERCE FIGHTING BETWEEN BULGARS AND TURKS.

MACEDONIAN ARMY ROUTED.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyrteht Constantinople, October 29. Nazim Pasha announces that an. important battle is proceeding along the front between the main Bulgarian and Turkish armies, and that the Turkish forces are gaining ground. BULGARIAN BATTALIONS CUT OFF. (Rec. October 30, 11.30 p.m.) Constantinople, October 30. The departure of the foreign military attaches for the Turkish front has been postponed. Nazim Pasha Teports that two Bulgarian battalions were cut off betweon Kirk Kilisso and Visa, and sustained heavy loss. He adds that the Bulgarians began an attack along tho river Ergene, at Baba Eski, at noon, and the Turks vigorously repelled them. Tho battle continue® with great violence, but the Turks are advancing.

ADRIANOPLE TO BE STARVED. (Reo. October 31, 0.35 a.m.) London, October 30. The "Standard's" Sofia correspondent states that tho Bulgarians have decided to invest and 6taTve Adrianople, in order to avoid heavy losses. It has been decided that sixty thousand men are to carry out the investment.

COUNTRY INUNDATED. London, October 29. Tho Turks at Adrianople made a night attack on October 21, but the Bulgarians withheld their fire. Next day a reconnaissance showed that nearly one hundred Turks had been killed by their own people.

Bunarhissar, occupied by the Bulgarians, forms a point in the outer line with which the Bulgarians are enveloping Adrianople. Tho country around Adrianoplo has been inundated by the Maritza, Tundama, and Arda Rivers, as the result of very heavy rains. This is impeding military movements. Somo foreign military authorities are of opinion that Adrianoplo is possibly as vulnerablo as Kirk Kilisse, inasmuch as though Germans planned the fortifications Turkish contractors constructed them; hence tho possibility that they are of doubtful solidity to resist artillery fire. With tho capturo of Baba Eski, tho Bulgarians control the new railway from Baba Eski to Kirk Kilisso.

WHITE FLAG TREACHERY. (Rec.'October 30, 10.30 p.m.) Sofia, October 30. ' The Turks north-east of Adrianoplo repeatedly attempted to deceivo tho Bulgarians by showing a white flag and then training their guns and causing tho Bulgarians considerable losses. Tho Turks in retreating after a sortio abandoned a battery with ammunition wagons. Tho Bulgarians also seized two depots of arms, ammunition, and medical stores between Adrianople and Kirk Kilisso ,

TURKS MOWED DOWN. HILLS STREWED WITH CORPSES, THE FLIGHT FROM USKUB. (Roc. October 31, 0.35 a.m.) Belgrade, October 30. During the pursuit of tho Turkish Macedonian Army by tho Servians after the battle of Kumanovo, over the country towards Uskub, the Servians, by their deadly battery fire, mowed down whole companies.

The Turks threw away their rifles and knapsacks, and climbed hillsides, trying to hide in depressions in tho ground and behind trees, but everywhere tho merciless shrapnel burst over their heads, showing tho hills and roads with corpses.

Where it was possible to make a momentary stand, the Turks, in their search for cover, piled up heaps of dead bcdies, using the corpses of friends and fees, alike. The Servians jumped upon these human ramparts, and hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Tho Servians paraffined and burned the corpses on the battlefield, as they had no time to bury them.

THE LOSSES AT KUMANOVO. (Rec. October 30,10.30 p.m.) London, October 30. Router's correspondent reports that the Turks at the battle of Kumanovo numbered 80,000. The Turks lost 10,000 killed and wounded, and the Servians r,CO k:lled and 2000 wounded. Among tho wounded are Colonel Bowinovitch, commander of the Danube Division.

Lieutenant Milich, commanding a company of infantry, committed suicide with a revolver, declining to obey an older to retire from an exposed position. Witnessing his example, his soldiers hurled themselves desperately on the Turkish positions, and annihilated them. Tho cavalry, under King Peter's brother, Prince Arscne Karageorgevitch, shewed great dash and bravery, while the Clown Princo was frequently in tho firing line, and ontered tho town while tho battle uas in full swing.

TURKS LEAVE RAILWAY. RETREAT INTO ALBANIAN MOUNTAINS. SERVIANS IN PURSUIT. London, Octo'ber 2!). Tho Turkish Macedonian army is evacuating Kuprili, tho town on tho Salonika railway, 25 miles south of Uskub, to which it retreated after tho battle with the Servians. The Turks are now abandoning tho railway line, and are Tetreating towards Monastir, which lies among tho mountains of Albania, 75 miles south-west of Kuprili. A message from the Servian, headquarters at TJskub states that tho Seivians surprised and routed tho Turks at Kuprili after a sharp fight. They secured much booty. Tho Servians are pursuing tho Turks towards Monastir and Salonika.

ALLIES MARCHING ON SALONIKA. Sofia, October 29. The Bulgarian force which seized tho town of Drama, on the Salon tinople iftilwayi. will now uroceed west-

ward along tho line to Seres, 45 miles oast of Salonika, whero it will junction with a column from Novrokop, and a third foroo down tho Stroma Valley. The combined Bulgarian forces hope to junction near Salonika with tho Greeks from Verria and tho Servians coming by rail from Kuprili. All tho Rhodopq mountain, passes leading to Salonika and tho Adrianoplo railway line are in tho hands of tho Bulgarians.

BATTLE AT KOCHANA. (Rec. October 30, 10.30 p.m.) Sofia, October 30. General Kovacheff with tho army of the Rhodopo is advancing down, tho Mostaand Ivarnsu Valleys. Tho battlo fought by tho Bulgarian forces in Macedonia at Kochn.na was ferocious, and lasted threo days and two nights. Tho Bulgarians wore gToatly outnumbered, but by repeated bayonet charges clearod tho Turks from a strong position, despite their desperate resistance. . Tho Turks at Salonika are short of provisions. Tho 6hore batteries have been stripped of guns and ammunition, which have been sent to tho interior. Tho Turkish troops are now being driven into Salonika by the allies.

WORK RESUMED IN THE NORTH. (Rcc. October 80, 10.30 p.m.) Belgrade, October 30. Tho Arnauts in the Kossovo and Prishtina districts are resuming their occupations, and the Moslems are hastening to declare their loyalty to the Servians. Hundreds of carts, decorated with Servian colours, and filled with, women and children, with flocks following, are returning to the country.

THE POWERS AND PEACE. AUSTRIA'S ATTITUDE. POLISH MOVEMENT FOR REUNION. Vienna, Octobor 30. The Austrian Premier, in a speech in tho lleichsrath, in referring to tho Balkan war, said Austria-Hungary's policy had been consistently peaceful throughout all tho negotiations with tho interested Powers up to the present, and justified tho hopo that the greater penco of Europe would bo preserved.

AUSTRO-RUSSIAN UNDERSTANDING. ... (Rec. October 80, 11.30 p.m.) Berlin, October 80. Tho Foreign Ofiice states that Russia and Austria havo reached an understanding concerning the further treatment of tho Balkan questions.

A CHANCE FOR POLAND. (Rec. October 30, 11.30 p.m.) ! London, October 30. The "Doily Mail" states that in view of a possible .Austro-Russiiin conflict, a great movement is spreading throughout Galicia to compose tho differences of tho various Polish parties and unite all tho twelve million Poles in Russia, the six million in Austria, and tho four million in Prussia.

A BUN ON CARDIFF COAL. (Rec. October 30, 11.30 p.m.) London, October 30. Russia, Germany, and Italy are buying largo quantities of Cardiff coal.

FURTHER GREEK SUCCESS. FORTY MILES FROM SALONIKA. London, October 29. The Greeks have captured the Tripotamaos defiles, which command Veria, 38 mile's west by south of Salonika. (Rec. October 30, 10.30 p.m.) Athens, October 30. The allies havo IGO.OOO more men at tho front than has bcon hitherto anpouncod. Tho Turks kille.d the Greek arch-priest at Yanina. The Greeks, after a three-hours' fight, occupied Exatcrini. The Greek left wing, defeating the Turks, pursued them to Nalbankouy, capturing the standards of two Turkish battalions after desperate fighting.

SIEGE OF SCUTARI. BOMBARDMENT FROM THE LAKE. Cetinje, October 29. Six thousand regulars and eighteen thousand Mohammedan and , Albanian volunteors garrison Scutari, and 2500 regulars and fifteen hundred irregulars garrison Taraboscli'.

Tho Montenegrins are bombarding Tarabosch from three steamers on tho western sido of tho lake.

They also routed tho Albanians on the Maranaj mountains, north-westward of Scutari, killing soveral hundreds.

MOSLEM BRAVERY. KIRK KILISSB HORRORS. (Rec. October 30, 10.30 p.m.) Berlin, October 30. A Red Cross at Kirk ICilisse, in describing the final sconce, said the Christians among the defenders of tho forts surrendered in troops, but tho Moslems fought to the last.

A German Red Cros3 assistant at Kirk Ivilisse telegraphs that after the first Bulgarian reverse in tho vineyards, Baslii Bazouks mutilated tho Bulgarian wounded, in most instances gouging out tho eyes, cutting off tho ears and noses, and ripping open tho stomachs.

NEW GRAND VIZIER. YOUNG TURK LEADER APPOINTED. Constantinople, October 30. It ia officially announced that Kiamil Pasha, Foreign Minister, hns .been appointed Grand Vizier in place of Ghnzi Mukhtar Pasha.

RUSSIAN RED CROSS AID. OFFICIALS SEEK TO STOP IT. (Rcc. October 30, 10.30 p.m.) St. Petersburg, October 30. The Piefeot of Police has protested urainat tho. municipalities voting £10,000

for military hospitals In tlio Palkans. Similar protests in accordance with orders from St. Petersburg liavo boon mmlo in Moscow, whoso municipality if iending four medical detachments, each ol fifty bods, to tlio front.

The "Novo® Vrcmyn" protests against tho efforts to stiflo Russian. Kyinpathy with Uieir blood brothers in tliu ilnlknns.

AGITATION IN EGYPT. ANTI-TURK CIRCULARS SKI7.ED, Cairo, Oclotwr 29, Ten thousand circulars liaTO been seized at Alexandria. They summoned Syrian Roman Catholics to unite with tlio Orthodox Catholics in nn anti-Turkish struggle.

QUEENSLAND GREEK SUPPORT. (Rec. Ociobcr 30, 10.30 p.m.) Brisbane, October 30. Tho Greok residents hero havo cabled .£7OO na a first instalment towards tho war fund.

AUSTRALIAN GREEK SUPPORT. (Rec. Octobor 81, 0.55 a.m.) Melbourne, October 30. Tho Greek residents havo cabled JCSOO towards tho war fund. Seven Greeks havo departed for tlio front.

KIAMIL PASHA. TURKEY'S NEW VIZIER. liinmil Pasha, who is now eighty years of ace, has boen Grand Vizier of Turkey on three previous occasions, and was tlio first Grand Vizier appointed by tho Young Turk party after tho overthrow of Abdul Humid. Kiamil Pasha is an Albanian by birth. At 17 ho entered tho Turkish Government scrvico in a. very subordinate position, but by assiduity and persevrranco attained tho position 'of second secretary to tlio Imperial Ottoman Embassy in London. Aftor remaining in England some two or tln-co years, ho returned to Turkey, and was created a Councillor of State. It is said that during tho Transvaal War Kiamil, accompanied l>y about 20 others, went to tho British Embassy, in Constantinople, and mado prayers for tho success of tho British arms—an action which further embroiled him at the Palace.

Tho Constantinople correspondent of the "Daily Mail" tells a story oi an escape which ICiamil made from his onomies. Ho had been appointed Governor of Tripoli, but "considered this to be merely an attempt to hoodwink him, and determined upon flight from Turkey. But he know that ho was watched. Accordingly, he accepted the appointment, and ostensibly made preparations for departure to Tripoli. At that time he had a houso at Arnaut-keui on the Bosphorus, and also occupied rooms in Pera. One evening in May, about nine years ago, he, having paid some visits in tho city, instead of going homo went to his rooms in Pera, and carrying a light into tho bedroom, pulled down tho blind and commenced to go through all tho ceremony of disrobing, as if he were retiring to rest, taking good care that his shadow should bo thrown upon tho blind. Tho police, who were watching carefully, noted all this, and believed that ho was safe for tho night. "About 1 a.m., however, Kiamil emerged from tho houso, completely disguised, and walked lip to Taxim, where a carriage was in waiting which drove him to a small landing-placo near to Amaut-ketii, whoro a boat manned by English marines was awaiting him. In this boat ho was rowed to the English guardship, and tlirco days later was taken to a British steamer bound for London."

A GREEK RETURNING HOME. (By Tolezrarh.—Bnecial Correspondent.) Auckland, October 30. Tho guns that are booming in tho "cockpit of Europe" aro calling home sons of the 1 Balkan peninsula 'from : all parts of the world. Ono of them, Policandriotis by name, a Greek naval reservist, is leaving Auckland to-night by tho Main Trunk train en routo for homo by way of Wellington. Thero aro about 200 Greeks in New Zealand, ljetween 20 and 30 of that n\imber being resident in Auckland. About 100 aro said to live in Wellington. The Auckland Greeks aro about to raise a subscription fund, and if hostilities continue still more of them may return home. The prompt action of Policandroitis is typical of tho patriotic fervour being displayed. Ho has been in Auckland for a couple of years, having been engagod as a fisherman. A day or two ago lie decided to go back home and rejoin the naval forces in which he received a thorough training. Sinoe then he has sold his fishing boat and apparently his mood is ono of thankfulness for having acoumulated sufficient substance to enable him to go to tho assistance of his country in timo of peril: Ho is a stalwart fellow, aged about 32, possessing good health and having all tho appearances of a hardy sailor.