TAKING OF KIRK KILISSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1586, 1 November 1912, Page 5

TAKING OF KIRK KILISSE.

TURKS IN FLIGHT FROM THE . . TOWN. ! AN, INEFFICIENT ARM'S. ' (Reo. 'October- Sly 11.35 , p,m.) : . Constantinople, October 81. The details of .the fighting at Eirk Kilisse show that in the panic hundreds who were quitting the to«n endeavoured to 6torm tho railway station, and soldiers threatening the officials.with levelled rifles, insisted that trains should be found to- convey them to Baba Eski. This officials replied that the line Was single trunk,- and that trains of reinforcements wero expected. . Thousands of fugitives were hurrying to Baba Eski on foot. Had the Bulgarians known, the facts they might have entere-l irnopposed. Tho Turkish troops for three daya had been living on flour and water, the field bakeries having miscarried. There was a similar situation at Uskub and Salonika. Tho Turks are over-mobilised, and under-officered, their Intelligence-Depart-ment is inefficient, and the commanders are unaware of the enemy's numbers or plans. Tho military - attaches have now gone to the front. ,' j , : . ILL-FED TROOPS. Constantinople, October 30.' The divisions under Mukhtar Pasha and Prince Aziz, which were defending Kirk Kilisse, were composed maiiily <if Hedifs (men who have served nine years in the regular army; and then, pass to the second line). They wero under-Officered, illtrained, and ill-fed. ■ .Several regiments had not been frd for forty-eight hours. The officers did not know the country round Kirk Kilisse. Mukhtar Pasha endeavoured to arrest the flight/ shooting many with his revolver. Prince Aziz joined in the flight. Mukhtar Pasha,' after consulting with Abdullah Pasha (second in command) ordered a retreat. General Hilrili refused to retreat, fearing a debacle, and gallantly occupied fortifications to the north-west to cover the retreat. Some of his troops fled. Hilmi shot several, and •'ventually Hia force retired in comparative ofder, while the main body retreated in i< Ud disorder/ ' . The Bulgarians ..were, not awato of the retreat,, and. lost els&L liput* ia. pasum-