THE BALKAN WAR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 508, 12 October 1912, Page 5

THE BALKAN WAR.

GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED. TURKS DRIVEN BACK. By Telepraiili. -Pi'os.s Association.- OipyriidU, London, Friday. A report from Podogoritza states that after an artillery duel between the Turks and Montenegrins, which proceeded for hours, the Turks evacuated a position that they had taken up in the heights of Planinitza, in Montenegrin territory, a short distance from the border.

The Montenegrins then attacked a Turkish fort at Detechich. The Turks afterwards obtained reinforcements. The Turkish Ambasador at Vienna states that Bulgaria invades Macedonia, Montenegri, Scutari, Servia the Plain of Kosasno. and Greece, Crete, and possibly Epirus. Mr Bennet Burleigh, the DailyTelegraph's war correspondent, who is at Sofia, states that a groat; battle is expected at Adrianople. The trains are full of regulars and irregulars, who are constantly passing to the front.

ENTHUSIASM IN TURKEY

The Turkish Army at Salonika is angry at the Cabinjt'a acceptance of the reforms of ISSO, and meetings of protest ara being held.

Enthusiasm for war is immense in Albania. The leaders state that they have a hundred thousand men, and are able to defeat the Servians and Montenegrins alone. The Turkish papers hail the declaration of war as they would a day of festival, and express delight that the suspense has ended. "FORWARD, OTTOMANS!"

The Ikdam writes: "Forward, Ottomans! Embrace your firearms, and forget your differences !''

Five thousand landholders in Turkey have paid into the Treasury ,IMO a head to escape military service, Thirty French aeroplanes have gone to the Balkan States during the past fortnight. Sir Edward Grey has telegraphed to the Porte pointing out that the detention of Greek vessels cannot be justified by international law. Inasmuch as British interests were a'Tected shemust strictly preserve all rights of other Powers similarly situated. RUSSIA'S HELP GIVEN TO MONTENEGRO.

The Daily Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent witnessed at Cettinje a month ago active mobilisation preparations under a Russian general and four assistants lent by Russia. Several Berlin newspapers criticise Russia, believing that she is behind Montenegro. They accuse Russia of mobilising in Polland as a pretext to test the mobilisation. Russia"' denies this.

At a mass meeting at Moscow yesterday 3000 volunteers were enrolled to asisst Servia in the war wit!) Turkey.

A boycott has been declared by Servia against Austrian goods as a protest against its favourable attitude towards Turkey.

It is reported in Paris that A'.istriaHungary has concentrated 1125,000 troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Greek newspapers complain bitterly of Britain's alleged pro-Turkish attitude.

VILLAGES ABLAZE. AUSTRIAN STEAMER FIRED ON

Vienna, Thursday. Albanian villages northward of the Bojana river are ablaze. The Montenegrins fired with ritiea for over an hour on an Austrian steamer proceeding from Bojano to Cattaro. A shell was also fired. BLESSING THE STANDARD. Received October 12, 12.20 a.m. Podgoritza, Friday. When war began the king and princes and a brilliant staff attended a little church to witness tho bishop bless the standard. The first shots were fired amid Montenegrin hymns and the ringing of church bell. Podgoritza is tho centre of a splendid system of macadamised roads. Early on Thursday the Montenegrin resumed the bombardment of Detochitch, a detached hill and strongly fortified.

Meanwhile there was heavy fighting a Turzi, where the garrison consists of about 2000. Tho result is unknown. Turzi commands the road to Scutari, where tho garrison is reported to be 12,500 in addition to Essad Pasha's 5000.

Turiz offers the only opportunity for serious Turkish resistance within fifty mile.

The natural obstacles to tho Montenegrins aro small rivers running into Lake Scutari, otherwise the road runs across a plain three miles wide.

Nicholas has long coveted Scutar, but if he annexes he will likely offend Austria, owing to the latter's protectorate over the Catholic Albanians.

Vienna, Friday. Negotiations are pending botweon Austria and Russia aiming at a policy of disinterested action based on tho understanding that. Novibazar remains Turkish. FRONTIER FIGIITINO. London, Thursday. Tho Turkish representative in Cettinjo received his passports an hour and a-half before the AustrnRussian representations for peace were made. Opinion in Constantinople is that tho Allies use.] Montenergo as a cafspaw, for confronting" the Rowers with an accomplished fact and thus avoiding negotiations concerning reform. Tho declaration of war was delivered on the 71st birthday of King Nicholas on Monday. PEACEFUL MEANS EXHAUSTED. Tho declaration states that; Montenegro, having exhausted all amicable means of settling the numerous misunderstandings in the conflict with Turkey, peaceful relations will now cease, leaving the Montenegrin arms to secure the recognition of tlmir rights and the rights of their brethren in tho Ottoman Empire, which have been ignored for centuries. TURKISH SUCCESSES.

Constantinople newspapers assert that tho Albanian leader Riza Bey, with four thousand men, broke the Montenegrin lines at; Croami and penetrated for six miles into King Nicholas' territory.

A force of Turku annibilatc.fi a Montone/Jinn detachment in the district.

A committee purporting to represent thirty thousand Albanians recently begged the i'ortn Tor arms to light again:.!; the Balkan League. The request war, ignored, the Port.o being dubious of (heir good faith. The. Albanian:; now promise 1o restrain the invading Montenegrin;-! without assistance.

SCUTARI. WELCOMES NICHOLAS. King Nicholas has arrived at the army headquarters at Podgoritza, » frontier town on the Maxaeho river. The inhabitants of Scutari, Albania, proclaimed Nicholas .King, and begged him to occupy the town. The Montenegrins have surrounded the Albanian frontier (own of Uerane, and a brisk engagement lias been proceeding since Monday. The Montegenrin army has been divided into four divisions, commanded by Cencrals Marfinovieh, Vukovicb, Boschkovies and Cyurovies.

The forces number 4(1,0(10, all militia and highland infantry.

They lack the transport for a successful' invasion of Turkey.

DEMONSTRATIONS FORBIDDEN. The terms of the operation of martial law in Turkey include: Forbidding the publication el' news of the mobilisation, and balding of conferences, the distribution of lly sheets, and the utterance of cries in Uio street. Consequently there were no demonstrations when the new;- of the Montenegrin declaration wan received. Strong detachments are patrolling the city. The Powers protested against the detention of the Creek" steamer, and reserve the right to claim indemnity. NOTE FROM POWERS.

There arc throe points in tho Note. Firstly, it is .stated thai the Powers strongly reprobate anythinjx that, in likely to result in a rupture.

Secondly, taking Article L!', 1 . of tho Treaty of Berlin as a basis, tho Powers state that they will take in and, in the interest of tho different; populations the realisation oi' reforms in tho administration of European Turkey, conditionally upon Much reforms in no way prejudicing tho Sultan's sovereignty <ir Turkoy'i; territorial integrity. This declaration reserves the power and liberty of further collective consideration of reforms.

Thirdly, it is provided thai; if war breaks out. the Powers will not allow any modification of the territorial status quo.

Tho Powers are collectively making representations to tho Porto in accordance with tho foregoing.

Tho Bulgarian Cabinet finds tho Powers' communication lacking in tho expected details of reforms with guarantees of realisation.

Before coming to a decision, it, consults the Cabinets of Belgrade and Athens.

Tho Bulgarian newspaper Mir f states that it is officially estimated that the allied iorces will have a total strength of (100,000.