DESPERATE BAYONET CHARGES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 554, 29 March 1913, Page 5

DESPERATE BAYONET CHARGES.

BY MAILED SOLDIERS. TWO REGIMENTS BLOWN UP. Sofia, Thursday. Details of the final assault and capture of Adrianople reveal a stirring story of pluck, organisation, and resource. Herds of cattle were sent to the front ahead of the troops in order to avert dangers from mines and concealed trenches. Mail-clad soldiers, provided with steel bucklers, cut the wire entanglements surrounding the forts whose bastioned walls were based on rocks forty feet high. The armour-clad troops then led fierce bayonet charges, which overwhelmed the defence and lod to the capture of the fort. The Servians, who led the attack on the north-west of the town, fought bravely, though it was not their task to carry any of the forts. It is stated that oneS ervian and one Bulgarian regiment was blown up when the magazines were exploded. At the beginning of the final attack the Bulgarians were mown down in entire companies and destroyed before they reached the enemy's position. A similar fate befel the Turks when the Bulgarians turned the Turkish cannon upon them.

The explosions of the magazines increased the carnage.

When the military and public building were ignited the city was a sea of flame.

Many civilians were killed by 'ailing masonry.

The general assault was begun on Monday, soon after midnight. The fire, which was concentrated upon tho advanced earthworks, lasted for three hours.

The Turks replied to the firo energetically, but they evidently desired to spare their remaining ammunition. The infantry advanced by the aid of searchlights, and attacked Fort Baslik. the Turks retiring after a fierce defence.

At dawn the attack ceased, to per' mit the troops to rest. The Bulgar ians' loaa was enormous.

The Turkish artillery made a bril liant defence.

Chukri Pasha wired to Constantinople: "I shall only leave the enemy a heap of smoking ruins." He kept his word.

After a two days' rest the <30,00° Bulgarians engaged in siege will advance upon Chataldja The Bulgars are distributing food among the poor of the captured city. Frantic enthusiasm prevails throughout the Balkans. A requiem for the dead and :i J < Deum for the victory were colobratod

to-day. King Ferdinand and the Royal Princes have gone to Adrianople.