Progress of the Balkan War.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 54, 28 October 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War.

(By Electric Telegra^.,—Copyright— United Press Association.)

BATTLE OF NOVIBAZAR. Belgrade, October 26. Reports of the battle of Novibazir narrate tba tthe 'Turks were moving in the woods across the border, and cue Servians barely reached a defensive position whoa the Arnauts and 'iurkish regulars opened a heavy fire. lighting continued for thirteen hours. Late in the afternoon the Turks were within fifteen yards, when the Servian commander ordered a bayonet A thousand Turks were kill'd. The Servian losses were considerable. PRISONERS SENT TO GREECE. Athens, October 26. The Crown Prince and his staff attended the funeral of seventy massacred Greeks. Six hundred prisoners have been sent to Greece. MOBILITY OF GREEK TROOPS. The Greek successes in the Sauantaporos defile arc attributed to the mobility of the troops and the long-range guns. TURKISH SUCCESS S. Constantinople, October 2.6. The Turks assaulted Dami.smaibala and captured a centre position TuO Bulgarians retreated, with- tousideranio Joss. The Turks at Dospat captured a Bulgarian battery. BATTLE OF KIRK KILISSIE. Sofia, October 26. The Premier, commenting on the Battle of Kirk Kilissie, says that tne allies have no intention of exterminating the Turks. If the Powers are sincerely desirous of pacifying the Balkans, peace can soon bo conch,dod. THE FIGHT AT SCUTARI. Cettinjo, October 26. The infantry quitted the cirtreucameiits and advanced on Scutari till a withering Turkish fire checked them. A shell fell within ten yards of the Crown Prince. In the event of the envoys’ mission failing, preparations are lacing made to attach Scutari on throe sides. dim population is- panic-stricken. General V ukolitch has subdued tin Arnauts, and the road is now open to * ' Belgrade, October 26. With the capture of Sieutza, tin Servians claim to dominate tne pmi tion. ' ... Lighting continues along the Adit-anople-Kirk Kilissie lino. The Bulgarians are gaining some ground, and are endeavouring to oatffaiuc tne Turks and cut off communication with Constantinople. The Turks’ heavy artillery and night fire from the fort at Marash, west of Adrianopld, repulsed the Bulgarian,., svitii heavy loss. ADRIANOPLE THE OBJECTIVE.

FURTHER TURKISH DEFEATS. Sofia, October 26. In the fighting at Yuru-di, near Ad rianople, the Turks lost 300 bided, and 500 were taken prisoners. I bey ah... lost three quicklirers and twelve ammunition waggons. . General Jvanolf is now completing the investment by linkin'’- up at Bosnia keui the forces from Arda and the Kirk Kilissie Road. BULGARIANS LIKE BAYONETS, A DESPERATE BATTLE. Sofia, October 26. General Savoff, on W ednesday, peremptorily ordered General Dimitrieii to take Kirk Kilisie by Thursday morning. The troops advanced with alacrity in brilliant moonlight, and successive positions were stormed at the point of the bayonet, a form of warfare in which the Bulgarians excel. Hie position at ten in the morning was no longer tenable. Mukhtir, Abd. 1 Halem mu a portion of the garrison had already escaped to Bunahissar with a .•onsiderablo amount of material. At eleven o’clock the remnant of the garrison hoisted the white Hag and surrendered. The Bulgarian casualties were 5600. Reports from Tirnovo show that the Turks fled before the Bulgarians arived. Tne Turks were in a miserable plight, and had only rations of U kilogrammes a head daily. The Bulgarians are pursuing the fugitives south, past Visa. FORT ARTHUR OF THE WAR. The authorities regarded Kirk Kil,ssic as the Tort Artlicr of the war. It s estimated that it was garrisoned by 1000, while the outside support mannered 50,000. After several days’ manoeuvring the Bulgarians completely surrounded that force. Despite the Turkish courage, the Bulgarians rushed earthworks after earthworks upon the fort that crowned the hill, leaving sheaves <>i .lead as they made progress. Finally hie Turkish' cortege collapsed, ami Kirk Kilissie fell, leaving plenty el evidence of the use of the sword and die bayonet. Many famished Turks were found in Kirk Kilissie, indicating inefficient transport. SERVIANS CAPTURE VUCHITIN. Belgrade, October 26. The Servians have captured Vi.ci.i .in, A GREAT CATTLE IMMINENT. TURKEY’S PLIGHT. London, October 26. ‘The Times’ reports that the But gurians’ endeavour to cut eft Abdul lab’s retreat on Constantinople was hampered by inefficient cavalry. Interest centres round Abdullah rather than round Nazira Pasha, who has assumed control. TheVe are indications of a coming great battle. The Turks’ organisation is inferior, and their artillery will noi compare with that of the allies’: She is also deficient in transport equipment and feeding arrangements, and ,ias a shortage of horses. The Rediff regiments are badly under officered. It is rumoured that there are grave differences between Nazim and A: dullah.

Sixty thousand form the garrh on at Adrianoplc, and a similar number are protecting tlio lines from Adriaaiop.e to Uepleijurgas. The whole Asinine force is concentrating on Adrianop.e. London, October 1.6. The Central News Agency says trial Mukhtir Pasha and Prince Aboul H iiira are prisoners at Kirk Kilissie . Vienna, Octobei '26. The Montenegrins have silenced three batteries at Tarabosch. THE FIGHTING AT KUMANOVO. Belgrade, October 26. Details of the lighting round ismmanovo sho'w that twenty-live thousand Turks were engaged, ’ihe (onlli.it was continuous throughout Tuo..d iy, Wednesday, and part of Thursday. The Grown Prince, Alexander led the Servians, who captured twelve guns and an enormous supply of ammunition. It is reported that the Turks lost live thousand. NEW ZEALAND’S NEUTRALITY. Wellington., October 27. A Government Gazette has been issued proclaiming neutrality in respect to the war in the Balkans. THE TURKS LOSE 1G G.O. AT KIRK KILISSIE. London, October 26. The bombardment caused a coulhigration at Kirk Kilissie. There was a terrible struggle in the vineyards to the northwards, where the Bulgarians entered. They were masters after an hour’s street fighting, and pursued the retreating Turks, whose losses were 16,000. BULGARIAN SUCCEESIS. Sofia, October 26. The Bulgarians captured a railway station outside Adriaaople, and three forts at Manash, with eighteen hundred prisoners. They have also taken Havaras/ to the north-west, and Snfilar, to the north-east of the city. The Bulgarians have occupied Becchevo. THE SERVIANS AND TURKS. BRAVERY OF THE FORMER. Belgrade, October 26. The Turks began the offensive at Kumanovo, attacking the Servian positions live miles distant on Wednesday afternoon. The battlefield was shrouded with fog and dust. The Turkish onslaught was checked, and there was severe loss on both sides. At one in the morning the Servians approached the ■ Turk's!) entrenchment and fought for two hours. At daylight the Servian artillery covered a general advance. The country is open, and they were exposed to a heavy fire, but nevertheless, stormed the furbish earthworks, repeatedly driving out the Turks in hand-to-hand combat. Mmy dropped their rilles and used knives. The Send ms. before noon, cleared the Lihoukas Valley and Kumanovo, the Turks withdrawing for fifteen kilometres. The Sen inn artillery annihilated three squadrons of cavalry. The Servians lost many officers killed. The Turkish officers wounded proved to he Germans. The Turks attempted to re-take \ovihnzar, hut worn practically annihilated. Coistantinople. Oclo' or 26. Ahmed, a son of Mukhin- Pasha, the commander at Kirk Kilissie, has I eon taken prisoner.

TURKS HAVE LOST HEART. The ‘Daily Telegraph’s’ correspondent refers to the lack of Turkish enthusiasm, owing to misHilo and distrustfulness between the Old and Young Turkish Parties. The Asiatic reservists in recent mouths ordered to Albania, Tripoli, and other parts have lost heart. The Howjas and priests are trying to work up some enthusiasm at Stain haul, but even there the Turks are being forc'bly enrolled, and many of the wealthier are paying an exemption fee. THE VIEWS OF THE POWERS. "THE STATUS QUO ES DEAD." Vienna, October 26. 'flic fall of Kirk Kilissie and the demoralisation of the Turks has ( rented a profound impression. Influential newspapers declare that the Powers’ claim to Turkish integrity cannot be upheld. The ‘Neue Freie Prcsso’ says that tho status quo has been shaken, and the Powers cannot insist on confining the victors to the former limits. ‘Dor Zeit’ says that Europe must accommodate itself to rovoutionavy changes in the Near East. The Foreign Office, through the ‘Weiner Gazette,’ declares that Russia and Austria will inform the Balkan Kings at the right time that Turkey’s integrity must not he touched. The ‘Roichopost’ says that the status quo in fhe Balkans is dead, and no diplomatic skill can revive it. Austria has neither the power nor the mission to prevent Turkey’s collapse, 'fhe newspaper hopes that it will ho possible to reconcile Austria’s interests with the Balkan expectations. GREEKS’ VICTORIOUS MARCH. Athens, October 26. After three days’ lighting the Turks retired from their positions at Kiaffa. The Greeks are inarching on Philippiada. and Strebina. A reconnaissance discovered the village of Koumtsados had been looted and young males killed by the Turks and Anoints. Women and children were fearfully outraged. Eight hundred additional Cretan volunteers have arrived. Fighting continues near Pinto Pigadhia, southwards of Janina. The Crown Prince entered Kozaui unopposed. The Tories subsequently attacked the town, but wore repulsed. THE BALKAN LEAGUE. TRIPLE ENTENTE FAVOURED. London, October 26. The Balkan League proposes that no State shall conclude peace singly. Balkan diplomatists describe the primary aim of the war is to secure the Balkans for the Balkan people, adding that the League is favourable to the interests of the Triple Entente, inasmuch as it will always prove an obstacle to Germanic expansion. THE POWERS TO INTERVENE. Berlin, October 26. Official quarters express the belief

that tlie Powers will intervene after the first decisive battle. Athens, October LG. Tiie inhabitants of Koziianio welcomed the Greek cavalry brigade. General Dragoumis, the Greek Gov-ernor-General of Crete, received a great ovation at Canea. SERVIAN CAPTURE OF USKU3. London, October 27. The Servians have occupied Uskub. The Servian spoil at Kninanovo inc.ud.'d fifty held gnus, six mountain guns, and sixteen mitrailleuses. ’lho Lulgirians’ booty at Kirk Kilissie was fiftyeight guns and two aorcplanes. THE RED CRESCENT FUND. Simla, October LG. The Moslems in the chief centres ol India, including Delhi and Bombay, have subscribed .1115,000 ior the lied Crescent Fund to assist the Turks. A OIC BATTLE IN PROGRESS. London, October 27. The turning movement at Visa continues, and a big battle has been pro grossing all day. Belgrade, October 27. The capture of Uskub was not resisted. The Consuls have requested the Crown Prince, commanding the victorious army to protect tno inhabitants. The Servian spoil at.Stiritiza included thirteen held guns and nine motors. Berlin, October 27. The ‘Lokal AnzeigerV Staragoza correspodent reports that Ukhtar’s retreat Jias been cut off. THE TREACHEROUS TURK. Received 8.5 a.m.) London, October 27. The Servian legation announces that 500 Arnants and Turks at Kumauovo were bayonettcci for attacking a detachment sent to receive their .•riirrender after the wliite hag had been hoisted. SITE OF A DECISIVE BATTLE. Constantinople, October 27. Mobilisation is only half completed, and 400,000 will shortly be concentrated near Constantinople, where a decisive battle will occur. HEAVY LOSSES. Athens, October 27. The Greek losses at Sarautoporon Pass, prior to the fighting •at Serin! ge, was 18 officers ami IG9 men killed, and -10 officers and 1007 nie.i wounded. i’ne Turkish losses were extremely heavy. TURKEY SHORT OF MEN. Llondon, October 27. The ‘Telegraph’s’ Constautinop.e, correspondent states that Nazim Pasha, in an interview, said that Turkey was unable to spare many ino-i at Skutari and retired. REFUGEES AT STAMBOUL. The Constantinople agent states that 1500 frontier refugees, comprising aged and decrepid men, and women and children, have arrived by •train at Starnboul, and are being specially housed and fed. Bucharest, October 27. Thousands of Bulgarian reservists, also Russian volunteers have reached Bulgaria from Russia. CARE FOR THE WOUNDED. yienna, October 27. Slav associations in Bohemia are sending Montenegro a hold hospital with 130 beds, 15 medical students, and 25 nurses. Soha, October 27. Professor Clairmoat’s Austrian Ambulance section, has arrived. .11 consists of five well-known doctors including two military doctors), and fourteen nurses. THE TURKS AT SKUTARI.

Cettinjo, October 27. Turks occupied several capture! positions at Scutari during torreiitial rain. SPOILS TO THE VICTORS. (Received 28, 8.50 a.in.) Sofia, October 27. Bulgarian spoil at Kirk Kil.ss.ie included seven oatteries of quick-firers with ammunition waggons, 18 field guns, 12 Howitzers, and provisions and tents. IMukhatir Pasha, during flight, abandoned portion of his private baggage. . . i welve hundred soldiers ‘at KirJv Kilissie are prisoners. General Ivanoff is steadily closing the cordon round Adrianople and strengthening his positions by cart iworks. There was a heavy bombardment form the north-west. A fresh sortie was made towards Arnantkoej, but it was repulsed, the Turks suffering heavily. . 'The Bulgarians at Kirdjaali seized a million cartridges, many shells, and quantities of food. A SANGUINARY ENCOUNTER. The Bulgarians, operating in Bregalnitza Valley, had a sanguinary encounter, but.captured Kocbana, together with 100 prisoners, a battery of field artillery, and mountain battery, and a quantity of ammunition. PEASANTS ASSIST BULGARIANS. The population in Djnmaya district are in full revolt against the Turks, and the hands of the Bulgarians are being greatly strengthened by wellequipped peasants, who have sent their cattle to Bulgaria. They also ruined their own crops to prevent the Turk's capturing them. RESERVISTS WELCOMED. Athens, October 27. A detachment of Greek reservists from New York were accorded an ovation. CREEK SUCCESSES, The Greeks have occupied Smiracus, Philliupiadia, Bourns. Kltntherokhori, and Strebeiua. The Turks fled, abandoning their ammunition and provisions. An officer and twelve men were cantured. The Turkish inhabitants are everywhere fleeing before the Greeks, and many are sending their families to Egypt. The Greeks are appointing officials in all the occupied districts of In too. PILLAGING AND FIRE. Albanian bands are pillaging, massacring, and setting lire throughout Kpirus.

CONTRADICTORY REPORTS.

.Vienna, October 27. Despite the message showing the satisfactory development of tiie Bulgarian tactics, tiie Bulgarian sacrifices in the vicinity of Marash and other points are heavy. Corpses littered tiie battlefields east and west of Adrianople. There was sanguinary, lighting in the woods around, arid In some .instances there were hand-to-hand encounters, daggers only being used. An aeroplane containing three Russian officers was wrecked at Tarinow, one being killed and others severely injured. Constantinople, October 27. An Ottoman soldier, in a melee northwards of Kirk Kilissie, got mixed up with some Bulgarians, but seized a Maxim gun and carried it to his comrades, after a miraculous escape' from death. OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA. London, October 27. The ‘Telegraph’s’ Constantinople correspondent states that cholera has appeared among the Turkish troops brought from Anatolia. A UNITED EUROPE. “THE WAR WELL BE STOPPED.” The ‘Observer’s’ St. Petersburg correspondent says the war will be stopped within a few weeks by ,a United Europe, and all arrangements towards that-object are progressing. Alter that Europe will speak concerning reforms. Router’s Constantinople correspondent states that Husseim Hilmi’s appointment as Ambassador at Vienna is ascribed to the Porte’s desire to secure Austria-Hungary’s support at the moment cf final settlement. i Berlin, October 27. The ‘North German Gazette’ says the Powers are striving to act in unity as soon as the development of the war is ripe therefor. MEN AND MONEY. (Received 28, 9.25 a.m.) London, October 27. Twenty Greeks sailed on Saturday to join their countrymen cn the battlefield. One thousand pounds was cabled to Athens for the war fund, and it is expected another £IOOO will bo sent.