Progress of the Balkan War.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 59, 2 November 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War.

(By Electric Telegraph-— Copyright—United Press Association.)

TURKS SMASHING DEFEAT. NAZIM PASHA KILLED. Vienna, November 1. The Turks arc reported to have suffered a smashing defeat in a four days’ battle, waged with great animosity, and enormous losses on both sides. Tne final rout was due to a flank attack. It is reported that Nazim Pasaa lias fallen.

thin" in the cause of freedom. Aju-th-or tno Concert of Europe holds or breaks up, the Balkan League will tinr.lv adhere to its own programme. THE TURKISH DEFEAT. London, November 1. The newspapers deduce from the movements of the Turkish columns, following the success at Lnleburgas, that Nazim Pasha was thoroughly beaten and out-manoeuvred by the flanking attack, and thejme of battle has been broken as at Kirk Kins' lo. Router reports that the Bulgarians at Lnleburgas captured two more trains full of provisions and ammunition. , .... . It is reported that the lurks at Constantinople shot two hundred Christians belonging to the army that defeated them at Kirk Kilissie. HOUSING THE WOUNDED. Sofia, November 1. The wounded are arriving in Sofia in thousands. All the larger buildings and many residences have been transformed into hospitals. Every bed m the hosniral /is occupied, and extra beds are laid on the hare floors. All the Turkish patients have been accommodated with beds.

BATTLE OF LULEBURGAS. The ‘Reichpost,’ describing the fighting at Lulebnrgas, says that the Bulgarians concentrated all their available strength on Lulebnrgas as a centre. General Gravitz, however, shifted to the right wing, owing to the change of front of Nazim Pasha’s army, whore by no covered his line of retreat. The reason for the change was that he eyas menaced via Servia by the advancing Bulgarians. The alterations upset the plans to cut off Nazim Pasha’s army, but the Turks, attacking before they were properly grouped, tlio Bulganins were enabled to completely defeat the left wing, which was driven back and retreated on Chorln. The right wing, near Visa, offered some resistance, out, fearing being cut off after the capture of Lulebnrgas, retreated cn Sera in and Strandja. Nine divisions of the ’Turkish reserves westwards of Tenkooy were ordered to the centre to impede Lie Bulgarian advance. After a decisive flank attack the whole army fled precipitately towards Chatalja, leaving their dead and wounded behind. Sofia, November 1. The battle was obstinate and decisive. The Bulgarian cavalry, advancing from Kirk Kilis-ie and Babeska, reached Lulebnrgas on Tuesday, followed by the bulk of General Demitrielf’s and General Kutchineff’s combined armies. When they encountered Nazim Pasha, both sides having equal forces, a great and almost unbroken series of battles ensued, the Bulgarians attacking with the utmost impetuosity, and eventually throughout the line overcoming the Turks’ strenuous opposition. The retreat degenerated into a disastrous helter-skel-ter, the Bulgarian pursuers severely punishing the panic-stricken forces. CAMPAIGN VIRTUALLY OVER. It is reported that Chorln has been captured by the Bulgarians, who arc advancing on Chataldajo. The campaign is regarded as virtually ever. —,— BULGARIANS HEMMED IN. Constantinople, October 31. According to Turkish official re parts the retreat of 32.000 Bulgarian troop to the Strandja Mountains is cut oft.

TURKS’ HIDEOUS ATROCITIES. Two Servian officer?; who have arrived at Sofia from Egripalahka and Kumanovo report hid:ons atrocities by the retreating Turks. The roads, wore strewn with the corpses of Christian peasants. In many cases the bodies of women and children were mutilated, and bore evidence of torture. Charred corpses were found, indicat ng that the victims had been tied to Trees and burnt alive, or impaled and then roasted. The majority of the villages were burnt. In some cases the heads of those decapitated were laid in rows before the doors of the houses, the testimony of these officers is to be taken before the Servian Minister and forwarded to Belgrade. London, November 1. The Bulgarian artillery, directed by a captive balloon and aeroplanes, oToatly damaged the forts at Adrianople. , Paris, November 1. Throe French cruisers have started for Syria. DETAILS OF THE BATTLE. A SHOW OF GREAT GALLANTRY. (Received 8.20 a.m.) Vienna, November 1. The . Reich spost states that 230,000 participated in the battle line from Visa, to Luleburgas. The Turks’ retirement from Bab a 1,ski and their right wing’s attack at Bunarhissar led the Bulgarians to bring their loft wing earlier than expected, and the contact with the advancing Turks came as a shock to the latter. The battle at this point was extremely violent, and engagements wore fiercely fought in the woods, where Redif battalions or/reserves from Asia Minor behaved with great gallantry, hut the .advance, despite the continual summoning of fresh reserves, was gradually-checked. The Turks’ line was completely broken, and, being hemmed in, they retired with heavy loss.

Numbers of wounded are daily arriving at Scutari. Owing to serious news from the front the Council of Ministers has been sitting continuously, considering the question of concluding peace. A portion only of Nazim Pasha’s account of the lighting has been published, lost it should excite they Moslem population to provoke fanatical outbreaks. Nazim Pasha mentions that the citadel of Adrianople is still holding out.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. Paris, November 1. Advices Rom Vienna report that Turkey has sent confidential agents to Vienna and St. Petersburg to negotiate for peace. Belgrade, November 1. The Servians have captured Prisrind, and also an important position tit Teovo,. between Kupriic and Prilep. PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE. Vienna, November 1. The ‘None Freie Presse’ asserts that the Balkan States have agreed at a given moment to negotiate with Turkey direct, without the mediation of the Powers. TWO THOUSAND TURKS KILLED. London, November 1. The ‘Daily Chronicle’s’ correspondent reports that a Greek division completely routed four thousand Turks and five hundred irregulars at Kail,a 1 , and captured five hundred prisoners and seven guns. Two thousand Turks were killed. Two hundred and fifty Greeks were wounded, but none were killed. Athens, October 31. The Greeks have occupied the islands of Imbos and Thasos. TURKISH ATROCITIES. Sofia, November 1. The Turks have burned villages in the Marash district westward of Adrianople and Aivali, and north-westward of Lnlehurgas. They massacred all the Christian inhabitants. All the villages in the Menik district have been destroyed. Berlin, November 1. The Powers are discussing the risks of massacre and pillage in Turkov by a demoralised soldiery mob. It is understood that any intervention will ho entirely unpolitical, and the protection of foreigners will bo entrusted to the Powers’ navies.

ft was a case of Kirk Kilesse over again. The Turks began a courageous rush, then the broken ranks panicked, and the panic spread over the entire army. A corps of four divisions was shattered and dispersed in disorder. The Turks had entrenched in several strong lines on either side of Luleburgas. but the Bulgarian artillery took the position on the flank of the entrenchments, and shelled the l ues, and the rout became complete. 1 On threatening the last line of defence at Chatalja, the Bulgarian infantry showed remarkable contempt for death.

(Received 2. 9.15 a.rn.) London. November 1. The Austrian squadron at Trieste lias been ordered to bo in readiness to proceed to Salonika. y _ . A large force of Servians is quitting Macedonia and proceeding to Adrianople. A .Greek torpedo sunk the cruiser Fetbibulend in the Gulf of Salonika. Fanatics at Staraboul aroused by defeats, threaten to massacre the Ohirsiians at Stringeiiter, and a State siege has been ordered.

The Bulgarians are within twentyfive miles of Constantinople. I Owing to atrocities after the recent defeats, the Bulgarians intend to command the capital in the interest of Christians. Sofia reports the capture of Utrum- i ti/,a. _ ! Constantinople, November 1. > The Turks bold their own well at Kirk Kilissie until the fatal night attack by General Sauvekuipett. The Turks discarded their coats and boots. 1 Belgrade, November 1. There are now fifty trains daily between Uranja and tlskub. Athens, November 1. The Greeks have occupied Sammothrace. Vienna, November i. Tho cruiser Katsman Mariateresa has nroceeded to Salonika to protect the Austrians.

THE ATTITUDE OF ROUMANIA, Bucharest, November 1. It is authoritatively stated that lloumania ill quietly await the Powers’ conference, and then resolutely demand the recognition of her v.tal interests, and militarilv defend her rights if these are ignored. THE PEACE PROSPECTS. London, November 1. The ‘Daily Telegraph’ publishes a statement that the Powers will agree to .'mediate forthwith to secure an armistice, with a view to preventing unnecessary bloodshed, relying on diplomacy to’ unfold a future settlement. The ‘Standard’s’ Constantinnpl l correspondent says that the appointment of Kiamil as Grand Vizier, with his well-known close relations with Britain, showed that the Porto’s inclination was to negotiate for peace. ‘The Times’ ’ Sofia correspondent says that the Bulgarian triumph lias not evoked public demonstrations, and fears are expressed that Hulga'ia. as in 18S5. will possible he deprived of the reward of her victory. The rumours of rn imminent Ansdo-Hungarian-Roumauian mobilisation are spreading. There is little nfid-(-•ucd that the Triple Entente will secure fair play for those risking every-