Progress of the Balkan War

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 75, 21 November 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War

THE FIGHT AT CHATALDJA.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, November 20. Mr. Donohoe, the ‘Chronicle’s’ correspondent, says that there were two days’ severe figliting at Chataldja. Tins issue was undecided. Ihe fight was the bloodiest of the present war, and there were fearful losses on both sides. The Turkish artillery inaugurated a vigorous attack, followed by furious infantry assaults, during which tiio Bulgarians captured scvo.al redoubts, fhe Turks wore magnificeniy courageous, the officers exposing themselves in order to set an example to the men. The Bulgarians lost four guns. The extreme''‘Turkish right disputed every inch desperately, dying bravely, and held their own. Constantinople, November 20. Nazim Pasha reports that the Bulgarians on the I urkish right wing on Monday lost 400 killed and wounded, including 20 officers. The Turks captured two machiud guns, A desperate artillery engagement began on Tuesday morning. The Bulgarian infantry, operating on the centre, wore repulsed. Part ol the enemy’s batteries were silenced, while the Turkish infantry attacked and drove out the Bulgarians from he reaches. A number of uniforms capurcd showed that the Servians were parti, ipating. Nazim Pasha claims that the third day’s figliting ended in the Turks’ favour. Mukhtar Pasha, while inspecting the advanced points in the Buyan Lklclqn-j yus district, while approaching atrench which ought to have been occupied by the Rodifs, was fusilladed by the Bulgarians and wouiido.i. Mukhtar Pasha and three officers weretonveyed to the German hospital. The bullet lias been extracted from I.is leg, General Abuk will replace ,Mukhtar Pasha as commander-in-chief. i Berlin, November 20. The ‘Lokal AnzeigerV correspondent at Chataldja says that on the dawn .of November 17 the Turkish sharp-) shooters opened fire on the Bulgarians! occupying the heights across a deep,' broad valley, with a small river flowing between them. The artillery began at intervals, slowly on the left wing, | more unbroken on the right, but rap. J in the centre, where,,the main attack) was concentrated, tho Bulgarians attempting to break through at ten o’clock. The Turkish shrapnle was pitched into the village of Fzetan, to the south of the.high bluff of Otluk. where tho Bulgarians were f dgod. The village flared up, though it was raining incessantly. A thousand Bulgarians advanced across tho river. The Turkish guns were silent for a moment, and then concentrated, on the advances. Within two minutes not a man was left standing. Meanwhile tho Bulgarain artillery was vainly trying to get the range, but passed over the Turkish batteries. Another Bulgarian detachment encountered the artillery fire and dissolved. The remnant sought cover without reaching the river.

The Turkish cruiser Hamid-en throughout covered with her fire the narrow neck separating the lake from Budjukchak Medje.

DETAILS OF HORRIBLE SCENE

London, November 20. Mr. Maxwell, the ‘Daily Mail’s’ correspondent, states that the horrors on the road to Stradja evidence a, demoralised flight after the Bunarhissar defeat. Ox waggons toiling over too heavy clay passed over the dead,: whose bodies and faces were worked deep into the ruts. Southward Of Visv the road was churned into a quagmi.-e by shells. Scores of bodies were mixed with broken waggons, half buried ui the mud. Blood-stained hands and liv'd faces were seen afloat in’ the morass. Some were those of grey-bearded men, others those of mere boys. Amici the; a terrors women and children roamed, seeking what the dead no longer needed. The Turks, in their retreat, fired the villages. There is little doubt that they foully massacred the Christians. Eye-witnesses recount ■ that women were cold-bloodedly murdered and infants slaughtered. A despatch found on a wounded officer showed that Abdullah Hamil had appealed to the Grand Vizier to invoke Europe’s aid.

ROUT OF THE BULGARIANS.

Constantinople, November 20. The Turks occupied Papa .Bursas', outside the Chataldja line, the Bulgarians hastily evacuating, apparently finding it impossible to break through the Turkish loft. All the schools are closed, owing to cholera.

AUSTRO-SERVIAN SITUATION.

London, November 20

The ‘Daily Mail’s’ Vienna correspondent says that M. Daneff’s mission was to inform Austria, that while Bulgaria was anxious for an AustroServian settlement, the allied armies would stand solidly in the event of Austria’s barring the way to the Ad iatic.

The Servians alleged that at the Albanian Consulate at Prizrend M. Prochaska displayed inconvenient furiosity. The military officers decided to isolate Prochaska until operations were concluded. Vienna, November 20. It is expected that unless Servia gives a satisfactory reply within twen-ty-four hours respecting the Cmuisls, the Austrian Minister at Belgrade will demand Servia to con ply At ithin throe days with Austria’s request for means to communicate vyith Prochaska. Six bacteriologists and another Red Cross unit have been sent to Bulguii to combat the cholera.

THE DEATH ROLL.

Belgrade, November 20. The death roll on both rides at Monastir is estimated at 20,000. The Turks had 17,000 dead and wounded. It is serai-officially stated that the reports of the persecutions of Albanians at Prizrend are unfounded. During the fighting measures which may have been severe were used, owing to the Albanians misuse <vf the white (lag. Salonika, November 20. There is friction between the Greeks and Bulgarians. When the Bulgariansafter disnosing of the Turks at Aivali marched into Salonika, they found the Greeks already in possession. The latter refused to allow the Bulgarians to enter. The Bulgarians sent an ultimatum that they would enter by force and then the Greeks abandoned t 'dimposition. 111-feeling is being displ yed in many directions. Vienna, November 20. The Crown Prince telegraphs: “Tomorrow we march on Fiorina. The niernv is resisting despite the surrender of Monastir.’ Sofia, November 20. The Turkish successes at Chataldja are officially denied. Belgrade, November 20. Latest reports show that tho Turks at Monastir did not surrender, but fled iu all directions. The newspapers demand an enquiry into the origin of

the report. Forty thousand prisoners were taken, i (Received 8.5 a.m.) Loudon, November 20. Reuter’s Chataldja correspondent reports that the Bulgarians ceased fighting, pending pourparlers treating at Constantinople. Nazim Pasha has been appointed delegate to arrange for an armistice. THE BULGARIANS’ POSITION, (Received 10.10 a.m.) Sofia, November 20. I Tho Turks at Adrianoplo on Monday ; attempted to break the lines and I'ougiu inrougnout Lite day, but were repulsed with heavy losses. Constantinople, November 20. Nazim Pasha reports that reebn- : noitring parties counted 500 Bnlgari- | ans dead on the slopes near Chataldja station. Prisoners state that the Bulgarians were three days without food, and unable to remove tlie wounded. Independent accounts confirm the reports that the Turks are mastering the positions in the Chataldja lines. Vienna, November 20. Germany and Italy, whose interests at Prizrcnd arc entrusted to tho Austrian Consulate, have made joint re presentations to Belgrade concerning Prochraska’s safety. M. Borchtold an iiounees that Servia, having assented the Austro-Hungarian functionary ha: gone to Uskub to investigate.