The War in the Balkans

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 124, 12 October 1912, Page 5

The War in the Balkans

The Montenegrins

Harrowing

THE FIRST SHOTS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 12, 12.20 a.m. Podgoritza, October 11. The war has begun. The King and princes, with a brilliant staff, attended I little church to witness the Bishop bless the standard. The firßt shots were fired amid Montenegrin hymns and with the church bells ringing. Podgoritza is the centre of a splendid system of macadamised roads.

THE TURKS DEFEATED.

Podgoritza, October 11. Early on Thursday the Montenegrins resumed the bombardment of Detchitch, a detached hill strongly fortified. The battery was silenced about eleven. Meanwhile "heavy fighting, took place at Tun, where there is a garrison of about two thousand men. The result is unknown. Tuzi commands the road to Scutari, where the garrison is reported to number 12,500, in addition to Essad Pasha's 6000.

Tuzi offers the only opportunity for serious Turkish resistance. It has fifty miles of natural obstacles to the Montegrins, including small rivers running into Lake Scutari. Otherwise the road runs plain for three miles.

A MONTENEGRIN VICTORY.

Received 1, 11.10 p.m. London, October 11,

The Montenegrins Bilenced a fortified mountain position at Detchitch. . The Turkish garrison surrendered four guns. There were heavy losses on both sides.

GERMANY'S HELP. , Berlin, October 11. The Kaiser has ordered the German Embassy to place several floors at the disposal of Turkey's wounded. Turkey has accepted the offer with gratification.

THE EMBASSIES. Constantinople, October 11. The five Embassies, in a collective ~Note, couched in energetic but noncomminatory terms, declare their intention to discuss the realisation of reform in Asia, the Treaty of Berlin, and the declarations of the International Commission of 1880.

A STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATION. Constantinople, October 11. Five thousand students, all armed with revolvers, despite the troops, forced their way into the Grand Hall at the Porte.

The Minister of Marine left the Council and addressed them. His explanation of the application of Article 23 of the Berlin Treaty, to the effect that it did not mean the granting of autonomies, was hissed excitedly by the students. The Minister continued that the longer war was delayed the better for Turkey. The students replied: "Down with tba Berlin Treavy! We want war!" The Grand Vizier also spoke.

' HARROWING EXCESSES. Athens, October 11. Harro ( wing accounts have been received of the excesses of the Turkish and Alban-, ian brigades at Epirus, where they have been burning homes and terrorising Christians.

THE ALBANIAN CATHOLICS,

Podgoritza, October 11. King Nicholas has long coveted Scutari. If he annexes it, it is likely to be offered to Austria, owing to the latter's protectorate of the Catholic Albanians.

Vienna, October 11. Negotiations are pending between Austria and Russia, aiming at a policy of disinterested action, based on the understanding that Novibazar remains Turkish.

'M. Berchtold, speaking to an Austria* delegation, stated that the exercise of the Emperor's protectorate over Catholics in Albania would be difficult, owing io the prevailing excitement.

THE POWERS TOO LATE.

London, Oetober 10. Correspondents at Sofia, Belgrade and Athens give the general impression that the Powers were three weeks too late. Had it been earlier, the Note might have averted mobilisation. The only possibility of peace was for the Powers to insist on European Governors and give fthe allies representation on a European board appointed to supervise the reforms.

The Bucharest correspondent of The Times says that Roumania has tendered Bulgaria explicit assurances regarding her neutrality in the event of war. Turkey, he adds, endeavored without success in September to secure the co-oper-ation of Roumania in recalling the consideration of November, 1010.

Sir E. Grey has telegraphed to the Porte that the detention of Greek vessels cannot- be justified by international law. Inasmuch as British interests are affected, he must strictly preserve all British rights, and other Powers will act Similarly. The Liberal foreign affairs group, including Messrs. Byles and Ponsonby, passed a resolution that no settlement

Opening Hostilities

Atrocities

Defeat the Turks

would be satisfactory -unless definite guarantees of effective reform in Macedonia were given.

AMBASSADORIAL PRESSURE. Constantinople, October 10. The French and Russian Ambassadors urged the Porte to grant complete autonomy to Macedonia in order to avoid war. There are rumors that the Powers are increasing their steps to restrain the Balkan Powers and to stop Montenegro.

MOBILISATION AT CETTINJE. London, October 10. The Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent witnessed, at Cettinje, a month iago, active mobilisation preparations under a Russian general and four assistants, lent by Russia.

FURTHER MOBILISATION. Paris, October 10. It is reported that Austria-Hungary has concentrated 125,000 troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mobilisation in the Balkans, notwithstanding mutual exchange of view's concerning the Powers' representatiihs, is steadily proceeding. Shots were exchanged by the o'utposts at Klissura, south-west of Tsaribrod. Five thousand rajahs in Turkey paid the Treasury tax of £4O to escape military service,

THE MONTENEGRIN CAMPAIGN.

I Cettinje, October 10. All the men from 18 to 50 have joined the army. Prince Peter opened the campaign by firing a shot against the Tuzi fortifications. | Before the battle, the general commanding at Podgoritza committed suicide, fearing that the King's presence meant that he was superseded. Ten battalions of Turkish infantry and five thousand Bashi-Bazouks are advancing through the Saltchi defile to the relief of Scutari.

A Salonika message states that Essad Pasha is commanding at' Scutari. The column passed the River Coyana unopposed.

ENTHUSIASM FOR WAR. Salonika, October 10. The army is angry at the Cabinet's acceptance of reforms, and meetings of protest have been held.

The enthsuism for the war in Albania is immense. The leaders state that they have 100,000 men, and are able to defeat the Servians and Montenegrins without assistance.

ACTIVITY IN SERVIA. Belgrade, October 10. Prince George has asked his father to give him command of a regiment. A boycott has been declared of Austrian goods, as a protest 'against its favorable attitude towards Turkey.

I BULGARIA WANTS COMPENSATION. Sofia. October 10. M. Gueshoff, Bulgarian Foreign Minister, interviewed, said that the proposals of the Powers were unsatisfactory, giving !no guarantees. Bulgaria bad spent so much that she could not withdraw with|out something substantial. I M. Gueshoff said he did not despair of peace at the eleventh hour. The exchange of views with Greece and Servia would continue.

RESTRAINING THE GREEKS. Athens, October 10. King George received an ovation. The King and the Premier delivered pacific and restraining speeches. The newspapers complain bitterly of Britain's alleged pro-Turkish attitude.

REPORTS FROM VIENNA.

Vienna, October 10. Albanian villages northward of the Bojana river are ablaze. Numerous Albanians sought refuge at Scutari, but the Montenegrins fired rifles at them for upwards of an hour. An Austrian steamer proceeding from Bojano to Cattaro was likewise fired on. Count Berchtold, in thanking Hungarian delegations for their vote of confidence, said that the monarchy had associated itself with the great Powers to preserve the status quo in the Balkans, where Austria had vital interests, which it was determined to preserve.

GERMANY SUSPICIOUS. Berlin. October 10. Several newspapers criticise Russia, believing she is behind Montenegro. They accuse Russia of mobilising in Poland on the pretext that a test is being made of mobilisation. Russia denies the truth of the allegations.

AEROPLANES FOR THE BALKANS. Paris. October 10. Thirty French aeroplanes have gone to the Balkan States in a fortnight.

WANTED—A WARSHIP. London, October 10. Greece and Turkey are competing for the purchase of the Chinese cruiser

Chamho, which is being built at El* wick, and is now ready for steam trials,

GREEK RESERVISTS TO SAIL.

London, October 10.

Several Greek steamers have been commandeered at Cardiff to tranship Greek reservists resident in England.