The War in the Balkans

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 129, 18 October 1912, Page 5

The War in the Balkans

A PROSPECT OF PEACE DEFEAT OF ThE MONTENEGRINS FIGHTING ON SERVIAN FRONTIER THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE There is just a faint note in to-day's cables that the war may be of brief duration. It is stated that the Balkan States are not anxious for hostilities, and will make another attempt to come to an understanding with Turkey before precipitating a general conflict. Turkey, on the other hand, declines to agree to any conference on the ternts suggested by the allies, most of which Roumania has approved of. Russia is, apparently, viewing with *uspicion the attitude adopted generally by the parties to the Triple Entente, lending color to the suggestion that she is not anxious to see hostilities cease. It will be some days before a decisive decision is arrived at on these points, and in the meantime the fighting is being confined to the Montenegrins, and, in a lesser degree, to the Servian frontier, where desultory skirmishing is proceeding. The Montenegrins scored another success at Berana, where twelve thousand Turks surrendered to their attack, but against this they have sustained a serious repulse at Erania. They, however, now hold the key to Scutari. _ Details of the fall of Tuzi show that the first advance of the Montenegrins was repulsed, and it was only on the second advance, following a heavy bombardment, that they captured the town. The Turkish Minister lias been recalled from Athens, but Greece meantime remains quiescent.

NO CONFERENCE POSSIBLE. TURKEY REMAINS ADAMANT. Received 17, 10.5 p.m. London, October 17. The incompleteness of the mobilisation is supposed to have deinyed the allies' and Turkey's declaration of war. Other opinions are that the war fervor has been shaken by the conclusion of peace with Italy. In Ottoman quarters it is stated that nothing in the nature of a conference is possible at present. Turkey will not agree to a conference having for its basis the terms proposed by the allies. ,

Der Zeit, says that the Balkans still do not desire war. Before fighting they will make a last attempt to arrive at an understanding with Turkey. Some days must elapse before there are any decisive event*.

ARMS FOR AUSTRIA. THE CAPTURE OF TUZI. Received 17, 10.30 p.m. Vienna, October 17. Arms and ammunition have been ordered for Austria. St. Petersburg, October 17. Details of the capture of Tuzi state that the Montenegrin advance on Vranja, an outpost of Tuzi, was repulsed with heavy loss, hut the garrison was unable to withstand a second advance, preceded by a heavy bombardment. A RUSSIAN VIEW. Received 17, 10.30 p.m. St. Petersburg, October 17. The Novoe Vremya, reviewing the Triple Entente, first in the Far East and now in the Near East, says that France has failed Russia, while the agreement with England tied her hands in Persia. It declares that Russia cannot permit every combination she enters into to bring loss. It violently accuses M. Sazanoff of failing to eo-ordinate his policy with Russia's allies and friends in connection with the Balkans.

ROUMANIAN ATTITUDE. Received 17, 10.5 p.m. London, October 17. Tht- Times' Sofia correspondent says that Roumania has informally expressed approval of the allies' Note with regard to Macedonian reforms, but does not approve of the association of the allien with the Great Powers in the work of supervision. The correspondent states that Montenegro's declaration of wai was not preconcerted with the allies. RED CROSS UNITS. Received 17, 10.5 p.m. London, October 17. Many Red Cross units have been despatched to the Balkans from Continental cities. SICK AND WOUNDED FUNDS. Received 17, 10.30 p.m. London, October 17. The British Red Cross is appealing for Balkan funds. " The Daily News has opened a sick and wounded fund.

THE TURI\TSH ADVANCE. Constantinople, October I<3. Nazim Pasha is going to Adrianople on Thursday. The Turks are transporting 10,000 men daily from Anatolea, Asia Minor. A MONTENEGRIN SUCCESS. London, October 16. The Montenegrins have captured Berane, taking 700 prisoners and 14 guns. THE. CAMPAIGN IN BULGARIA. Constantinople, October 16. There are two Turkish battleships, and two cruisers, at the mouth of the Black Sea. It is believed that their intention is to throw an army on the JBulgarian coast, because many transports are available and troops are waiting at the Black Sea ports. CAPTURED TURKISH OFFICERS. Podgoritza, October 16. King Nicholas received the ca'ptured officers with the utmost courtesy. He complimented them on their heroism and promised them kingly hospitality. THE BOURSES STRONGER. Paris, October 16. Paris and Berlin Bourses are stronger, owing to the prospects of better RussoAustrian relations. ANXIETY IN AUSTRIA. Vienna, October 16. The chief anxiety is as to whether the Panslavists can oust M. Sazanofif, the Russian Foreign Minister.

THE PALL OF BERAXA. SEVERE FIGHT INC. Received 17, 10.40 p.m. 1 Podgoritza, October 17. The surrender of Berana was preceded by the severest fighting. Under cover of darkness the Montenegrins stormed the positions on the Rogane Heights. At daylight a Montenegrin division broke tliroujfh the Turkish lines and completed an enveloping movement. The garrison of twelve hundred surrendered. During the night, four thousand Turkish regulars arid three thousand Albanian irregulars escaped.

THE KEY TO SCUTARI. BOMBARDMENT OF TARABOSCII. Received 17, 10.40 p.m. Podgaritza, October 17. General Martinovics has occupied important positions at the rear of Taraboscli, which is the key to Scutari. The bombardment of Tarabosch is proceeding. TIIE STAMBOUL MINISTER. Received 17, 10.40 p.m. Sofia, October 17. The Turkish Legation has left. The Cabinet has not arrived at a decision regarding the recall of the Minister from Stamboul.

POWEES EXCHANGING VIEWS. Paris, October 16. Tlie Council of Ministers and M. Poincare discussed tlie Balkan (situation. It 19 stated that all the Powers are daily exchanging views, with the object of localisation of the struggle. THE BREACH WITH SERVIA. Belgrade, October 16. The Turkish Minister has left without a passport. WE ARE FULLY EQUIPPED FOR FURNITURE REMOVALS. We have a careful courteous staff of expert movers, together with clean, commodious, suitable vans. Thus we make your moving easy, comfortable, pleasant, and take a load of worry and trouble off your hands. Try us when next you ijnove. You'll find our system reliable, expeditions, moderate in price.—The N.Z. Express Co., Ltd.

SKIRMISHING! ON THE SERVIAN FRONTIER. A MONTENEGRIN DEFEAT. TURKISH MINISTER RECALLED FROM GREECE. Received 17, 10.30 p.m. Constantinople, October 17. Some skirmishing has occurred on the Servian frontier. The Turks report that four battalions defeated eight thousand Montenegrins in Krania. Athens, October 17. The Turkish -Minister lias been recalled. PROSPECTS OF PEACE. Received 17, 11.40 p.m. J Vienna, October 17. ! M. Pasics, in an interview published in