Desperate Fighting

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 139, 30 October 1912, Page 5

Desperate Fighting

Turks Mown Down In Rows

Allies Advancing Everywhere

Approaching Gates of Donstantinople

Fears of European Complieations The cables show that fierce fighting has taken place all along the line, the Turks being beaten at every point. Their ranks have been thinned by the superior artillery and rifle Are of the Bulgarians and Servians, and they are in a state of demoralisation.

The execution has been fearful, the Turks suffering terribly.

The Allies have isolated the Turka hemmed in at Adrianople, and cut their communications in other directions. The Greeks are likewise moving on Salonika. The Montenegrins have added to their previous successe* by capturing two important points.

A decisive engagement w the neighborhood of Constantinople must soon eventuate, and the prospect for Turkey holding its European territory is not bright. There are ominous rumblings of European complications following the Allies' successes, the Berlin Bourse being in a panicky condition.

THE CAPTURE OP USKUB.

THE TURKS ROUTED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Belgrade, October 28. Owing to its historical association, the capture of Uskub appealed more to the popular imagination than had all the hard-won victories. King Peter has issued a proclamation liberating and repatriating all prisoners but Turks and Albanians. Three divisions of Turks were routed southwards of Kumanovo and retreated in disorder.

capture of Kirk Kilissia, said that a division made a sortie at night time. The Bulgarian stormers feigned a retreat, and drew the Turks to within range of the machine guns, which practically annihilated them. After this, Mukhtar Pasha quitted the town. Mukhtar's baggage was captured, containing the whole plan of the campaign. A wounded Bulgarian officer reports that for four hours there was a series of bayonet assaults, during which all the more important positions were taken. One storming party under a cross fire suffered severely. They nevertheless persisted and captured two Kirk Kilissia redoubts. The bayonet charges were bo rapid that the defenders had no time to fix bayonets before meeting the shock.

London, October 28.

The Times' Sofia correspondent says that the moral effect of the rapture of Uskub will probably exceed that'of Kirk Kilissia.

FURTHER DETAILS.

STUBBORN AND SANGUINARY FIGHTING. TURKS MOWED DOWN. SERVIANS' DEADLY WORK. GHASTLY SCENES. Received 29, 10.20 p.m. Belgrade, October 29.

AN EXTRAORDINARY MELEE.

Constantinople, October 28.

Owing* to the Turkish commander's impatience to take the offensive, the advance was authorised for the night of October 21.

A column of infantry, cavalry and volunteers, under Mukhtar Pasha and Prince Aziz, moved northwards of Kirk Kilissia with the intention of surprising the Bulgarians.

During the pursuit after the battle at Kumanovo, the Servians captured an enormous amount of railway rolling stock and bridge material.

The night was extremely stormy and wet.

The : panic-stricken Turkish troops made flight, fighting each other, several being killed in the frantic struggle to obtain seats in the trains or possession of any sort of vehicle. A large section of the fugitives were overtaken on Ovtchepoly Plain, towards Kuprili, and again defeated with heavy loss.

The column was divided into two sections, following different paths. The vanguard came into contact with the Bulgarians at dawn, the Bulgarians being at overwhelming strength.

Then the mistake arose of both the Turkish sections firing at one another, and heavy loss was inflicted before the error was discovered. The Turkish cavalry attempted to charge, hut were severely punished. They fled and created a panic among the retiring infantry, especially the volunteers, who precipitately bolted, throwing the reserves into confusion. Ultimately the second division of the Constantinople Army Corps stemmed-the rout. Details of the losses are unknown, but it is believed that one division was decimated.

St. Nicola, midway between Ovtchepoly and Ishtib, was next occupied. The inhabitants of Ishtib rose against the Turks and seized all their arms. Twenty-five Servians were killed and six wounded at Ferizoviteh. A thousand Arnauts were made prisoners. Wounded officers describe the Kumanovo fight as most sanguinary and stubborn, eventually becoming a shambles, the comhatants hacking each other. The battlefield was littered with corpses still clutching daggers and bayonets.

THE ATTACK ON ADRIANOPLE.

Three divisions of Turkish regulars and numerous irregulars began the attack on Wednesday night. It was clear moonlight. The Servians, with machine

BULGARIANS LOSE HEAVILY.

Constantinople, October 28.

guns, waited until the Turks were at close range, when they opened with a withering fire, which, with the infantry fire, mowed the Turks down in rows as they advanced in dense masses. The decimated Turks essayed a bayonet charge, but their numbers were so thinned that the effect of their effort was negligible. The Servians scarcely suffered 1 from the Turkish fire. Then the Servians charged, with hayonets fixed, into the valley and along the wooded hillsides, and repelled the Turkish attack with rrliiistly losses on the part of the latter.

The commander at Adrianople has issued a proclamation that the soldiers, having heriocally done their duty outside the town, must now defend the town, as their fathers had defended Plevna. The military authorities declare that Adrianople is impregnable. The Turks make frequent sallies, and inflict heavy loss on the Bulgarians.

150,000 TURKS ENGAGED. TURKS DEMORALISED. Received 30, 1 a.m. Vienna, October 20. The Reichpost reports that 150,000 Turks were engaged at Kirk Kilissia. The bulk began to retreat on Thursday. A division and a half, by defending the town, covered the retreat. The defenders, fleeing eastward, made a desperate resistance on the Jundale Heights. The majority, however, were cut off, being I scattered in all directions.

Thirteen Servian regiments, forming the first line, charged with magnificent courage and swept everything before them. The Turks were pressed back into the hills. At daylight the Servian artillery joined

in the battle, displaying great skill, and decimated the Turks, who retreated to narrow valleys. The Turkish artillery then attempted to protect the infantry, but they were badly served, and their range was also bad. Many shells did not even explode. The battle lasted throughout Thurs-

Captives report that the Turks are generally greatly demoralised, the officers being iirst to throw up the sponge.

Amongst Mukhtar Pasha's captured baggage was a bejewelled sword, the gift of the Sultan.

day. The Servian cavalry, by a long fiank march, came round the Turks' right, compelling the hitters' evacuation of their strong position. The road to [lskub was thus opened. [Uskub. the capital of the vilayet of Kossovo, is one of the important centres in Turkey. Tt had a population in [1905 of about 32.000. consisting chiefly' of Slavs (Serbs and Bulgars). Turks. Albanians and a few gipsies. The position it occupies, at the foot of a valley which serves two mountain ranges, the Shar Planina and the Kara Dngh. is strategically important. Main roads radiate north-west to Pizren. west to Gostivar, an important centre of distribution, cast-north-east to Kumanovo, and thence into Bulgaria, and south Kopnilu and Monastic The city is the headquarters of an army corps, and is the commercial centre of the whole vilayet of Kossovo.]

The Daily Telegraph's Constantinople correspondent reports that Azim Bey, Governor of Kirk Kilissia, said that he would not be responsible for panic in the town, which is excited.

THE SMYRNA ACCIDENT. PEASANTS SUSPECTED. London, October 28. General Oimirieff advanced along the line from Kenidge to Babaeski, simultaneously with tlie western column, and moved towards Havia. The Smyrna train which was derailed recently carried seven hundred soldiers, of whom half were killed. Many of the peasants, who rendered first and to the massacred soldiers, were suspected of causing the accident.

THE BATTLE OF KIRK KILISSIA.

A FTKIiCE EXG AGEMENT. Sofia. October 2cS. General Dimitrieff, reporting on tlic

THE STATUS QUO. Berlin, October 28. c The Vienna correspondent of tlie Ber-

liner Tageblatt states that if the Powers' programme in reference to the status quo ip not maintained, Austria will consider herself free to follow her own policy.

THE ALLIES' VICTORIES.' CAUSES PROPOUND IMPRESSION. Received 30, 1 a.m. London, October 29. | The consensus of opinion among newspaper correspondents is that the Balkan League's victories have created a profound impression in Vienna, where Aus-tro-Hungarian interests are regarded as economic and not territorial. It is now explained that when the official press refers to the maintenance of the status quo this merely implies the maintenance as far as possible of the Great Powers' normal influence in South-Eastem Europe. THE BULGARIANS' ADVANCE. THE TERMS OP SETTLEMENT. Sofia, October 28. The Bulgarians have occupied Bunarhissar. After the capture of Babaeski, the Bulgarians seized a military train laden with Turkish troops and supplies bound for Adrianople. M. Gueshof, the Bulgarian Premier, interviewed, said that Bulgaria was ready to accept the intervention of the Powers, but if the Turks did not agree Bulgaria will dictate terms at the gates of Constantinople. The bridge over the River Chorlu has been blown up, cutting off the communication between Constantinople and Luluburgas. A portion of the Adrianople garrison has retreated to Dimotika.

MANY GUNS CAPTURED. SERVIANS SEIZE SUPPLIES. Belgrade, October 28. Fifteen guns were taken at Mitrovitza, and 113 at Uskub. During the campaign the Allies have captured 340 guns.

When the Servians approached Uskub the Turkish authorities and police fled. The Bashi-Bazouks commenced to pillage, and the Consul thereupon invited the Servians to enter. The latter seized six hundred waggons of supplies. The neighboring towns are surrendering. AIMING AT SALONIKA. Athens, October 28. /The Greek objective, Salonika, is now within forty miles. ROUMANIA PREPARING. Bucharest, October 28. Precautions have been taken, designed to render the Roumanian mobilisation effective within a fortnight, if needed.

PURCHASE OP AEROPLANES. i St. Petersburg, October 28. The Bulgarian representative at St. Petersburg is purchasing aeroplanes, and is engaging aviators. Servia is also purchasing aeroplanes. Several of the best Russian airmen are starting for the south. TURKfSH ARMY RETREATING. Received 29, 2.25 p.m. Belgrade, October 28. It is officially stated that the Turkish army is retreating from Uskub towards Petovo. They surrendered to the Servian cavalry. The latter captured a further 123 guns. The Servian vanguard has reached Isstib. HELP FUR REFUGEES. London, October 28. The Greek committees in England have raised £15,000 to relieve the refugees from the Epirus. TURKISH MUTINEERS. Vienna, October 28. It is semi-officially reported from Constantinople that a number of Turkish officers refused to proceed to their posts. Nazim Pasha threatens them with the severest penalties. SHOT FOR COWARDICE. Received 30, 1 a.m. London, October 29. The Standard's Constantinople correspondent says it is rumored that two hundred of the rank and file of the Turkish,garrison at Kirk Kilissia were shot for cowardice.

Generals Pushtchin and Rederinkoff are negotiating at Dantzic for the purchase of ships for Russia.

THE CAPITAL THREATENED. Constantinople, October 28. Fighting is proceeding at Bunahissar, a town half-way between Adrianople and Constantinople. THE TURKS' LAST STAND. A HOPELESS PROSPECT. Received 30, 1 a.m. Londoij, wctober 29. The Times declares that Nazim Pasha must now fight or witness the passing of the Ottoman Empire from Europe. He has a force of four army corps. Many of these troops, however, are scarcely the flower of the army. Probably the bulk of the Turkish troops south and east of Luleburgas are momentarily almost isolated.

The Morning Post reports that the Montenegrin flag flies on the summit of Tarabosch. The Montenegrins have captured Plevije. TURKS' RETREAT CUT OFF. Received 30, 1 a.m. Cettinje, October 29. The Montenegrins are athwart the Sangiovanni and Medina road, cutting oil the Turks' prospective retreat. The Montenegrins have captured ten thousand sacks of flour intended foi Scutari.

AN IMPORTANT POINT. CAPTURED BY THE ALLIES . Received 30, 1 a.m. London, October 29. The capture of the town of Drama severs communication between Constantinople and Macedonia.

A PRINCE WOUNDED,

ABDUL HAMID'S MOVEMENTS.

Received 30, 1 a.m. Constantinople, October 20.

Prince Abdurrahim. son of Abdul Hamid, serving under Azim Pasha at Kirk Kilissia, was wounded in the arm and leg.

Abdul Hamid, the deposed Sultan, has arrived at Stamboul, being privately conducted to one of the palaces on the Bosphorous l .

BULGARIANS' VICTORIOUS CAREER. TURKS RETIRING IN DISORDER. Received 30, 1 a.m. Sofia, October 29. The Bulgarians captured two provisionladen trains. The provisions captured at Kirk Kilissia will suffice to maintain 100,000 for three months. The Bulgarians have occupied Sule burgas and taken Kresna Pass. The Turks retired from Kuprieli in disorder. Four thousand Macedonian volunteers have left Sofia for the front. The capture of Babalski has been effected by the Bulgarian cavalry. The Turks are making a stand at Ergene, constructing earthworks along the river westward of Babalski. The Bulgarian cavalry cut the communications between Adrianople and Constantinople. It is reported that the Bulgarians have captured Dercotica.

THE CZAR'S MESSAGE.

Received 30, 1 a.m. Belgrade, October 29.

The Czar's message congratulated King Peter on the success of his troops in Macedonia. They had no need to invoke outside assistance.

THE POWERS AND THE BALKANS.

HOW BRITAIN IS INTERESTED,

In a well-informed article on the situation in the Balkans, as it was at the beginning of the year, a writer in the Round Table pointed out the inevitablencs's of war occurring this year, and th« great danger to the peace of the world which would follow. Forecasting the probable result if the scramble in the Balkans became general he said: "It may leave things exactly as they are, because no one is able! to win a decisive victory, and because the chief parties can reach no agreement about ehanges, or it may involve a complete re-settlement. If so, the maximum ohange that seems possible is that AustriHungai'y should incorporate Servia, Montenegro and the Southern Slavs, that Bulgaria should annex South-eastern Macedonia and reach the Mediterranean, that Greece should acquire Crete, the Aegean Islands and Epirus, and that Albania should form a new State, wedged between Austria, the Greater Bulgaria and Greece, under some sort of international guarantee. Thus would the political organisation of the Balkans b« founded on language and race. "What of Turkey and Russia? Turkey would probably retain Constantinople—the last outpost of her ancient Empire in Europe—because no other arrange- , ment would command the assent of th« Powers. If Russia were willing to treat Bulgaria as its advance guard, a pacifie agreement with Austria would be possible. But she would require a new arrangement about the Dardanelles and probably territorial compensation elsewhere. And is there any doubt that that would mean a further approach to the Persian Gulf, at the expense of Turkey or Persia ?

"Whatever M. Sazonoff may gay or desire, Russia is bound to move towards the Persian Gulf so long as she does not break up internally, and so long as Persia and Turkey remain as chaotic an tthey are to-day. It is not a question oi her policy or ambitions: it is a question of necessity—the same necessity which has driven'us to conquer India, Egypt, Rhodesia and the Soudan. Thus is the British Empire vitally interested in th« Balkan question, for it may bring appreciably nearer the day when the greatest land empire in the world, containing «ore than 150,000,000 white people, will break its pennant on the oceans which wash the shores of South Africa, ?!ew Zealand, India and Australia."

TOWN OF KIRK KILTSSTA.

AN IMPORTANT POST. Kirk Kilessa (or Kirk-TClissi, to give it its other name), a Turkish town. 35 miieg east of Adrianople (around which the heavy fighting is reported to have taken place between the Bulgarians and Turk*), ifi built, near the head waters of Beveral small tributaries of the river El-gene, and on the western slope ol the Istranja Dagh range of mountains. It owes its chief importance to its position at the southern outlet of the Fakki defile over these mountains, through which passes the shortest road to Constantinople. The town possesses many mosquee and Greek churcTies. The population i» between 15,000 and 20,000, of whom about half are Greeks and the remainder | Bulgarians, Turks and Jews. Kirk Kilessa has an important trade with Con- ! stantinoplc in butter and cheese, and it | also exports wine, brandy, cereal* and tobacco.

FEARS OF EUROPEAN COMPLICATIONS.

BERLIN BOURSE PANICKY. Received 30, 1 a.m. Berlin, October 29. There are fears of European complications. The Bourse was panicky to-day. The banks, however, prevented a general collapse. The newspaper Tageblatt states that