Turkish Army Smashed

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 142, 2 November 1912, Page 5

Turkish Army Smashed

A SMASHING DEFEAT.

ROUT OF THE TURKS.

REPORTED DEATH OF NAZIM PASHA

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 1, 5.5 p.m. Vienna, November 1. The Turks are reported to'have suffered a smashing defeat in a four days' battle, waged with great animosity and enormous losses on both sides. The final rout was due to a flank attack. It is reported that Nazim Pasha has fallen.

TURKISH ATROCITIES.

VILLAGES BURNED.

Sofia, November 1.

Received 1, 5.5 p.m.

The Bulgarians suffered comparatively slight losses, and (Trove 150,000 Turks from fortified positions along the line from Bunnarhissar to Luleburgas, and captured numbers of guns and flags, also much ammunitions and many prisoners. They are now pursuing the fleeing and panic-stricken Turks towards Seria and Corlu.

THE BATTLE OF LULEBURGAS,

BRILLIANT BULGARIAN VICTORY.

Received 1, 10.30 p.m. Vienna, November 1,

The Reichspost, describing the fighting at Luleburgas, says that the Bulgarians concentrated all their available strength on Luleburgas as a centre. General Gravitz, however, shifted to the right wing, owing to the* change of fron\, of Nazim Pasha's army, whereby he covered his line of retreat. The reason for the change was that he was 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, the Bulgarians were enabled to completely defeat the left wing, which was driven back and retreated on Chorlu, The right wing, near Visa, offered some resistance, but, fearing being cut off after the capture of Luleburgas, retreated on Serai and Strandja. Nine divisions of the Turkish reserves westwards of Tenkoey were ordered to the centre to impede the Bulgarian advance. After a decisive flank attack the whole army fled precipitately towards, Chatalja, leaving their dead and wounded behind.

.WAR IN THE AIR.

Received 2, 12.30 a.m. London, November 1

The Bulgarian artillery, directed by a captive baloon and aeroplanes, greatly damaged the forts at Adrianople.

TURKS BURN METZOVO.

FURTHER DETAILS,

A STRENUOUS BATTLE.

Received 2. 12.30 a.m,

Sofia, November 1,

The battle was obstinate and decisive. The Bulgarian cavalry, advancing from Kirk Kilissia and Babcska, reached Luleburgas on Tuesday, followed by the bulk of General Demitrieff's and General KutchinefT'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 cne Turks' strenuous opposition. The retreat degenerated into a disastrous helterskelter, the Bulgarian pursuers severely punishing the panic-stricken forces.

IPEK OCCUPIED.

THE CAMPAIGN VIRTUALLY OVER,

DESERTERS TO SERVIA.

Received 2, 12.30 a.m. Sofia, November 1

It is reported that Chorlu has been captured by the Bulgarians, who are advancing on Chataldaje. The campaign is regarded as vitually over.

THE BULGARIANS CUT OFF.

THE COUNCIL OP MINISTERS.

Received 1, 5.5 p.m.

Constantinople, October 31. According to Turkish official reports the retreat of 32,000 Bulgarian troops to the Strandjn Mountains is cut off. 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.

SUPPRESSED INFORMATION.

Received 1, 10.30 p.m. Constantinople, November 1

A portion only of Nazim Pasha's account of the fighting has been published, lest it should excite the Moslem population to provoke fanatical outbreaks. Nazim mentions that the citadel of Adrianople is still holding out.

PEACE PROSPECTS

SUGGESTED ARMISTICE,

NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE,

Received 1, 10.30 p.m. Paris, November 1

Advices from Vienna report that Turkey lias sent, confidential agents to Vienna and St. Petersburg to negotiate for peace.

A SERVIAN VICTORY.

BALKANS PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE

Received 1, 5.5 p.m.

Belgrade, November 1

BULGARIAN TRIUMPH.

The Servians have captured Prisrind, and also an important position at Teovo, between Kuprile and Prilep.

QUIETLY RECEIVED.

Vienna, November 1

The Neue Freie Pressc asserts that the Balkan States have agreed at a given moment to negotiate with Turkey direct, without the mediation of the Powers.

The newspaper Mir says that after the failure to enforce the treaties, European diplomacy has become an offence. The war lias radically modified the position, and changes n»«ist ensue, proportional to the Allies' sacrifices.

THE TRIPLE ENTENTE.

THE INVINCIBLE GREEKS.

TWO THOUSAND TURKS KILLED,

Received 1, 10.30 p.m. London, November 1

The Daily Chronicle's correspondent reports that a Greek division completely routed four thousand Turks and five

Four Days Sanguinary fighting Brilliant Bulgarian Victory The Turks Negotiating for Peace

hundred irregulars at Kailar, and captured five hundred prisoners and seven guns. Two thousand Turks were killed. Two hundred and fifty Greeks were wounded, but none were killed. Received 1, 5.5 p.m. Athens, October 31. The Greeks have occupied the islands of Imbos and Thasos.

Sofia, October 1

The Turks have burned villages in the Marash district westward of Adrianople and Aivali, and north-westward of Luleburgas. They massacred all the Christian inhabitants.

All the villages in the Menik district have been destroyed.

MASSACRE AND PILLAGE.

PROTECTION BY THE POWERS.

Received 1, 10.30 p.m. Berlin, November 1

The Powers are discussing the risks of massacre and pillage in Turkey by a demoralised soldiery mob. It is understood that any intervention will be entirely unpolitical, and the protection of foreigners will be entrusted to the Powers' navies,

ROUMANIAN ATTITUDE.

Received 1, 10.30 p.m. Bucharest, November 1

It is authoritatively stated that Roumania will quietly await the Powers' conference, and then resolutely demand the recognition of her vital interests, and militarily defend her rights if these are ignored.

FALL OF SCUTARI IMMTNENT.

THE DEFENDERS WITHOUT FOOD.

Cettinje, October 31. Fourteen hundred Turks at Plevje have fled to Bosnia.

The Montenegrins have completed the cordon round Scutari, where rioods destroyed a bridge, isolating four thousand of the defenders. The latter are without food or ammunition, and are exposed to the attacks of the Malissori.

London, October 31 The Turks have burned Metzovo.

FRENCH NAVAL MOVEMENTS

*aris, October 31. A cruiser squadron has been despatched to the Grecian Archipelago. Received 1, 10.30' p.m. .

Paris, November 1. Three French cruisers have started for Syria.

GIFT FROM THE KAISER.

Berlin, October 31

The Kaiser has contributed £ISOO towards a German Red Cross hospital for the Balkans.

Cewtinje, October 31. The Montenegrins have occupied Ipek,

Belgrade, October 31

Thousands of Mussulmans and Albanians have surrendered th'eir weapons and entered Pristina, wearing the Servian colors.

FLEEING FROM THE TURKS.

Athens, October 31

Refugees from the burning villages on the Janina, Plains are flocking to Arta.

STATEMENT BY SIR E. GREY

London, October 31

Replying to a question, Sir Edward Grey, in the House of Commons, said that it was not desirable at present to make a statement concerning the Powers' policy with regard to upholding Turkey's dominion in Macedonia. He was glad to say that the Powers were continuing the consultations adopted at the outset of the viut. A British, warship had been despatched to Salonika to protect British lives.

Received 2, 12.30 a.m. 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 Constantinople correspondent says that the appointment of Kiamil as Grand Vizier, with his wellknown close relations with Britain, showed that the Porte's inclination was to negotiate for peace.

Received 2, 12.30 a.m. London, November 1.

The Times' Sofia correspondent says that the Bulgarian triumph has not evoked public demonstrations, and fears are expressed that Bulgaria, as in 1885, will possibly be deprived of the reward of her victory.

Received 1, 12.30 a.m. London, November 1.

The rumors of an Imminent Austro-Hungarian-Roumnman mobilisation are spreading. There is little confidence that the Triple Entente will secure fair pla;y for those risking everything in the cause of freedom. Whether the Concert of Europe holds or breaks up, the Balkan League, will firmly adhere to its own programme.

THE TURKISH DEFEAT. THE ANNIHILATING EOUT. Received I, 12.30 a.m. London, November 1. The newspapers deduce from the movements of the Turkish columns, following the success at Luleburgas, that Nazim Pasha was thoroughly beaten and outmanoeuvred by the flanking attack, and the line of hattle has been broken as at Kirk Kilissia. CAPTURE OF PROVISIONS. Received 1, 12.30 a.m. London, November 1. Renter reports that the Bulgarians at Luleburgas captured two more trains full of provisions and ammunition. DESPICABLE REVENGE. Received 2, 12.30 a.m. London, November 1. It is reported that the Turks at Constantinople shot two hundred Christians belonging to the army that defeated them at Kirk Kilissin. THE WOUNDED. HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. Received 2, 12.30 a.m. 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 in the hospital is occupied, and extra beds are laid on the bare floors. All the Turkish patients have been accommodated with beds. HIDEOUS ATROCITIES. THE UNSPEAKABLE TURKS. Received 1, 12.30 a.m. Sofia, November 1. Two Servian officers who have arrived at Sofia from Egripalahka and Kumanovo report hideous atrocities by the retreating Turks. The roads were 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, indicating 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 eases the heads of those decapitated were laid in rows before thedoors of the houses. The testimony of these officers is to be taken before the Servian Minister and forwarded to Belgrade.