Lull in the Campaign

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 146, 7 November 1912, Page 5

Lull in the Campaign

I • : Preparations for Final Struggle Decisive Engagement Imminent Several Minor Engagements

THE RETREAT FROM LULEBURGAS. PATHETIC PLIGHT OF THE WOUNDED. TURKS ILL-FITTED AND ILLPREPARED. "STAFF INCAPABLE OF RUNNING A COUNTRY CIRCUS." By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 6, 11.30 p.m. London, November 6. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent, describing the retreat after Luleburgas, says that the strongest speedily got to the front, but the weak and sick and wounded struggled painfully behind. Thousands of wounded made pathetic efforts to keep up with their comrades. Many fell on the roadside, crawled off the track and died. For three days all were foodless. Every stream and mud pond were filled with men in a fearful struggle to quench their, thirst. The correspondent adds that the Turks had, at the commencement of the campaign, two. thousand officers short. The loss of officers in the battle was enormous; hence it was an impossibility to maintain the semblance of order. _ The retreat, looking back from the rising ground at' Chorlu, presented an extraordinary sight. Fifty thousand stragglers dotted the plain, men, horses, guns and ox waggons all converging on two roads leading to Chorlu, and bent on reaching the town before nightfall. If the routed army fails at Chorlu it will fall back on Constantinople. The starving hordes there are bound to begin looting. The city's forces are incapable of preserving. order. The military authorities at Constantinople throughout the campaign delib-1 erately deceived the outside world, hoping that the bravery of the Turks would pull them through at the eleventh hour. The army (adds the correspondent) was defeated by sheer starvation rather than by any other factor. The Turkish army, he says, has no general staff capable of running a country circus. The greatest battle of modern times was fought without the smallest preparation to succour the wounded. The few surgeons available lacked every necessity. The artillery had but a few hours' supply of ammunition. Whole battalions and brigades consisted of ignorant Anatolian peasants, thousands of whom had never handled a rifle before. The correspondent did not see a Turkish machine gun in action. The Bulgarians' artillery, on the other hand, was matchless. The ammunition supply was a masterpiece of organisation. The machine gun fire was deadly. ROUMANIAN JEALOUSY. Received 6, 11.30 p.m. Bucharest, November G. There are indications that Roumania desires the old frontier of Rusthuch and Vorna, and will join the Triple Alliance for support. SERVIANS' CASUALTIES. Received 0, H.. 30 p.m. Belgrade, November 6. The Servian casualties to the 3rd inst. are as follows: — 4 Killed: 72 officers. 3417 men. Wounded: 238 officers and 9082 men. Missing: 088 officers and men. THE PORTE SUING FOR MEDIATION. Received 0. 11.30 p.m. Paris, November G. Turkey has renewed its request for mediation. M. Poincare, the Premier, repeated his previous answer, that lie was prepared to consult the Powers if the belligerents accepted mediation. THE MONTENEGRINS' CAMPAIGN. A DEMAND REFUSED. Received 6. 11.30 p.m. C'ettiiije, November G. Montenegrin and Austrian officers, un der the white flag, demanded the surrender of, Scutari and Rizabev, but the demand was refused. The Montenegrins have occupied Alessia and the ports oi Sangiovanni and Demedua. The Servians and Montenegrins have junctioned at Ipek, and are now marching against Diakova. DISEASE RAMPANT. MORTALITY LTKF.LY TO BE EX: UOUS. Received G, 9.30 p.m. London, November G. The Lancet's correspondents at the front state that the mortality arising from disease in the Balkans is likely to be enormous. The arrangements of both sides for dealing with the -sick and wounded are inadequate. Starving noncombatants are pouring into Constantinople. Disease is likely to decimate them. AUSTRIA'S ATTITUDE. NOT ANTAGONISTIC TO ALLIES. Received 7, 1 a.m. Buda-Pestli, November 0. , Count Berchtold, addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the present aspirations of the Allies was incompatible with the principle of the integrity of Turkey, but Austria showed no tendency towards territorial expansion. Austria was prepared to make large allowances for the new situation created by the 1 Allies* victories, and lay the foundations of a lasting and friendly understanding. On the other hand Austria also had the right to demand that her legitimate interests should not suffer in the settlement. He hoped Roumanians 1 interests would meet with corresponding r consideration. BAD WEATHER IN TURKEY. 1 DELAYING DEVELOPMENTS. ? Received 7, 1 a.m. Constantinople, November 0. H.M.S. Wavmouth has arrived in the Bosphorous. . Snow is falling on the mountains, delaying the military developments of both s sides. , s The embassies have requested permis- [ sion for the passage ef a second warship each through the Dardanelles.

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT STRUGGLE. Received 7, 1 a.m. Vienna, November 6. The whole of the Turkish army is not as yet within the Chataldja 'line. The western section, which took up a position- east of Chorlu, was vanquished yesterday, and is retreating to Chataldja. MONTENEGRINS' CAMPAIGN. Received 7, 1 a.m. Vienna, November G. The Reichpost says that the Monte-' negrins crossed the Bojana river, but a ; superior Turkish force at Berdica compelled them to retire. THE BULGARIANS' ADVANCE. ; ; j Received 7, 1 a.m. ' rl.. I .''; Vienna, November 6. The Bulgarian left wing of 54,000 men has reached Stroudja, and will continue the advance on Icherkeskeui, the main body passing throifgh Strondja or the region behind Derkos and the Chataldja line. The southern army will execute a frontal attack on Chataldja. ANOTHER BATTLE. BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY. Received 7, 1 a.m. Sofia, November 6. A battle lasting all day has just taken place near Adrianople. Twenty thousand Turks attempted to break through the besiegers of Adrianople. Roth lost heavily. The Bulgarians, by a violent general bayonet charge, compelled the Turks to retire within their lines, where they were supported by artillery. The Bulgarians did not follow the refugees. They state Adrianople's water-supply is cut off, and the inhabitants are depending on the river. There is much sickness. BULGARIANS RESUMING. ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL. TURKISH PREPARATIONS. Sofia, November 5. The lull in the operations at Chorlu, due to the Bulgarian army being given two days' repose after the period of four days' and nights' fighting, expires to-day, when the advance on Chataldja will be resumed with reinforcements from Adrianople. The latter will be replaced by the Servians. The second Bulgarian army, under General Kutinjeff, is marching by the coast along the Sea of Marinora to effect a junction with General Dimitrieff at Chataldja. A large force has occupied Derkks and cut off the aqueduct, upon which the capital is dependent for water supply. The Bulgarian troops have occupied the region between Chorlu and Chataldja, completely surrounding one Turkish force. Constantinople, November 5. The Turks are preparing to' defend Chataldja. Asiatic troops are constantly arj-iving. Fifteen hundred Circassian horsemen have landed. THE GREEK ADVANCE. Athens, November 5. The Greeks have occupied Phara. BRITAIN AND EGYPT. Vienna, November 5. The Neue Freie Presse states that diplomatic circles view the British naval measures in the Near East as a jiossible prelude to the annexation of Egypt. A PROTEST TO MONTENEGRO. Cettinje, November 5. The foreign consuls have protested to Prince Kanil against the shells falling among-peaceful Christians and Mahommedans at Scutari, The Crown Prince replied that the town was fortified, and neutral buildings ought to be marked with special flags. He coneluded by mentioning the misuse of the white Hag, by which the Montenegrin soldiers were made victims. THE POWERS AND THE ALLIES. STATEMENT BY BRITISH MINISTER. London, November 5. Sir Edward Grey, speaking in the House of Commons, said that it was true that the Porte had appealed to the Powers to secure the suspension of hostilities, and the Powers were exchanging views. It would be delicate to interfere unless both belligerents asked for this to be done. No one could question the Allies' right to formulate their own terms. Sir Edward Grey informed Mr. Bonar Law that there was no foundation for the report that Britain had addressed any warning to Bulgaria. (Cheers.) The movements of British warships would be precisely similar to those of the other Powers.