Prospects of Peace

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 150, 12 November 1912, Page 5

Prospects of Peace

Britain's Attitude Approved A Lull in Hostilities Constantinople Still Threatened

TURKS' LACK OF PREPARATION. BULGARIANS WAITING FOR AT.TXRS By Oable—Press Association—Copyright, Received 11, 10.35 p.m. London, November 11. The Daily Mail's Constantinople corre spondent confirms the report of the lacL of preparation for defence at Chataldja A mere rabble is defending it. Other correspondents attribute the Bulgarian delay to a desire to await the Greeks and Servians, in order to entei Stamboul together. They also state that Servia is determined to reach a seaport before negotiating for a settlement conjointly with the Allies. AUSTRIAN POLICY. GERMANY AT WORK. Received 11, 10.35 p.m. London, November 11. The Daily Mail's Vienna correspondent says that Germany is endeavoring to moderate the Austrian policy with regard to Albania. The Daily Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent says that the Government will not countenance a holy war, as it is no longer In accord with enlightened Moslem feeling. It is now stated that Field-Marshal Fuad Pasha and General Bahri Pasha are commanding the Turks at Chataldja. Berlin, November 11. Herr von Kiderlin-Waechter, Minister for Foreign Affairs, is engaged m discovering a formula designed to appeal to Austria and Servia. The Hague, November 11. The Netherlands Minister at Constantinople has announced the despatch thence of Mohammedan emissaries to the Dutch Indies to stir up the Moslems. GENERAL 12345G OBSCENE LITERATURE. Received 11, 9.30 p.m. Sydney, November 11. Three booksellers have been fined on a charge of selling an obscene publication, namely, Chidley's "The Answer." A CYCLONIC STORM. Brisbane, November H. A cyclonic storm at Blackball lasted ten minutes. Hardly a house escaped damage. AT CONSTANTINOPLE. GOVERNOR COURTMARTIALLED AND SHOT. IMPRESSING THE KURDS. Constantinople, November 11. Received 12, 1 a.m. There is an unconfirmed report that General Memdouhbey, Military Governor of Constantinople, has been courtmartialed and shot for inciting the garrison to massacre Christians and restore Abdul Hamid to the throne. The Porte, learning that two thousand Kurds were on the waTpath, invited them to a religious service in a mosque at Saint Sophia, surrounded them, and sent them to the front. THE TOTAL CASUALTIES . 150,000 KILLED French advices from the Balkans confirm the terrible losses in the recent battles. The total casualties, inclusive on both sides during the war, are estimated at 150,000. A WAR DEMONSTRATION. Vienna, November 11. Thousands participated in a social and democratic demonstration against the war. AUSTRIA AND SERVIA. The Reichspost denies that the Triple Alliance is initiating common action at Belgrade. It adds that for the present Austria will continue to treat the Servian demands with goodwill and calmness. MEDIATION. THE POWERS BUSY. Received 12. 1 a.m. Sofia, November 11. There are indications that a collective step towards mediation would be received with deference by the British and Russian Ministers, who have already instructed the other Legations that they are awaiting instructions. It is scmi-officially stated by the Ministery that it recognises Austria-Hun-gary's perfectly correct attitude during the war. MACEDONIA .JOINS BULGARIA. FURTHER BULGARIAN SUCCESSES. Received 12, 1 a.m. Sofia, November 11. Thirty thousand Macedonian volunteers have joined the Bulgarians at Thrace. Thousands of Mausers have been captured from the Turks. It is stated that the Bulgarians have occupied Eregli and Silivri. The wounded at Luleburgas narrate that General Dimitreff always appeared in the first line of battle, encouraging his men. CLOSING ON TRANSPORT. Received 12, 1 a.m. I Constantinople, November 11. The Bulgarians have occupied Chorlu. They have placed a requisition on all classes of transport. THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. FAVORABLY RECEIVED. PRESS CRITICISM. Received 12, 1 a.m. Sofia, November 11. Mr. Asquith's speech has been warmly welcomed. Paris, November 11. The Paris Temps, in welcoming Mr. Asquith's speech, says that it is a sincere and realistic measure, and it hopes that his wise and courteous words will be understood, especially in Vienna. They ought to be placarded in every capital. London, November 11. The Times describes Mr. Asquith's speech as admirable. It considers that Servia's aspirations are assured of a not unfriendly reception, inasmuch as the composure in responsible circles in Vienna and Buda-Pesth has not yet been

seriously disturbed. The feeling in Sofia towards mediation shows that diplomacy, deftly exercised, may still find a suitable field for conciliatory advice. The Daily News says that a new Europe has arisen, and that Austrian and Servian statesmen must think themselves into that new Europe. The Chronicle says that if, when the iime comes to settle post war problems m Europe, diplomacy is unable to overcome the Servian difficult, it deserves the world's contempt. THE FALL OF SALONIKA. SERVIANS COMBINE WITH'GREEKS. ™ c , . g ra de, November 10. the Servians entered Salonika with the Greeks. The Servian casualties at e P were 2000 and the Turkish 6000. THE CHATALJA LINES. BULGARIANS FORCING POSITIONS. Vienna, November 10. i lie most vulnerable part of the Ohatalja system is the northernmost, inasmuch as the forts there are lower and more widely apart. The northernmost is four miles from the sea, leaving an expanse of sand which, it is possible, can be traversed by the third Bulgarian arni y? which is closing in. The Reichspost says that the attack on Oiiatalja is being energetically prosecuted. The Bulgarians are engaged in iorcmg the main positions, consisting of several lines, one behind the other. °the Turks fighting unevenly. THE SERVIANS' CAMPAIGN. SOME HEAVY WORK. MONASTIR REPORTED TO HIVE FALLEN: Belgrade, November 10. A semi-official statement issued indignantly denies the German allegation that the Servians massacred the Albanians. It declares that the foreign correspondents are able to testify to the humane treatment of the Turkish and Albanian patients in the hospitals. After the fall of Uskub the Turks were driven from Kuprili towards Tetovo and Gostivar, where they made a determined 3tand with twenty battalions and artillery for the defence of Dibra, the north-west ward of Gostivar. Finally the Servians drove the enemy in headlong flight, capturing thfe guns. The struggle at Prilep resembled the fight at Kumanovo. Although Hie Servians were more numerous, their taskwas difficult, the narrowness of their advancing lines handicapping them terribly. The Turks were entrenched in an almost unassailable mountain pass. The Servians were unable to deploy, and brought only one battery into action. The Turks were protected from the Servians by a terrible shrapnel fire, and fought bravely and stubbornly until di iven out at the point of the bayonet. The Servians have captured Dibra. It is reported that Monastir has, surrendered. Bad roads impede the advance on Durazzo. THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE. 36 HOURS' VIOLENT BATTLE. Constantinople, November 10. The Vali of Adrianople reports a 36 hours' violent battle, ending on Friday in a victory, which he claims is destined to be regarded as one of the most brilliant feats in Ottoman history. The Bulgarians retreated in disorder before the bayonet charges of the Turks. Quantities of rifles and ammunition were captured. The Turks are landing troops as fast as possible at Tidia to reinforce Shefket Pasha. fugitive Turkish troops massacred many of the inhabitants of Siliveri, which was almost completely burned. The Sheik U1 Islam is sending to Hademken one hundred eloquent and influential [Jlemas to raise the army's spirits and excite warlike ardour. Vienna, November 10. The Reichspost states that informal pourparlers to surrender Constantinople have begun. There are thousands of eases of typhus at Adrianople. ' FIGHTING AT CHORLU. RIVER DAMMED WITH BODIES. Berlin, November 10. Details of the fighting at Chorlu state that corpses and war material still dam the river, the water of which is red with blood. Bitter fighting took* place at close quarters in the forest northward of Chorlu. The animosity was such that the men threw away their weapons and. sprang at one another's throats. The artillery decimated the Turks who were fleeing from Stranja to Kapakalibunar. Sofia, November 10. It is reported that the Bulgarians have captured ICavola. The Turks were unable to escape, and surrendered. The Bulgarians also captured Gumurjina. MUTINOUS TURKS. APPEASED B\ UNTRUE STORIES. Athens, November 10. Seventy-five of the ercw of the Fetliibulend have perished. The crew despatched in the vessel Fuad mutinied and shot the captain. Many were in turn shot by the officers. The garrison at Salonika., when asked to reinforce the outposts, mutinied, and were only appeased by stories of Turkish triumphs. The arrival of British and French warships allayed a panic among the Mussulman population. RED CROSS FUNDS. London, November 10. The King has subscribed £IOO to the Balkan Red Cross funds. Bombay, November 10. The Moslems here are subscribing thousands daily to the Red Crescent funds, and have already remitted to Constantinople.

THE POWERS AND THE BALKANS. GETTING READY FOR EMERGENCIES. Paris, November 10. Some newspapers state that the Government urged Austria to refrain from precipitate action towards Servia, promising her that the Triple Entente would duly consider her claims regarding Albania once the war was ended. Berlin, November 10. A communication to the press states that the Triple Alliance is unanimous in desiring not to interfere with developments in the East so long as it is not requested to do so by the parties immediately concerned, and so long as its own special and direct interest are not affected. The Triple Alliance is in constant and cordial touch with the other Powers, London, November 10. Newspapers state that the Germans are enquiring at Cardiff with the view of placing an unlimited coal order for immediate delivery in the Mediterranean. The steamers must be offered for one, two or three months, at the charterer's option. Belgrade, November 10. Pasics, in an interview, said that Servia must have a port in the Adriatic. She had been offered an outlet in the Aegean Sea, but that would offend the allies if accepted. Malta, November 10. The warships Hibernia, Commonwealth, Dominion, . Black Prince and Cumberland luve sailed eastward. Washington, November 10. 'Mr. James Bryce, British Ambassador, conferred with President Taft on the Turkish question. London, November 10. The American revenue cutter Analga, now,, at Port Said, has been ordered to proceed to Beirut and Smyrna to protect Americans and await the arrival of the cruisers Montana and Tennessee. New York, November 10, The stock market is seriously unsettled by the war news. European banks are curtailing private discounts. The leading share issues fell several noints. Sofia, November 10. Many Bulgarians were wounded in assaulting Kartaltepe and Papaztepe. It is reported that the Turks are withdrawing to the smaller inner forts. They left nearly one thousand dead behind. A committee of the heads of Government departments and former Bulgarian consuls to Turkey has prepared a scheme to administer the conquered districts. Vienna, November 10. The Albanian leader, Ismail Kemal, in an interview, said that the Albanians demand independence. The Malissori are fighting, not for Montenegro, but for independence. He added that Albania desired the assistance of Austria and Italy in its social and economic development. Canea (Crete), November 10. Te Deums were sung in the cathedral at the fall of Salonika. There is great popular rejoicings. Vienna, November 10. The Bulgarians are taking special precautions against the Bashi-Bazouk bands raiding the Adrianople district. Cettinje, November 10. France has instructed her Consul,, with all the French citizens, to quit Scutari. . BULGARIA AND HER KING. The London Daily News recently made the following editorial comment on the condition of Bulgaria:—Yesterday Bulgaria began the celebrations which are to mark the 25t.h anniversary of King Ferdinand's formal entry upon the task of governing what was then the Principality. The country has every reason to be grateful to the shrewd Coburg prince whom she then invited to fill what was certainly a difficult and possibly a dangerous post. It was said twenty years after the establishment of Bulgarian independence that crossing the frontier from Turkey was like advancing not twenty but two hundred years in civilisation. There has been no falling back since. The progress of Bulgaria has not been one-sided. Material prosperity has been combined with intellectual enlightenment and political development with military prowess to an extent which no other State in the Balkans has equalled, and in spite oE difficulties greater than any other, except Servia, has had to face. In her case the friendship of Russia was more deadly tlian its enmity. But she was not afraid to face either, and, thanks to the lion-hearted Stamboloff and the diplomacy of Ferdinand, she defeated the designs of her great patron under her freedom. Bulgaria has shown herself something more than brave. To have done so without permanently alienating her is a more remarkable tribute to her prudence. In respect to Turkey her selfcontrol is not less conspicuous. The closest relations exist between 'her people and the Bulgarian-speaking peasants across the frontier in Macedonia, and they are constantly augmented by the stream of refugees escaping from Turkish persecution. Yet in spite of the massacre of 1903, and of the opportunity which the Turkish revolution of 1908 seemed to offer, the Bulgarian Government has always been able to hold in check the. demand for what would certainly be a very popular war. Meanwhile Bulgaria goes steadily on at the task of building up her credit. Undoubtedly the combination of a national character at once courageous and enduring with the qualities of statescraft exhibited by King Ferdinand has been a fortunate one, which will one of these days count for a great deal in the Balkans. THE TURKISH NAVY. The Turkish navy is superior in numbers to that of the Greeks, but there is no battleship of the same standard as the Giorgio Averoff, although two-super-Dreadnoughts are in course of construction. There are nine old battleships of from 4GOO to 10,000 tons displacement, the fastest of which has a speed of 17.5 knots. In addition there are five smaller battleships of great age and doubtful fighting value, four small but useful protected cruisers, five torpedo gunboats, ten destroyers and twelve torpedo boats. Sir Douglas Gamble acted as adviser to the Turkish Government, and a number of British officers have assisted in the training of the navy.