Balkan War

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 153, 15 November 1912, Page 5

Balkan War

THE SERVIAN ADVANCE. MAKING GOOD. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Belgrade, November 13. General Yankovitch is marching 128 miles in inhospitable country to occupy Durazzo, Servia,* believing that the Powers will more readily sanction its acquisition if the army had previously occupied it. THE ATTACK ON CHATALDJA. HAMPERED BY RAIN. Vienna, November 13. The Reichspost states that the principal attack on Chataldja was delayed two days, owing to the heavy rain hampering the arrival of the heavy artillery and Adrianopie reinforcements. Then the fighting began fiercely. A Turkish officer was captured during the sortie at Adrianopie. He states that the Bulgarian artillery fire was so unbearable that the sorties were undertaken to relieve the nervous strain.

THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE. TURKISH SORTIE REPULSED. Sofia, November 13. It is semi-oflicially stated that a desperate sortie was made from Adrianopie on Tuesday. After five hours' severe fighting the Turks were driven back with heavy losses. PEACE PROSPECTS. SERVIA WILLING TO COMPROMISE. Berlin, November 13. The Tageblatt says that an amicable solution is in sight. Servia is willing to consider the possession of an Albanian port connected with Servia by means of a neutral railway through autonomous Albania.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR AN ARMISTICE. Constantinople, November 13. Operations at Cliataldja are at a standstill, partly because negotiations for an armistice are proceeding direct with the Bulgarians. , It is believed that the Porte will negotiate terms of peace. MR. ASQUITH'S SPEECH. THE NEWSPAPERS OPTIMISTIC. London, November 13. The Times says that Mr. Asquith's remarkable speech had a calming effect rarely attained by the words even of a Prime Minister. The newspapers are more optimistic, and believe that the isolated questions arising from the Balkans will be postponed. STOCK EXCHANGE BUOYANT. London, November 13. The Stock Exchange is buoyant owing to the improved Balkan outlook. Continental Bourses are similarly affected Consols are quoted at 74%. THE ADRIANOPLE SORTIE. ROUT OF THE TURKS. AN EYE-WITNESS'S STORY. Received 14, 10.11 p.m. Vienna, November 14. Nehil Bey, commander of the Turkish reserve at the last Adrianople sortie, has been captured. He gives a vivid description of the sortie. Fourteen battalions participating in it lay for hours on a pitch dark night in the wet mud, foodless, excepting for a small allowance of biscuits. The men- were dispirited, and on advancing encountered the Bulgarian outposts in a roadless plain under a raking artillery fire. Some detachments lost touch, frightful cpnfusion following. They did not know whether they were fighting the enemy or their own men. After a two hours' struggle the retreat began, and developed into an inextricable tangle, the Bulgarian batteries inflicting terrible slaughter. Nehil Bey was wounded by a shell splinter. He eulogised the Bulgarians. DEFENCE OF CONSTANTINOPLE HOPELESS. THE RUSSIAN TROOPS. Received 14, 10.11 p.m. St. Petersburg, November 14. I A Constantinople telegram states that the Council of War lias decided that the defence of the capital is hopeless. The Novoe Vremya says that the Russian troops ordinarily disbanded in the middle of November are remaining with the colors until the middle of January.

FOUR FORTS CAPTURED. Received 15, 1.15 a.m. Sofia, November 14. The recent fighting resulted in the capture of four important forts outside Adrianople and Bucharest, THE WAR DIARY. October 1. —Serbo-Bulgarian Note to Turkey, demanding autonomy in Macedonia. King of Greece returns suddenly from holiday to Denmark. October 2.—Troops ordered to mobolise in 'Servia, Bulgaria and Greece. Greek fleet begins to move. October 3, —Turkey detains Greek merchant ships, and orders mobilisation. Montenegrin mobilisation ordered. October 4. —Greece issues ultimatum to Turkey to free captured ships. Purchase of four destroyers in England from Argentine. October 7. —Allies demand autonomy for Macedonia, with her own army, under the protection of Bulgaria. October fl. —Montenegro declares war. Turkish battalions arrive at Tuzi. October 10.—King Nicholas of Montenegro arrives at Podgoritza. October 11. —Roumania declares neutrality. Montenegro begins war at Tuzi. October 14. —Nazim Pasha placed in supreme command of Turkish forces. October 15.—Servian central army commences to advance from Nish. Frontier fighting at Ristovac. Montenegrin victories reported at Detchitch. October 17.—Allies' ultimatum to Turkey. October 18.—Nazim Pasha leaves for Adrianople. October If).—War officially declared upon Turkey by Servia, Bulgaria and Greece. October 21.—Bulgarians capture Mustapha Pasha. Servians advance on Uskub. Greece- invasion begun. October 22.—Bulgarians drive Turks from Maritza. Servian headquarters removed from Nish to Urania. Forces concentrating round Adrianople. October 23.—Reported repulse of Bulgarians at Kirk Kilisse. Greek victory at Elassona. October 25. —Turks routed on Grecian frontier. Novibazar capitulates.

October 20.—Scutari surrounded by Montenegrins. October 28.-r-Servians capture Uskub and Sievitzo. Bulgarians capture Petchevo. Turkish rout at Kirk Kilisse. October 30.—Servians capture Kumanovo and Kuprilli. Novi Bazar clear of Turks. October 31.—Turks routed at Lule Burgas with loss of 20,000 men. Montenegrins take Ipek. November I.—Turks retreat from Tchorlu, 120 miles from Constantinople, to Tchaldja. Noyember 3. —Turks ask Powers to intervene and secure armistice. November 4. —Powers decline intervention without definite terms of peace. November s.—Greeks take Epirus and Yenidge, defeating 25,000 Turks. Servians take up siege of Adrianople from Bulgars. Foreign warships gather at Dardanelles. November 6. —Bulgarian victory between Chorlu and Serai. Heavy .Turkish losses. November 7.—Turks beaten at Chataldja. Rodosto and Visa captured. November B.—Fierce attack on Arianople. November 9.—Salonika falls to Greeks and Servians. November 10.—Powers talk of ingNovember 11.—Allies forcing Turks at all points. November 12. —Servians win at Preilu; 'heavy slaughter on both sides. November 13.—Montenegrins forced back at Salonika. Porte applies for armistice. November 14. —Amicable solution in sight as the result of British Premier's speech.