Balkan War

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 168, 3 December 1912, Page 5

Balkan War

THE PROTOCOL. SIGNING POSTPONED, i AN EIGHT DAYS' ARMISTICE. 1 By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. * Berlin, December 1. All Constantinople despatches agree that an armistice will be arranged by Monday, also (hat Bulgaria lias relinquished her claim to Adrianople. The newspapers are giving prominence to the friendliness of British newspapers towards Germany. Received 3, 9.5 p.m. London, December 3. The signing of the protocol has been postponed for forty-eight hours. It provides for an eight days' armistice, and belligerents are required to provision beleaguered towns. The protocol was postponed to enable the Greek delegate to obtain authority to sign it. It provides for 48 hours' notice of the resumption of hostilities in the event of the negotiations breaking down. TURKS OPPOSED TO PEACE. WISER COUNSELS. Received 2, 9.5 p.m. London, December 2. The Telegraph's Constantinople correspondent says that the Turkish army is bitterly opposed to peace, except the senior officers, who recognise the futility of continuing the war. A HUGE INDEMNITY. Received 3, 12.15 a.m. London, December 2. The Daily Mail's Sofia correspondent says that the Allies intend to demand an indemnity of ,£48,000,000, besides the surrender of all territory except Constantinople and the Dardanelles coast. THE CONFERENCE OF THE POWERS. THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE. St. Petersburg, December 1. The Government endorses the proposed conference of the Powers. Berlin, December 1. The Cologne Gazette's Constantinople correspondent states that.the Turks expected the Triple Alliance to pull its nuts out of the fire, receiving in return great economic advantages from the Turkish Alliance, and the lease of one of the Aegean Isles. Received 3, 12.15 a.m. Paris, December 2. The Triple Alliance has agreed to the principle of the conference, but says that it should meet in a neutral capital. This necessitates the appointment of speciSi plenipotentiaries, instead of utilising the Ambassadors at a major capital, which was a feature of the proposal. The Vienna Press considers that the climax of the crisis has passed. The Neue Freie Presse says that the Turkish peace delegates rejected the Allies' demands for a cession of the Albanian coast from Montenegro to iJurazzo. Inspired journals assert that Austria does not object to Servia using an Adriatic nort under Albanian sovereignty. THE MONTENEGRIN OPERATIONS. Received 12.15 a.m. Cettinje, December 2. King Nicholas is personally directing the Montenegrins. General Vukovitch has been appointed Chief of Staff. This is interpreted to mean that hitherto the Montenegrin forces lacked organisation. Their operations are not what they might have been. The Servians state that the Montenegrins rejected an offer of assistance at Scutari. Information from various sources coniirms the rumors that there were severe Servian rearguard reprisals on the march to the Adriatic, THE KURDISH WOMEN. Received 2, 9.5 p.m. London, December 3. Kurdish women are aiding their husbands in the trenches. ADRIANOPLE'S SUPPLIES. x Received 2,, 9.5 p.m. London, December 2. The provisioning of Adrianople raises the query: Who is to do it? The surrounding country has been practically devastated, and the supplies can only come from Constantinople. This will necessitate the Bulgarians conceding the use of the railways. VIOLATING THE WHITE FLAG. MASSACRE OF MOSLEMS. Received 2, 9.5 p.m. London, December 2. One hundred ami thirty Bulgarians captured Dedeagatch. A shot from a mosque flying the white flag killed a Bulgarian leader, and a massacre ensued. The mosque was demolished by bombs. The Turkish quarter was pillaged, and 500 Moslems shot on sight. The Bulgarians only lost four throughout the advance from Neurokop. SERVIA'S POSITION. Received 2, 11.30 p.m. Belgrade, December 2. The Press Bureau lias issued a communique, stating that it is the opinion in authoritative circles that, owing to the attitude of the Powers on the Albanian question. Servia's standpoint is 110 longer opportune, and her interests would be better served by yielding. Her von Bethmann-llartwig, interviewed, said that Russia always counselled Servian moderation, and greatly desired peace to.be maintained. Athens. December 2. A remarkable! scene occurred at Durazzo when news that the Servians were outside the town was received. The shops were closed and the streets deserted. The populace (locked in for mile-, and met and cheered the army. THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE. BULGARIANS' ENTERPRISE. London, December 1. I Mr. Bennett Burleigh wires that the Bulgarians nightly creep closer to Adriai nople, making ride pits and long lines i of entrenchments, protected by wire en- ; tanglemeuts. Then under skilful lead--3 ership the emplacements of guns and bat- - teries are moved forward. 1 2 FRICTION BETWEEN* THE ALLIES. KTNG FERDINAND'S UNLIMITED o AMBITIONS. London, December 2. The Central News declares that there is friction between Bulgaria and the c other allies owing to King Ferdinand's unlimited ambition and desire to dominate the Balkans. Greek circles assert that King Ferdinand brought about the peace negotian tions with a view to self-aggrandise-2. ment. The Bulgarians made forced marches

ill an effort to reach Salonika first, when the exigencies of the situation really demanded their concentration at Chataldaja. POSITION IN ALBANIA. Belgrade, December 1. Albanian bands in the Bibra and Lyuma districts have surrendered and taken the oath of allegiance to Servia. Ivemal Pasha advised Albanians not to oppose the Albanian advance, trust- ( ing to the Powers to recognise and protect their neutrality. INVESTMENT OF SCUTARI. GREAT DISTRESS. Cettinje; December 1. Thirty-two thousand Montenegrins are now investing Scutari. Turkish deserters give accounts of great distress at Tarabosch, near Scutari. TURKISH ATROCITIES. ACTIVITY OF THE GREEKS. Athens, December 1. It is semi-offieially stated that the Turks, after retiring from Fiorina, bombarded and burned several villages and massacred 180 G-reeks. The Turkish forts fired at, but did not hit, the Greek torpedo boat Doxa, cruising at the entrance to the Dardanelles. Greek transports landed Bulgarians at Dedagtch. A GOOD OMEN. Constantinople, December 1. A liner that was being held in readiness to remove English residents, in case of a disturbance, has now been dispensed with.' NEGLECTED TURKISH SOLDIERS. COURAGE OF NAVAL OFFICERS. Constantinople, December 1. Although the streets of the city of Pera and Scutari (Asia Minor) are thronged by the lame and disabled remnants of the Turkish army, no organised efforts are bring made by officials to relieve their sufferings. The indifference displayed is as remarkable as the thorough disorganisation. It is estimated that 200.000 men have become ineffective (is soldiers since the beginning of the war, while 50,000 have been lost in battle or by cholera. After the Hamidieh had a hole driven in her by a torpedo, the officers gave fine examples of courage and daring. They took the vessel across the open sea to the Golden Horn, and arrived with the decks only eighteen inches above water. She practically sank at the entrance of the dock. ■ The officers took this course rather than hug the coast, fearing that the crew would mutiny and insist ou beaching the vessel. I