THE BALKAN TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 198, 10 January 1913, Page 3

THE BALKAN TROUBLE.

TURKS DEMORALISED. xa::im v\<v>.\ seeks phage. THE TCILATALDJA LINES. "Beaten, demoralised, without hope of reorganisation in time to make an elective stand again*!, the enemy, the Turks have recognised the futility of further resistance," wrote Mr. M. H. Donokoe, correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle, on November 12. The message was despatched, by wireless from a steamer in the Black Sea. "Xazim Pasha has informed the Grand Vizier that the Turkish Army is 'both unable and unwilling to fight, and suggests that the only course left is to make the best possible tonus with the Allies by direct negotiations opened with the Bulgarians. Some Turkish advisers in the capital are anxious to continue the defence of Tehataldja. That would certainly result in disaster.

"As a basis of the proposals for an armistice. Turkey is ready to abandon Tehataldja, provided the Bulgarians undertake not to enter the capital. The Porte is prepared to make heavy sacrifices to avert this crowning humiliation, and if King Ferdinand is not too exigent peace is in sight." THE TURKISH DEBACLE. A SIDELIGHT OX ITS CAUSES. A WOMAN'S IMPRESSIONS. 'T am no authority on things military, but in spite of its great reputation. 1 am, I be'iieve, one of the few people who had no great faith in the Turkish army," writes Miss M. E. Durham, the only woman war correspondent, last month. "Last year's experience during the Albanian insurrection taught me much. Few people in Europe probably realise 'how near to war we were upon the frontier here at Podgoritza. The insurgent Malissori numbered under 2000. They used Montenegro as their base. The Turks poured in troops—battalion after battalion. Their object was to 'round the Malissori up'—cut them from their base. This they failed entirely to do. Had not Tourgond Pasha occupied Detehich by treachery during an armistice I doubt if he would have penetrated the mountains at all. "Time after time the Turks made' | truces and offered terms. Time after : time they were refused, and we expected an attack on Montenegro. The whole Montenegrin frontier was lined with troops .and all were rcadv. Tourgond Pasha boasted that in twenty-four hours he would be in Cettinje. Through the broiling July days we expected war. It did not come. Why ? I asked myself. I could find but one reply: They were afraid. Scutari was unfortified, and, they knew that all the tribesmen of Albania were against them. When pressure from certain of the Powers concluded the insurrection the terms demanded and obtained by the five insurgent tribes were such that for them it was a moral victory. Perhaps for the only time in the history of this land insurgents were allowed to return bearing their weapons with them, having dictated their own terms, ft was amazing. It could have but one meaning—Turkey was afraid. A handful of tribesmen, supported by Montenegro, the smallest country in Europe, has cowed the great Ottoman Empire.

"T returned with the insurgents and spent all the winter in Scutari. Tim Italians were the first to profit by Albania's teaching . I cannot describe the enthusiasm with which the tribesmen hailed the Tripoli campaign. I learn first that Italy had deelarrd Avar when [ was out on the plains west of Scuiari, with Mr. Xevmson, dealing out quinine to the fever-strieken peasants. A Turkish officer, in despair, rushed up to lis, dpi hiring in German, "We are lost! Tripoli is lost! All is lost!!" The Turkish army was running about in confusion, dreading :mi Ita'iian landing. 'They ara afraid—they are afraid.' I said to myself. All through the winter the Turks worked feverishly. Not at the roads they promised to make—but at the fortifications."

SERVIA'S VICTORIES. MEN AND HUNS. THE PLANS OF THE ALLIES. "Since the day of the declaration of v/ar I have followed the line of the Servian advance n.s far as to TJskub." wrote :i correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle hist month, "and though the war correspondents were not permitted to see any fishing. T have been in close touch with the main Servian army to note its invincible temper, and to weigh up. I believe correctly, the factors which have contributed to its success., "The first thin" which has struck me is the amazing rapid manner in which the army carried out its main task—the advance to and the taking of TTsknb. When T left P-clgrade for the south the most enthusiastic Servians in the capital anticipated the fa'il of Skoplje, as thev call I'skuli. in eight weeks. The achievement took exactly eight days! This marvellous feat is (he result of two tilings—perfect organisation and the determined spirit of the men. "It should he remembered that the Servian army of to-day is a machine which has practically been created in about five years. Tt owes but little to foreign instructors, though the bulk of ils officers have received courses of training in France and Russia. The Fi ncli military influence is fairly c ' >ng. but it is not too much to say llial the Servim army is 'entirely a Servian product, reared and trained specially for the task it has now achieved. Tfs genius is f!ener:i'i Pntnik, who has had the satisfaction of seeing, while .still in active service, the triumphant result o f his genius unremittingly applied. ITe is the organisor of and the leader to victory.

"Opposed to tlio Servians was an army armed with German weapons, led by officers trained in Herman ideals of strategy and tactics. The Servians were armed willi "French rides, and used French artillery and French powder. The numbers of men and aims on both sides is {riven at so many different totals that it is dangerous to set forth anv figures as being reliable, but T believe it to be true that the Turkish artillery was, at the baiile of "Kumanova. superior in numbers to the Pervian. The resu'.t. therefore, Is certain to cause searchings of heart and surprise in Germany. The Turkish artillery. T have been told by many officers present at the battle, was hopelessly outclassed from the start, and the superiority of the Creusot weapons and powder conclusively demonstrate?, '•True, the Turks did not manage tfielr. gi;ns at all as they should have d<MM" but even making allowance foe 35atl working, the decisive victory is quite sufficient to make Germans ponder and Frenchmen rejoice. Tn fact, a number of Germans to whom T have spoken here are extremely uneasy at the failure, from one end of the Turkish to the other, of an army 'made in Germany.' ond made by such a brilliant so'dier as Marshal von der Goltz. "The Turk, self-confident, has simply gone down before nations which, driven forward hy memories of centuries of wrong, have risen in their wrath against, hini. nations which have, with Spartan sternnessj prepared themselves for the

task. Scrvia regards her work in the present war as at an end. Hut the addition of, roughly. (he regions of old Scrvia to King IV!,<t's domains does not exhaust the ambitions of the Serb. He lias his eye on V.„*--vv mid Herzegovina, and it is i. i e:;a;;:r r: i ion to say that lie is determined, fiercely determined, to have them or die.

"The Balkan coalition, in its hold policy, has. indeed, gauged the character of Austrian and Hungarian opinion to a nicety. The alliance is led by the shrewdest of men; they wil'i count the cost and measure the chances. But that they will go forward with their policy I do not doubt for a moment. J have been surprised by the absolute unanimity which prevails in Scrvia on this point, and I am convinced that Austria-Hungary will one day in the near future he offered the choice between war and the handing over of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Servia."