HEROIC BULGARIANS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 205, 18 January 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

HEROIC BULGARIANS

THE COURAGE OF LIONS. TO CONQUER OR DIE, - London, November 27. \ new army lias arisen in Europe, that of Bulgaria. Both Mr. William Maxwell and Mr. Frederick Palmer, representing the Daily Mail at the front, write in eulogistic terms of the Bulgarian soldier, who has the courage of a lion and a courtesy that never fails. Undismayed by dangers and difficulties, these soldiers' have wrought miracles, and Mr. Maxwell says deliberately that he is in love with them. "In one short month," he writes, '"they have conquered an empire whose strength was its sword. They have marched knee deep in mud through a country that the military authorities of Europe pronounced to be almost impassable even to the best trained troops. They have driven from entrenched positions an army disciplined and equipped on approved German methods.

"They are now thundering and battering at the iron gates of the capital that has held them in thrall for five centuries. If they fail at this supreme moment—and I do not for a moment believe they will fail—this is the end of the Bulgarian race. Not a man will save his life. From commander to private soldier they have sworn a solemn oath either to conquer or to die. As stood the famous Fifth Division at Bunarhissar, opposed three nights and days to the Turkish onslaught, while the army swung eastward on this desperate pivot—so stand the heroes of Bulgaria at this day.

THE MODERN NAPOLEON. "Their leader, General Radke Demetrieff, is a soldier of proved capacity, has the face and figure of Napole«n, and some of the gifts of that great soldier. General Demetrieff is a man to inspire instant confidence, and it was in no spirit of vain boasting that he declared that if he returned to Bulgaria it would be M a Spartan mother demanded of her son—either on his shield or with it. Death or victory is the watchword of both general and army.

"This is not an army, but a nation in battle array. Nothing can withstand it. Nothing can turn it aside. Let Europe understand this and not repeat the mistake of substituting a Treaty of Berlin for that of San Stefano. A new Power has arisen and is armed with a sharp sword that is worn by the whole nation. The lines are drawing closer to the south and north. The supreme of the world. If, as we have found, this will be among the decisive battles of the world. If, as we hace found, they flee before the fierce hurrah, 'Napret na noche' 'Forward the 1 bayonets'—there is an end of Turkey in Europe." AT ADRIANOPLE. Mr. Frederick Palmer stoutly denies . that the Bulgarian troops are exhausted ; and unable to advance on the lines of ' investment around Adrianople. After 1 viewing the siege operations, he wrote: ' "As for the so-called 'exhausted' Bui- : garian troops I found these spirits about as depressed as those of the Japanese at Liaoynng. Tliev have confidence and 1 good health and ample rations, while the 1 flood of the Maritza riVer makes the Turkish positions at Karagatch and in the surrounding lowlands a morass. 1 "I am impressed bv the indefatigability of the Bulgarian infantry, which always ' does everything in military style, in- 1 eluding prodigal drudgery with the spade | as well as courageous night bayonet charges. I could see on every hand I low cleverly the advancing skirmishers had thrown up hasty cover. At our feet ' Papastepe (or Pope's Hill) was seamed ! with infantry trenches and pock-marked with great holes dug by exploding shells. 1 We looked across the River Arda toward the commanding heights of Ivarltaltepe. These two are the keynote positions of a triangle whose apex is Karagatch. They have been the scenes of some of the most stubborn fighting of the war. There have been desperate sorties whose ferocity was no less in keeping with the Turkish character than the lack of skill in rearguard action before falling back on the fortress defences. "The village of Dudzaras, on the east bank of the Arda, has been occupied by Turkish infantry, and is burning in tne midst of continuous rifle fire, while the Bulgarian shrapnel is bursting over it. Nearer lis. on the west band of the Arda. t we could see the embers of the village of Epchili, which the Turks on evacuating had burnt after, it is reported, massacring any resident of cither sex in sight as they fled."