The Balkan War

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 224, 10 February 1913, Page 5

The Balkan War

HOSTILITIES RESUMED. THE MONTENEGRINS BUSY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received i), 5.5 p.m. Cettinje, February 8. Forty thousand Montenegrins and twenty thousand Servians are attacking Scutari, which twelve thousand Xa/.imas and some irregulars are defending. The Servians have captured Bashti's Hill, southward of Scutari. The Montenegrins are operating at Bardanjol, to the eastward. The Servians have lent the Montenegrins a number of captured quick-firing guns, together with Servian officers. THE TURKS ROUTED. HEAVY CASUALTIES. Received 0, 5.5 p.m. Cettinje, February 8. The Standard's Sofia correspondent reports Turkish casualties and the rout of Kavah with 12,000 men. WAR IX THE AIR. Received 9, 5.5 p.m. Athens. February 8. An aviator named Michaelas Mutusis and a naval officer named Moriatkis. hydroplaned from Ilemnos in 140 minutes. They crossed ami re-crossed the entrance to the Dardanelles twice, circled over Xagara, dropped four bombs into an arsenal, and escaped the shots of the Turkish warships and of the land battery. They descended near Tmbros, the destroyer Velos taking them to Lennios. The siege of adriaxople. Sofia, February 7. Bulgaria refused the request of a consul at Adrianople to avoid bombarding a certain quarter or allow 120 foreigners to pass the lines, on the ground that it would impede operations. THE TURKS REPULSED. Sofia, February 7. The Bulgarians repulsed Turks who were attempting to cross the Karasu, killing many. The bombardment of Adrianople continues. ATTACK IX THE REAR. Constantinople, February 7. A large Turkish force is being collected at Ismid Pandicrmayo, and it is supposed the intention is to land at Rodosto or Nudia. Enver Bey is in command, and will threaten the rear of the Bulgarian forces at Oallipoli and Cliataldja.

A SERVIAN OFFICER'S STORY. DISEASE AMONG THE BUI/IATiS. London. December 20. A Servian cavalry officer, writing to friends from the Albanian littoral, says: "We who had only known the Turks by hearsay had a certain respect for them. At present 1 feel but contempt and disgust. To think that they should have held these lands for live hundred years, and kept tliem absolutely wild and uncultivated! There are neither bridges nor roads, nor decent dwellings to be met in the Sanjak. Of the dirt I cannot trust myself to speak. The 'Ujnmat' (Prefecture) of Prizrend, residence of the Mutessarif. is in such a filthy. condition that I could not sit there for more than five minutes together. All around the sofras (tables) were rags, remnants of food, tufts of dogs' hair, etc., for these ate and slept with their masters. The people are humble, cowed, moving out of doors rarely, and then huddled together like a lienl of cattle. . . . "The peasants run to kiss our hands jind bow down to the ground, but they are too frightened to give a sensible answer to a plain question. They have lived no better than their masters, for themselves and their pigs share the same apartment. If the pigs were let loose, the Turks were sure to kill them, so

tliev were hidden in doors. The first use they made of their liberty we gave tliem was to liunt tlio pig's into the open air, and how the poor beasts enjoyed it! One could not help laughing at their antics as tlioy chased each other, while the children kept tliem from escaping to the woods. The cows and oxen defy description. They are like our calves, only the shape is queer. I saw no vegetables anywhere. The staple diet is maize. From our frontier to the sea it is the same tale of misery, helplessness and dirt. Tn Prizrend. after every rainfall, the people drink muddy water in which none of our soldiers would care to wash. When we boiled it a thick scum came on the top. which we skimmed off. This is the water used hv a town of 40.001) citizens, and really one felt that authorities like the Turks should not be allowed to live any longer."