Adrianople

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 215, 1 April 1913, Page 5

Adrianople

Story of the Fall THE CAPTURE OF THE POETS A SERVIAN ACCOUNT. * HEROIC ATTACK AND RESISTANCE. BOMB-THROWERS AT 170RK. !By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received'3l, 10.15 p.m. Belgrade, March 31. Servian soldiers state that the sufferings of the besicgera were worst in -January anU February, when there were six feet of snow, and many were frostbitten. They stormed the first entrenchments and captured eight hundred prisoners. Three thousand Turks surrendered; but the besiegers were unable to advance owing to the concentrated Are from "three forts. They remained entrenched "until night, when three attempts were made to storm Papastepe by scaling the -walls under fire. Twenty-four Turkish machine guns at Papastepe were captured on Wednesday morning. Early on Tuesday, the Danubian division, when within 500 yards of the Turkish lines, were discovered. A terrible fnsfllade from machine guns forced the Servians to entrench under fire, one battalion losing '3O per cent, of its utrength, though the Turkish fire wa3 lacking in precision. The Datiubians at II o'clock at night renewed the attack", though the Bulgarians at first refused, owing to their terrible losses. Servian bomb-throwers,; with their officers ten paces in advance of the companies, crept "forward, catlike. The' Turks discovered them too late, and the bomb-throwers rushed the trenches. The Turks -were reinforced, and expelled the Bulgarians, who had lost all their officers and were commanded by non-commi3sioncd officers. The Bulgarian retirement exposed the Servians, who retreated to the Maritza •river, but were unable to escape owing to the bridge being broken. Meanwhile the Timok division was in a serious plight at Fort Tepelar. When 500 yards distant, mines exploded, killing hundreds. A regiment of Bulgarians retreated, leaving the Servians alone and in great danger. The Turks brought eight machine guns 'within fifty yards, and thrice counter-attacked, until forced on Wednesday to fire their stores of ammunition and abandon Fort Tepelar. ORDER RE-ESTABLISHED. THE TURKISH LOSSES. Received 31, 11.30 p.m. Adrianople, if arch 31. General IvanolT has re-established order. The Turkish losses are estimated at 10,000 men TURKS COULD HAVE HELD OUT. FOR ANOTHER TWENTY'DAYS. Received 31, 11.30 p.m. Sofia, March 31. Chukri Pasha states be could have held out for a further twenty days on reduced rations. ADRIANOPLE'S PROFIT AND LOSS. 60,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. BULGARIANS LOSE 11,000 MEN. . Sbfia, March 30. The headquarters estimate of the Bulgarian loss is 11,000 killed and wounded at Adrianople on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Servians lost 1200. Sixty thousand prisoners •were taken, including thirteen generals, and 820 other officers. Sixty-five guns were captured. Chukri Pasha and the seven generals ■with him showed deep emotion during their reception by the commandant at Sofia. The commandant praised their ■ bravery, and conducted them to where they will reside during their captivity. Belgrade, March 30. It is officially stated that Shukvi Pasha and 172 officers were in the Hadurluk Fort when the Servians captured it, but they were unmolested all day in order that they might formally surrender to General Ivanoff.