THE PORTE'S REPLY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10712, 16 October 1912, Page 5

THE PORTE'S REPLY

TURKS ATTACKED BY ALBANIANS. MONTENEGRINS SUSTAIN HEAVY LOSSES. TURKISH COMMANDER KILLED.

(Received This iuommg. 12.20 o'clock.) CONSTANTINOPLE, October U5. The Ponte, in its roulv to the Powers, states that past failures to ameliorate the internal situation are fine to criminal outrages emanating from centres of agitation, whose object is ■obvious. The Porte, in past years, has facilitated the carrying out, of many stipulations of the "Berlin Treaty, Tt <hn,s spontaneously decided to submit a draft of the law if 1880 for Parliament's approval. Tt is unjust to infer that the existing con- i stitutional Empire is incapable- of | breaking with the past. Essad Pasha's forces have suffered considerably from Albanian attacks. Two of the rearguard battalions hare been decimated. ,Tt is officially reported in Constvi- j tinople thnt Turkish reinforcements' have reached Gusinje, and have a" 5 - I snmed the offensive. The .Montenegrins liava been driven back, and are now fighting in Montenegrin territory. Thcv have sustained heavy losses. Severe fis'htinp: is proceeding it Ornnnnin. and Sadd Edin Pasha, the Turkish cominandor. has been killed. UNION DECIDED UPON. OOLLTSTOX WITH" TURKS. (Received This Momm-.12.20 o'tilnck.) ATHENS. October in. The Premier «tates lbat the Chamber and Government have accnited the Cretan Assembly's resolution in favour of union with Greece. ,md have formally declared that henceforth there will be one chamber for Greece and Crete together. They did not wish to change the international status, but if it was changed, then tfie fate of Crete must be <le-

cided by force of arms. A collision lias occurred at Epirus I between the Turkish troops and> Greek insurgent bands. ! Several of the latter were killed. GREEKS.IN NEW ZEALAND. ANXIOUS~TO FIGHT. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Mr Frank Dyer, Consul lor Greece, has been interviewed by a number or resident Greeks, who are anxious to be sent home in view "of the war in the Balkans. A communication ha« been made with the Greek ConsulGeneral in Sydney by Mr Dyer in regard to the matter. ACROSS THE SERVIAN FRONTIER. FIGHTLNG COMMENCED. (Reoeived October 15, S.lO a.m.) BELGRADE, October 14. It is officially stated that Turkish troops have crossed the frontier ;»t,' Ristovac and attacked'the Servians. PODGORITZA, October 14. The Montenegrins have occupied \ Visitor Hill and two other positions j commanding Gusinje. They took fjur I machine guns and rifles and ammuni- } tion from the Turks. The Turkish losses have been heavy. The Montenegrin casualties since the outbreak of hostilities total 256' killed .and 800 wounded. A SURPRISE. (Received October 15, 12.'5 p.m.) { BELGRADE. October '-J. \ The. Turks surprised the Servians I at.Ristovac. but the Servians rallied hastily, and repulsed the enemy. Fighting continues, along ten milesr j of frontier. FALL OF A FORT. (Received October 15, 12.15 p.m.) PODGORITZA, October 14. Setadine Bey, commander -of the fort, captured by the Montenegrins at Detohitch, states that the fort was composed only of loose stones. It .had four hundred defenders, of whom a quarter were pan-Turkish. They deserted during the fight. Wh 3 /i the Montenegrins attacked the ~arI rison did not know war had broken . out. It had old artillery and was unI able to reply to the firing at five'j thousand metres. Finally it was I overwhelmed by force of numbers { after a hand to hand struggle. AUSTRIA'S ATTITUDE. (Received October 15, 8.30 a.m.) | LONDON. October 14. | Renter's agent in Vienna states that no action hy either Montenegro | or Sorvia in Novi Bazar*'will induce j j Austria to interfere. The rumours } ' regarding mobilisation of Austrian ] troops in Bosnia are unfounded. Only after the teraiination of hostilities will Austria act. TURKEY'S REPLY TO POWERS' noi;e. j (Received October 15, 8.20 a.m.) ! CONSTANTINOPLE, October 14. The Turkish reply to the Powers' Note lias be,en communicated to the Austrian Ambassador. The reply declares, that Turkey is determined to ' carry out reforms, but cannot tolerate foreign interference. CRETAN'S CHANCE. i (Received October 1.5, 12.38 p.m.) ATHENS, October 14. The Cretan deputies, profiting hy the war, have defied the Powers, and entered the Greek Chamher of Deputies. GREEK MERCHANTMEN. (Received October'ls. 8.10.a.m.) ATHENS, October- 14. . Greece lias demanded the release within twenty-four hours of Greek merchant vessels held up by Turkey in the Dardanelles, and the payment of an indemnity. THE STOCK EXCHANGE. j (Received October 15. 9 a.m.) LONDON, October U. 'j The Stock Exchange and the Oonjtinentnl Bourses are steadier. OonI sols touched £72 10s, and closed at I £72 17s fid.