THE BALKAN WAR

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 8 November 1912, Page 5

THE BALKAN WAR

CABLE NEWS

(Z7ai&«2 Prm Association—Bii }EUctrie Telegraph—Copyright.)

TURKISH DISCIPLINE ABOMINABLE. FIFTY OFFICERS SHOT FOR COWARDICE. APPALLING STATE OF AFFAIRS. (Received Last Night, 9.10 o'clock.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 7. Nazim Pasha, in his report to the Minister of War, describes the condition of tho army as desperate. He says the discipline of tho men is abominable. Fifty officers were condemned and shot for various offences. Nazim Pasha admits that ho personally shot three for cowardice. Many of the positions were abandoned without the slightest resistance, and the artillery and stores left to the enemy. Many officers refused to go to the front, and are in hiding. The Minister for War has issued an order threatening death to the skulkers. It is reported that 25,000 Kurds from Asia-Minor are ..marching on Constantinople, There is appalling misery in many provinces, and thousands of families are flying to the towns. The mosques, schools and churchesare crowded with refugees. Many children succumbed to the bitter weather, and lay down by the wayside to die. Some were driven insane by privation. ROUND ADRJANOPLE. . HARMLESS TURKISH FIRE. SORRY PLIGHT OF WOUNDED. (Received Last Night, 9.30 o'clock.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov 7. Mustapha Pasha, in command of tho Turkish forts around Adrianople, fires a cannonade at intervals, otherwise to the watchers outside, Adrianople might be a deserted city. From the mosque's minarets tho Turks direct gunfire, endeavouring to locate the Bulgarian encampments, hidden in tho hills, but the shells fall harmlessly. Tho Bulgarians are strictly reserving their fire until the hour appointed for a general assault. Many wounded have been lying on the plains since the last combat at Marasch, whom nobody can succour, as the Bulgarian Red Cross staff is fired at every time an attempt at rescue is made. One well-known Sofia doctor was killed while assisting the wounded Turks. Many skirmishes have taken place along the battle front. Rain has converted the surrounding country into a quagmire. The Turks murdered Colonel Von Iveit, a. German, during the retreat from Kirk Kilisseh.

MASSACRE AND PILLAGE. IN TURKISH TOWNS. AUTHORITIES UNNERVED. (Received Last Night, 10.10 o'clock.) LONDON, November 7. The Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent states that bands of famished Nizzarai, from Lule Burgas, converted Rodosto into a scene of massacre, outrage and pillage. Tho town was fired at seven different points, and children wero thrown into the flames.. The happenings at Rodosto are unnerving the authorities at Constantinople, where the .arrival of foreign! warships has increased tho Moslem! exasperation. ; Numerous murders of Greeks aud : Jews have taken place. - • ' : Thirty-six Greeks, while engaged in unloading'a steamer, were ■killed.- ' The- authorities are striving to repress disorders. ' -.■ Many European women and children are embarking on steamers, and English residents are stocking their' houses to withstand a siege. Twenty warships of various Powers are hastening to the Bosphorus.

LOSSES AT CHORLU. HEAVIER THAN AT LULE BURGAS'. (Received Last Night, 10.10 o'clock.) SOFIA, November 7. Reports state that tho actions at Serai and Chorlu were more severe, and the losses on both aides were heavier than at the Battle of Lule Burgas.

RETREAT ON SALONIKA. A GENERAL'S SUICIDE. (Received Last Night, 11.35 o'clock.) ATHENS, November 7. The Turks are retreating on Salonika, destroying bridges on the way. Turkish troops at Salonika number 10,000, exclusive of the remnants of the Yenidge army. Tho number of refugees there is estimated at 150,000. Tt is reported that jfeneral Vali committed suicide in consequence of a divergence of views with the civil and military authorities in regard, to his surrender. During the confusion over the sinking of the Fethibuland, tho Turks fired on a Turkish schooner, killing several.

A DOUBTFUL BATTLE

VERDTCT TX THE BALAXCE FOR TTOTTRS. CEocoivrd Last Night, 11.35 o'clock.) SOFIA', NovomW 7. For hours tlie rcrdict at' Sorai and

Cliorlu hung in tho balance with tlie fortunes of both sides continually wavering. The position of the Bulgarians was for a timo hazardous.

TURKS WITHDRAW FROM SALONIKA. (Received This Morning, 12.5 o'clock.) ATHENS, November 7. It is officially reported that tho Turkish army has withdrawn from Salonika. AUSTRIA'S ATTITUDE. SPEECH BY THE EMPEROR, (Received This Morning, 12.5 o'clock.) BUDAPESTH, November 7. Tho Emperor Francis Josef, addressing the delegations, said that at a fitting moment tho Government would bo ready to act with the Powers for tho restoration of peace. Tho Foreign Affairs Committee is discussing the .situation, and the various speakers suggested the possibility of an international arrangement, to permit of the common use of the Balkan railways and harbours, to meet the commercial needs of the various hinterlands. AUSTRIAN INFLUENCE URGED. IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE. (Received This Morning, 12.5 o'cloo.:.) VIENNA, November 7. The Hiltni Pasha i,s urging Austria to influence the Powers for peace. In an interview he said that the situation in Turkey was hopeless, owing to tho unpreparedness of Turkey, when entering the war. Tho mobilisation had been badly carried out, and hampeord by the Tripolitan war. -The newspaper Tageblatt interviewed King Nicholas of Montenegro, who declared that tho Allies couldsettle their affairs alone, but their victories would not make them forget to accommodate their wishes to the general European, situation.

SERVIAN SUCCESS

(Received Last Night, 11.35 o'clock.) BELGRADE, November 7. Tho Servians (captured Krushevo after a slight resistance. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY DO. CROSS THE BOSPHORUS. "LAST CARTRIDGE AND LAST MAN." (Received November v, 11 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, XbY. 6. The headquarters of Nazini Pasha, Turkish Commander-in-Chief, arc at Hademkiny, inside the centre of the Chataldejti lines. If Constantinople is occupied it is expected that the Government will cross tho Bosphonis, and disclaim all responsibility regarding (-ho situation, and thus avoid signing a treaty at Stamhoul. The newspaper Renin (formerly the Tanin) says that, if beaten, Turkey must say good-bye to Europe. It is urgent that she should continue fighting to the last cartridge and the last man.

TURKS REVOLT. BULGARIAN/ NIGHT ATTACK. (Received November 7, 8.10 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov 6. " It is reported that the Turkish right wing revolted because of lack of food, but it is hoped that trainloads of bread which have been despatched since Sunday will avert a panic. The Bulgarian night attacks on the Turkish camps are described as marvellous. Aided by powerful searchlights, the Bulgar artillery dropped shells with tho utmost .accuracy*

■ . GREAT FIGHT. \ LASTING FOR' TWO DAYS. (Received November 7, 9.50 a.m.) SOFIA, November 6. After a great two days' fight between Seria and Chorlu, the Turkish rearguard fled. Both sides sustained, heavy losses. CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 6. Thirty-six thousand wounded men have arrived here. GREEK LOSSES. ANOTHER TOWN OCCUPIED. (Received November 7, 10 a.m.) ATHENS, November 6. The Greeks lost 160 killed and 770 rounded at Yenidje. , The Greeks have occupied Tenedos, an island on tho West coast of Asia Minor, five miles north-west of Alexandria Troas. TOWN SURRENDERED. (Received November 7, 9.30 a.m.) SOFIA, November G. The Turks surrendered Prilep after a sharp fight. The losses wero considerable. BULGARIAN CAPTURES. (Received November 7. 2.30 p.m.) SOFIA, November 6. The Bulgarians captured two thousand prisoners and otio hundred guns, including thirty-seven quick-firers at Lule Burgas and Bunar Hissar. GREEK RESERVISTS CALLED OUT. (Received 'November 7, 2.40 p.m.) LONDON, November (>. Greece has called out the 1898 reservists. Tho Turks at Salonika are reported to ho starving and mutinous. Many insubordinates have been shot.