THE BALKAN WAR

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 18 November 1912, Page 5

THE BALKAN WAR

CABLE NEWS

(United Frets Amciaticmr—B§ Bla* trie Tdi9ragK--CoWTi§ht.)

CAPTURE OF SALONIKA

A GRUESOME PICTURE.

■ (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) I LONDON, November 16. A correspondent of The Timcs / who witnessed the assault upon Salonika by the Greeks, gives a vivid description of the demoralisation of the Turks. He states that the infantry fired at random, and the Krupp shells often failed to burst. The Redifs threw away their rifles, after pleading for days for food and ammunition. They said that "When the officers ran, wo ran," In many instances, .entire divisions of Redifs bolted from tho battlefield. The correspondent saw 10,000 massed in the-second line of defence at the river Gallicea, near Salonika The infantry, cavalry and artillery were jumbled together, without bread or water, and exposed to a biting wind. A similar state of affairs existed at headquarters. Fifteen thousand defenders of Salonika were entrenched on an exposed eastern bank of tho river Vardor. They were unfit for fight, and, in a spiritless condition, were deserting the ranks in droves. Officers, brandishing revolvers ano whips, were .unable to koep them in the ranks. The Turks mined a bridge over the Kara Azmark river with dynamite, but in the confusion the Commandant forgot to press the button. The Greeks, without bloodshed, captured a vital strategic point. During the retreat, thousand of weeping and homeless fugitives mingled with the soldiery.

A SENSATIONAL REPORT. TWO BULGARIAN REGIMENTS DECIMATED. THE GENERAL, DEGRADED, SHOOTS HIMSELF. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) VIENNA, November 16. The .newspaper Zeit says it is whispered, with bitter comments, in Sofia, that the first and sixth infantry regiments, th : 3 former including many lawyers, artists and leading merchants, hare been decimated. It is alleged that the General forgot to cover their charge by artillery, or .vent th~m in wrong directions. The whispers state that the thundering GcnercJ addressed the remnant?, of'the two regiments aft<v tho. charge, praising them for their hero-

King Ferdinand, who was present, nodded his assent, and then said: "A word with-you. General." Before them all. the King stripped off tho General's epaulettes. Tho General remained at attention for a moment, and then, saluting, stepped back and shot himself.

TURKS EXCELLED BY SERVIAN'S FLOODS HAMPER OPERATIONS. (Received Last Night, 5.0 o'clock ) BELGRADE, November Hi. Tho Servians expelled the Turk* from a position four miles from Monastic Their operations are hampered by floods.

ATTITUDE OF MONTENEGRO. " WILL NOT CONSENT TO ARMISTICE. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) PARTS, November U>. It is semi-official!}' stated tint Montenegro will not consent 10 an armistice unless Scutari unconditionally surrenders.

CAPTURE OF GUNS. . (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) SOFIA 5 November IK. The Bulgarians captured eighty Krupp machine guns at Chatadeja. which were still unpacked, having recently arrived from Constanja.

MANSION HOUSE' FUND. FOR RELIEF OF NONCOMBATANTS. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) LONDON, November 16. A Mansion House Fund has been opened for tho relief of non-combat-ant sufferers by the war.

SERVIAN SUCCESSES. ADVANCE ON MONASTTR. (Received This Morning, 12.15 o'clock.) BELGRADE, November 17. The Servians have captured all the positions commanding Mona-stir. MAGAZINE EXPLOSION. NINETY-FIVE KILLED. (Received This Morning, 12.15 o'clock.) ATHENS, November 17. A Turkish magazine exploded near Salonika. Ninety-five were killed including fifteen Greek cavalrymen.

YOUNG TURKS ARRESTED. A WIDESPREAD PLOT. (Received This Morning, 12.15 o'clock.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 17. A number of leading Young Turks

including the editor of the Tanin, Djela Boy, ex-Minister of the Interior (in connection with a plot to over, throw the Government) and many officers at the front. Have been arrested for fomenting propaganda to re-' store Abdulla Hamid as'SuKan.

THE STOCK EXCHANGE. LONDON. November 17. The Stock Exchange is firmer, and consols are quoted at 75i. FOUR DAYS' MURDEROUS FIGHTING. BULGARS DETERMINED TO EN- ■ TElt CONSTANTINOPLE. (Received November 16, 8.19 a.m.'' SOFIA, November If?. The Turks at Chataldeja attacked tho Bulgarian centre on Tuesday last, but were repulsed with great 10-ss. Four hundred and fifty Bulgarian guns will shortly he brought to hear on the Turkish positions. VIENNA, November 15. The Beichspost published a message stating that on Thursday last, after four days' murderous fighting, the Bulgarians penetrated the centre of the Ohataldeja lines, completely rolling up tho Turks' defence. The Bulgarian advance is being continued with the greatest* energy, with a view to. forcing the Turkish troops away from Constantinople.