GREEK AND TURK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 303, 19 December 1912, Page 5

GREEK AND TURK.

BATTLE AT JANINA. A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER. • TURKS DRIVEN BACK. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. (By Cable—Press Association.—Copyrights (Received 8 a.m.) ATHENS, December 17. The Greeks attacked the Turkish stronghold at Fort Bizani, commanding the Janina road. A desperate all-day battle followed, the Turkish batteries being eventually silenced. A Greek shell exploded the magazine from which the Turks were drawing their ammunition supplies. The Greek right wing is now advancing on Bizani.. BRITISH OCCUPATION. OP ALBANIAN PORTS SUGGESTED BY SERVIA. (Received S a.m.) VIENNA, December 18. The "Zeit" states that Servia has asked Britain to temporarily occupy Durazzo and Alessio pending a settlement of the Austro-Servian dispute. FRICTION AT SALONIKA. BUIiCrAR AND GREEK. OPEN RUPTURE FEARED. (Received 9.40 a.m.) SALONIKA, December 18. The Greeks attempted to suppress two Bulgarian journals publishing articles embittering Greco-Bulgarian relations. Cretan gendarmes found the offices guarded by Bulgarian sentries. The population became panic-stricken, fearing that a quarrel was imminent. The Bulgarian authorities ultimately withdrew the sentries. "UNSPEAKABLE RUIN." AUSTRIA'S MOBILISATION. AN INDIGNANT PEOPLE. (Received 8 ajn.) VIENNA, December 18. JJ. Gostincar. a Czech delegate, spoke for thirteen hours and a-half stonewalling the new military law. The Press and public are indignant at the delay in the publication of M. Edl'e report on the Prochasta incident. The ''Neve Freie Presse*' says that the Government knew the truth three weeks ago and yet was silent when it was aware that the complaints against Servia were trifling. The Government's failure to tell the truth had brought unspeakable ruin on the country. AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE. ALLIES STAND SOLIDALBANIA'S STATUS AND AREALONDON, December 18. When the Balkan Peace Conference met yesterday, the Turkish delegates stated that pending the receipt of the Porte's instructions they were unable to confer with the Greek delegates. Considerable discussion ensjled. in the course of which the representatives of the allies stated that they were unable to accept the proposal to debar the Greek delegates from the conference, inasmuch as the allies are standing solid. The Turkish delegates have asked the Bulgarian, Montenegrin and Servian representatives to formulate their demands. It is understood that tie Ambassadors at their conference have discussed the future status and area of Albania. NOT FOR AMERICA. OTTERVEWTIOir PROPOSED. (Received 1J.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, December 18. The State Department is against the proposal for American mediation in the Balkans dispute, holding that the complex questions involved can be better settled by the parties closely concerned. SINKING A TURKISH CRUISER. MIDNIGHT TORPEDO ATTACK. GREEK LIEUTENANT'S GRAPHIC STORY. The einking of the Turkish cruiser Fcth-i-Bulend in Salonika Harbour is Uroa, described by Lieutenant Votaie, of the Greek torpedo boat No. 11, and cabled from Athens 'by Renter: — "I left Scana Eleffceroohori at 9 o'clock in. the evening- The forts at Kaivabnrun were flashing their searchlights -without interruption on the stra-ite between Karavefanare and the mouth of the Vardar. but I paused them eafely, making at full speed for Salonika Harbour. "I reached it at twenty minutes past 11, and discovered a Turkieh cruiser at the left extremity of the pier. At the Tight extremity there were some other vessels and a Russian wa-nehip. I manoeuvred cautiously, etill escaping detection. a,nd then steamed straight for the ! middle of the Turkieh warship, i "At twenty-five minutes to 12 I launched a torpedo- from the starboard side at a distance of 150 metres, and then, turning slightly to the left, I dis- , charged another torpedo from the port side. Then I put about and eteamed away at full speed in order to •Dβ at .a cafe dAsfca-nce when the explosion took place. "Again Jtnrntng to <ti»4«Et, I dueib«xg«d

when such an explosion waes beard that we thought that a cannon baa been fired on land. After the first explosion we notice*! on the cruiser lights moving about, and heard whistles being blown. Tbe officers' quarters were lit up by the explosion, which occurred at a spat a little forward of the right funnel We saw dense volumes of smoke pouring out of the funnel, and then the vessel gave a. lurch forward and sank by tbe bowß. , "As we passed in front of K_.rahnr_n I carried out the promise I had previously given emy gunners, and fired a shot from our gun at the fort at a ran<»e of 230 metres." " Lieutenant Votsis, the commander of the torpedo-boat, and Sub-Lieutenant Hadjicos have been promoted for their bravery on that occasion. Lieutenant Votsis will also receive the Gross cuf the Order of the Saviour.