THE BALM WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 15035, 18 November 1912, Page 6

THE BALM WAR.

FIGHTING BEFORE CHATAUA. OCCUPIED BY THE BULGARIANS. NO HOPE OF A EUROPEAN TURKEY. NAZIBI PASHA ADVISES " PEACE AT ANY PRICE." PSO ATROCITIES BY RETREATING TURKS. PEACE TERMS TO BE FORMULATED

AND TURKEY GIVEN 24 HOURS. PrftW Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. THE BULCARSAN ADVANCE. A GENERAL'S BLUNDER. HIS DEGRADATION AXD SUICIDE. VIENNA, November 16. The ' Zeit' states that it is whispered with bitter comments in Sofia that the fifth and sixth infantry regiments, the former of which included many lawyers, artists, and leading merchants, were decimated owing to the general forgetting to cover their charge by artillery or else sending them in the wrong direction. Whispers stated that the blundering general addressed the remnants of the two regiments after the charge, praising their heroism. King Ferdinand, who was present, nodded his'assent, and then said "A word with you, general," and before them all stripped off the general's epaulettes. The general remained at attention for a mo- ! ment. and. after saluting, stepped back and shot himself. AROUND CHATALJA. 80 KRUPP GUNS CAPTURED. . SOFIA. November 16. The Bulgarians captured 80 Krupp guns at Chatalja. The guns were still unpacked, having only recently arrived from Constantinople. BULGARIAN SPIES' REPORTS. SOFIA, November 17. (Received November 18, at 9.45 a.m.) The swollen nature of the river enabled j two Bulgarian spies to quite Adrianople on a raft. They report that 800 Turks were killed in the last sortie. PURE INVENTIONS. SOFIA, November 17. (Received November 18, at 9 a.m.) The 'Mir' affirms that the reports of pitched battles at Chatalja are pure inventions. There have been merely brushes with the Turkish advanced guard. Official despatches state that the Bulgarians are concentrated in front of the Turkish lines, and have occupied Lazarkeni, Chatalja, and Arnautkeni. THE CREEK ADVANCE. A DEMORALISED ARMY. THE TURKS AT SALONICA. LONDON. November 16. The correspondent of ' The Times,' who witnessed the retreat of the Turks upon Salonica, gives a vivid description of the demoralisation of the army. The infantry fired at random, and the Krupp shells often failed to burst. The Redifs threw away their rifles, pleading that for days they had been without food or ammunition. They said that when the officers ran they ran also. Mn many instances entire divisions bolted from the battlefields.

The correspondent saw 10.000 men massed in the second line of defence on the river Gallico. near Saloniea. The infantry, cavalry, and artillery were jumbled together. They had no bread or water, and were exposed to a biting wind. Similarly at headquarters 15,000 defenders who were, entrenched were exposed on the eastern bank of the Yardor. The men, who were unfit to fight and spiritless, were deserting in droves, and the officers, though brandishing revolvers and whips, were unable to keep them in the ranks.

x The Turks mined a bridge over the Kara Azmark River with dynamite, but in the confusion the commandant forgot to press the button, and the Greeks bloodlessly captured a vital strategic point. During the retreat thousands of weeping and homeless fugitives intermingled with the soldiery. AN EXPLOSION AT SALONtCA. ATHENS. November 17. Through the explosion of a Turkish magazine near Saloniea 95 men were killed, including 15 Greek cavalry. THE SERVIAN ADVANCE. SURROUNDING MONASTIR, BELGRADE, November 17. The Servians have captured all the positions commanding Monastic. BELGRADE. November 16. The Servians expelled the Turks from a position four miles from Monastir. Operations are hampered owing to floods. THE MONTENEGRIN ADVANCE. SCUTARI" MUST SURRENDER. PARIS, November 16. It is semi-officially stated that Montenegro will not consent to an armistice unless Scutari surrenders unconditionally. CETTINJE, November 17. (Received November 18, at 9.45 a.m.) There was fierce fighting before San Giovanne. Three thousand Turks finally retired in disorder. GENERAL NEWS. INSIDE CONSTANTINOPLE. ARRESTS, TREASON, AND PLOTS. CONSTANTINOPLE, November 17. . A number of leading Turks, including the editor of the 'Tanin' and Djela Bey (ex-Minister of the Interior), have been arrested in connection with a plot to overthrow the Government. Many officers at the front have been arrested on a charge of fomenting a propaganda to restore the ex-Sultan Abdul Hamid to the throne. A SPIRIT OF FATALISM. CITIZENS HEAR THE ENEMY'S GUNS. CONSTANTINOPLE, November 17. (ReceiVed November 18, at 9 a.m.) A spirit of fatalism prevails at Constantinople. All officials apparently have resigned, and the idea of a European Turkey, including Rumelia, ia hopelessly lost. Nevertheless, troops are still ordered to

the front, and frantic efforts are being made to reorganise the army with a view to better terms of peace. Nazim Pasha is urging peace at any price as the sole hope of saving Constantinople from the presence of the invaders. All the correspondents are agreed that no atrocities marked the Turkish retreat. Villages were only burnt when necessary to prevent the enemy finding provisions and shelter. Excited crowds on the housetops are listening to the firing, which is audibiu throughout the city. Turkish warships were engaged all Saturday shelling a Bulgarian detachment along the Marmora coast. Refugees state that portion of Rodosto was destroyed by lire. A large number of cholera patients have been placed in St. Sophia, and the temple surrounded by an army cordon.

THE ALLIES AXD PEACE. - LOXDOX. November 17. (Received November 18, at 9.45 a.m.) Reuters Sofia correspondent advises that peace terms will be formulated at the earliest moment. Turkey will he given 24 hours to accept or reject them. Their prompt acceptance, however, may avert the entry of Constantinople. VIENNA, November 17. The 'l'eichpost' reports that fighting has ceased. The Allies' terms include the surrender of Adrianople and Scutari. The ' Politische ' correspondent says that AI. Daneii's visit justifies the hope of a satisfactory settlement on all questions. The ' ReichpostV correspondent states that he is forbidden at present to refer to military operations, as the Bulgarians want to establish an accomplished fact before making further communications.

A FACING-BOTH-WAYS DECISION. ROME. November 17. (Received November 18, at 9.45 a.m.) The ' Tribuna,' in the course of an inspired article, says that "while AustroItalian interests are identical, Italy recognises Servia's right to an Adriatic port, but at the same time she adheres to the claim for autonomy by Albania, at whose expense the port must be conceded. HELP FOP, THE SUFFERERS. LONDON, November 16. The Lord Mayor has opened a Mansion House fund for the benefit of the noncombatant sufferers by the war. THE MONEY MARKET. LONDON, November 17. The Stock Exchange is firmer, and Consols are now quoted at £75 ss. THE AIOXEY MARKET. The Minister of Finance (Hon. James Allen) is of opinion that the tightness in the money market is disappearing. The newspapers during the past- few days had shown, he added, that that stringency was not now so great as it had "been. It was unquestionably the case that a settlement of the war would appreciably affect the tone of the money market. His own opinion was that the questions arising out of the war, such as the division of territory and so forth, would be settled amicably—at least he hoped that thev would be'so settled.