THE DOWNFALL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 295, 18 November 1912, Page 5

THE DOWNFALL.

GUN FIRE HEARD AT THE CAPITAL TURKEY BOWS TO THE INEVITABLE. BULGARIA WILL CROWN HER VICTORY THE GREAT POWERS SILENT. The cables published to-day confirm the news of the utter demoralisation of the Turkish army. The cry is peace where no peace is, because the Bulgarians are determined to make their victory a complete and undisputable fact before they reply to Turkey’s appeal for an armistice. The authorities at Constantinople have lost all hope and it is stated that Nazim Pasha, the Turkish Minister for War, and General in Supreme Command of the army, urges peace at any price in the sole hope of saving Constantinople from the ignominv of surrender. The residents in the city can hear the firing of the advancing Bulgarians and it is safe to prophesy that they will be inside the demoralised town before the week is out. It is interesting to remember that Nazim Pasha last week boasted that the Turkish army would fight to the last man before it would surrender. How rapidly the misfortunes of war have caused him to change his tune. The Powers, now the critical moment of their intervention is at hand, are profoundly silent. The cables to-day do not tell a word of the diplomatic work that must be going on. Before the war started their joint note to Bulgaria stated that the Allie* would ndt be permitted to hold any territory they won. Mr. Asquith’s recent Guildhall speech reversed this policy, and the question now to be solved is how much of the conquered peninsula they will be allowed to retain without having to fight for over again. The only certainty is that the Allies have their political programme fully arranged, and the desire of the Bulgarian generals to make the military position at Constantinople safe so that the bulk of the troops can be “liberated for eventual employment in other directions” shows that they are prepared to meet by force of arms any opposition to their claims for territory.

THE POWERS. HOPES FOR A SETTLEMENT. [PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] (Received 18, 9.55 a.m.) Vienna, Nov. 17. The correspondent of the newspaper “Politischi” says that the visit of M. Danieff, President of the Bulgarian Council, justifies hopes of a satisfactory settlement of all questions. ••TRlIM’XE’rt” - INSPIRED ARTICLES. SERVIA’S RIGHT TO THE ADRIATIC. Rome, Nov. 17. The ' Tribune. ” in an inspire ! article, states that while AustroItalian interests are identical, Italy recognises that the Seriians have a right to an Adriatic seaport, but adheres to Albanian .autonomy. FRENCH GUNS AXD GERMAN POWDER. I Berlin. Nov. 17. The "Cologne Gazette,” which is nettled at the suggestion that Krupp's guns are inferior to Creusot’s, states that the Bulgarians are careful to use Krupp’s ammunition instead of French powder. STO( K EXCHANGE REVIVES. London. Nov. 17. The stock exchange is firmer; consols £75 5 THE FIGHTING. BULGARIAN ADVANCE UNOPPOSED. AT THE GATES OF STAMBOUL. (Received 18, 9.25 a.m.) Sofia. Nov. 17. The newspaper "Mir” states the reports of pitched battles at • Uhataldja are pure inventions. There; have been merely brushes with the, Turkish advance guard. ( Official despatches state that the: Bulgarians concentrated their front] on the Turkish lines and occupied: Lazarkcni, Uhataldja and Arnant-, keni. • THE TURKS VINDICATED. [ Constantinople, Nov. 17. ( All correspondents are agreed that [ no atrocities marked the Turkish re-t treat. Villages were, only burnt! when necessary to prevent the enemy finding provisions and shel ter. AN IRRITATING BOMBARDMENT The Turkish warships were engaged all Saturday shelling the Bulgarian detachments along the coast of the Sea of Mamora. Refugees state that a portion of Rdosto was destroyed by fire. GALLANT GENERAL’S MISTAKE. A SOLDIER AND A MAN. | Vienna. Nov. 17. i The “Zeit" says it is whispered] with bitter comments in Sofia that; :he Ist and 6th infantry regiments, j the former including many lawyers. | artists, and leading merchants, were] decimated, the general forgetting to j coi er their charge by artillery, or sending them in the wrong direc-; lion. i It is slated that the blunder-' ing general addressed the rera-i cant of the two regiments after the) charge, praising their heroism. j King Ferdinand, who was present, i nodded assent, and then said, “A; ■verd with you. General,” and be-' •'<.r< l them all stripped off the] sjc-neraFs epaulettes. ! Tin- genera] remained at attention! j.r a nuiniiit. and then, saluting. ] t< pped buck ,-tnd shot himself. CAPTURE OF NEW GUNS. Sofia, Nov. 16.. • The Bulgarians captured 80 Krupp ?uns at Uhataldja. still unpacked. They had recently arrived at Con- • stanza.

ADRIANOPLE SPIES. (Received 18, 9.25 a.m.) Sofia, Nov. 17. A swollen river enabled tw Bulgarian spies to quit Adrianople for Maizestraj on a raft. They report that eight hundred were killed in the last sorties. SALONIKA RETREAT. TURKS DEMORALISED. London, Nov. 16. The ‘‘Times’ ” correspondent, wfio witnessed the retreat upon Salonika, gives a vivid description of tha general demoralisation. The infantry fired at random and the Krupp’s shells often failed to burst. The Redifs threw away their rifles pleading that they had been for days without food or ammunition. They said when their officers ran they ran too. In many instances entire divisions of Redifs bolted from the battlefield. He saw ]o,ooo en masse of the second line of defence at the river Allico, near Salonika, infantry, cavalry, and artillery all jumbling together, with no bread nor water, and exposed to the biting' wind. Similarly at headquarters 15,000 defenders were entrenched on the exposed eastern bank of the Vardor, unfit to fight, spiritless and deserting in droves. The officers, brandishing revolvers and whips, were unable to keep I them in the ranks. I The Turks minefl a bridge over the Karaagniark River with dyna- | mile. In the confusion the comI mandant forgot to press the button I and the Greeks bloodlessly captured I a vital strategic point. During the retreat thousands of weeping ami homeless fugitives in- , termingled with the soldiers. ! Athens, Nov. 17. A Turkish magazine exploded near ; Salonika, and 95 were killed, in- ' eluding 15 Greek cavalrymen. i MONASTIR DOOMED. ! COMMANDING POSITIONS ; CAPTURED. ! Belgrade, Nov. 16. I The Servians expelled the Turks i from a position four miles from j Monastic. Floods are hampering i operations. j The Servians have captured all the i positions commanding Monastir. SCUTARI MUST SURRENDER. Cettinje, Nov. 17. There has been fierce fighting before San Giovanni. Three thousand Turks retired in disorder. Paris, Nov. 16. It is semi-offieially announced that Montenegro will not consent to an armistice unless Scutari unconditionally surrenders. TURKS IN A BLUE FUNK. RESIGNED TO THEIR FATE. PEACE AT ANY PRICE. (Received 18, 9.10 a.m.) Constantinople, Nov. 17. A spirit of fatalism prevails in Constantinople. All officials are apparently resigned to the idea that European Turkey, including Roumelia. is hopelessly lost. Nevertheless. troops are still being ordered to the front, and frantic efforts made to re-organise the army with a view to better terms of peace. Nazim Pasha is urging peace at any price in the sole hope of saving Constantinople from the presence of the invaders. Excited crowds occupy the housetops, listening to the firing, which is audible throughout the city. THE ALLIES AND PEACE. CONTRADICTORY RUMOURS. London, Nov. 17. Reuter’s Sofia correspondent states that terms of peace will be formulated at the earliest moment, and Turkey will he given 21 hours to accept or reject them. Prompt acceptance mav avert entry into Constantinople.

•The Re ichpust correspondent j states that it is forbidden at present I to defer operations, as t!.e Bulgar-1 ians want ’.•>»<ablisk an a -couiphsh-1 ed fact before making further com-i munications. - (Receiie.i i-. 0. ‘5 a.m.) Vienna. Nov. 17. The " Reic hpost " says it is report- ' rd that fighting has ceased. The Allies' terms include the surrender of Adrianople and Skutari. GENERAL ITEMS. London. Nov. IG. A Mansion House fund has been opened for non-combatant sufferers by the war. (Received 1". 9.55 a.m.) Constantinople. Nov. 17. j A large number of cholera patientsj are placed in the Mosque of St J Sophia, surrounded by an army cordon. Constantinople. Nov. 17. A number e ’i leading Young Tuiks. I including the rditi-r of tLo ' T;-.ni:i" and T'jr . i !’<• ■.. ♦ x M i:;l-t < r • » tliej Interior, wrrr arrested in <•> nnec-; tion with a plot to >.ri nhrou tl.ef Government. 1 Many < ffii nt t!:e ft out were nr-[ rested for fomenting propaganda! to restore Abdul Hamid. !