THE BALKANS WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 16060, 15 October 1912, Page 7

THE BALKANS WAR.

MONTENEGRINS IN ACTION. HEAVY FIGHTING. FAILURE OF POWERS' EFFORTS CONTINENTAL FEARS. WAR MAY NOT BE LOCALISED SLUMPS ON BOURSES. , The Montenegrins are encountering resistance in their advance on Scutari, and heavy fighting is reported. Servia has rejected the Note from the Powers, and Greece is concentrating troops on the Turkish frontier. There is an uneasy feeling on the Continent that the Powers will be unable to localise tho conflict. Heavy "slumps" have occurred on all the European markets.

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, October 13

There Us a panic on the Continental bourses, largely attributed to bear speculators, though in Germany the public is losing confidence in th© Powers' ability to localise the war. Tho Greek Consulate at Constantinople has handed its archives to the French Embassy and the Servian representatives have handed their papers to the Russian Embassy. These actions are significant as indicating that the withdrawal of the Greek and Servian representatives from Turkey is imminent.

ITALY'S PARTICIPATION. LONDON, October 13

A message from Vienna says that the hitch in the negotiations between Italy and Turkey has created uneasiness in Austria, there beiug fears that Italy will not confine her operations to Tripoli, and that this would render the localisation of the Balkans trouble impossible

PARIS, October 13

Tho Rome. correspondent of tho "Temps" says that if tho Bulgarians are successful in their attack on Turkey it is likely that Italy will cooperate with Greece in Asia Minor. Greece and Asia Minor.

CAPTURE OF GUNS BY MONTENEGRINS. LONDON, October 13. Advices from Podgoritza state that the Montenegrins at Rojane captured Armstrong guns and ammunition intact. It is reported from Constantinople that official information declares that the Montenegrins are attacking Sienitza, in Northern Albania. CAN THE WAR BE LOCALISED? GERMAN FEARS. LONDON, October 13. Many Berlin newspapers ridicule the Triple Entente's peace efforts, and doubts prevail as to whether the war can bo localised. Fear is expressed that Germany may possibly be required to support Austria, although tho sympathies of the German Army are strongly pro-Turkish. AUSTRIA PREPARING FOR TROUBLE.

Austria is buying glycerine heavily, and the price lias risen rapidly.

THE CASE OF NOVI BAZAR

AUSTRIAN ACTION EXPECTED

Frequent conversations aro taking place between the Foreign Minister and the Austrian Minister, supposed to relate to Novi Bazar, which it is understood Austria, during the Bosnian negotiations, undertook to assist the Porte to retain if it should be endangered. Turkish papers state that Austria is concentrating on' the frontiers of Servia and Montenegro.

It is stated that the Austrian Government is facilitating the conveyance of war material through Austria.

The War Committee of the Austrian Delegations ha 3 approved of the extra military and naval cadets, professedly to remove old defects and to carry out reforms long contemplated. Many Austrian politicians urge the reoccupation of Novi Bazar, and condemn the withdrawal four years ago. THE BULGARIAN DEMANDS. There aro indications that the minimum Bulgarian demands will bo the appointment of neutral Governors in the Christian provinces and the creation of an elective Assembly. SPIES ARRESTED. Fourteen Bulgarian spies have been arrested at Adrianople. THE TURKISH MOBILISATION. When the mobilisation of the first and second armies has been competed, it is estimated that 450,000 men will be opposed to the Bulgarians, and two divisions, will oppose the Montenegrins. The Porte proposes to exert its chief strength against Bulgaria. HOSPITALS AND SURGEONS WANTED. A Cettinje message says that there is a terrible- lack of hospitals for the wounded. France, Russia, Austria and Britain have offered to send Red Cross missions. The King visited and kissed the badly wounded and the dead.

Only eighty-three doctors are left in the whole cf Scrvia, the rest having been requisitioned as army surgeons, who are much wanted. THE SERVIAN COMMAND.

Prince Arseno Karagcorgevitch, the King's brother, who is » Russian general, commands the Servian cavalry. If it is impossible to secure the autonomy of the Turkish provinces, tho Crov.n Princo Alexander is disposed to

become a candidate v for the Christian Governorship of Old Servia. BOSNIAN VOLUNTEERS. THE GREEiTmOBILISATION. A RUSH OFVOLUNTEERS. REVOLT OF SERVIAN VILLAGES. SWIFT REPRISALS. LONDON. October 13. About 1000 Bosnian volunteers have joined the Servian and Montenegrin forces. It is reported from Athens that 125,000 troops will be concentrated on the frontier by-Monday, and another 30,000 are. being equipped. The Government is overwhelmed with offers of volunteers.

A Vienna message says that, unconfirmed reports arc published that seventy Servian villages in the Novi Bazar "district revolted and were visited bv tho Turks with swift reprisals. All the ringleaders, particularly the priests, were killed. MOSLEM SYMPATHY WITH TURKEY.

A Calcutta message says that the Moslem League of tho Punjaub passed a resolution of gratitude for Britain's efforts to preserve peace in the Balkans, and of sorrow at their failure. THeTgREEK NOTE. HANDED TO TURKEY. An Athens message sayo that the Greek Note has been handed to the Turkish Ambassador. MONTENEGRO'S ADVANCE ON SKUTARI.

HEAVY FIGHTING AT TUZI. Tuzi is invested. The Turks were forced back, burning many Malisson villages in their retreat. A Constantinople message says that the Turkish accounts stated that the Montenegrins' advance on Skutari has been checked. There wa3 heavy fighting at Tuzi. and the Montenegrins, advancing on Gusinje, Plava. and Arona, are encountering resistance and sustaining heavy losses. A Podgoritza message says that General Vukovias, after a severe fight, captured Dijlopolje. THE POWERS' NOTE. REJECTED BY SERVIA. LONDON, October 13. Servia has rejected the Powers' Note and demands reforms in Macedonia under control of the Balkan Powers and the demobilisation of the Turkish army.

FIERCE STRUGGLES

MONTENEGRIN SUCCESSES

A FURIOUS CHARGE. (Received October 14, 10 p.m.) CETTINJE, October 14. Chipcenik was practically demolished by tho Montenegrin artillery. General Martinovich reports an engagement below Chafbotil Heights. After a fierce struggle the Turks were repulsed, losing three hundred killed or wounded. The Montenegrins' final charge over precipitous crags at Detchick was so furious that the Turks wero unable to disable tho guns before retreating, and were fired at with their own guncs by the Montenegrins.

The total Turkish force in the Skutari region is sixteen battalions. The Montenegrins are striving to provent a retreat southward.

THE SERVIAN REPLY. TROOPS ADVANCING ON FRONTIER. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. (Received October 14, 11.10 p.m.) BELGRADE, October 14. The Servian reply is practically identical with that of the Allies. It regrets inability to comply with the wishes of the Powers, owing to insufficient guarantee for the execution of reforms. Simultaneously Servia forwarded to the Porte a memorandum demanding reforms in Macedonia in consonance with Article Twenty-three under control t>f the Powers and the Balkan States, also immediate Turkish demobilisation.

The Skupshtina has adopted a threemonths' moratorium.

Troops from Nish are advancing on Vranja, Ristovac and Devetin, frontier towns.

The Premier, in an interview, accused Turkey of arming irregular bands of marauders and vagabonds, and loosing them upon tho unprotected Servian population in tho Kosovo district, whence eight hundred families hare taken refuge in Servia. He added that Servia demanded ethnical autonomy for the oppressed Servians in the Turkish provinces, inclnding Novi Bazar. POWERS' NOTE REJECTED BY TURKEY. THE DETAINED GREEK VESSELS. THE FRONTIER FIGHTING. LONDON. October 14. The Constantinople correspondent of the " Daily Telegraph " states that the Porte has rejected the Powers' collective note.

The Greek vessels and cargoes detained are valued at a million sterling. Though under the Greek flag, the bulk of the vessels represent British capital. The Porto proposes to purchase tho cargoes.

Turkish soldiers massacred twelve Bulgarians at Kupruht. Montenegrins burned a Mussulman village at Krania. Several children were burned to death.

Fighting around Tusi Kabat and Krania is visible from Skutari.

Greeks are leaving Stambcul in large numbers.

The men arrested as epics at Adrianople prove to be harmless cattle dealers.

Reserves from Ipek and Ragova have born sent to Berane and Gusinje. The fighting around Gusinje favours the Turks. . .

Essacl Pasha has reached Skutari and is strengthening the garrison, while two battalions hold the lino of communication against the Malissori. The heir to the throne will go to Adrianople to-day, and tho Sultan on Tuesday. The second battalion of the Northampton Regiment at Malta has been ordered to be in readiness to proceed to Crate. TURKISH GUNBOATS IN ACTION. CETTINJE, October 14. Two Tr.rkish gunboats on Lake Skutari bombarded General Martinovic'3 right wing. Tho barracks at Cettinje

have baen transformed into an hospital with a thousand beds. General Vukovics is operating with a view to junctioning with the Servians. THE BULGARIAN DEMANDS. (Received October IS, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON. October 14. The "Daily Mail's" Sofia correspondent says that Bulgaria demands decentralisation of the Governments of European Turkey, an elective council for each Government, and proportional representation of the various nationalities in the Constantinople Parliament. The Note does not impose a time limit. SOFIA. October 14. Tho Bulgarian demands include Belgian and Swiss governors, with gendarmerie and militia under Belgian and Swiss officers, the reforms to bo entrusted to ft Superior Council controlled by the Powers and the . Balkan States, and to be carried out within half a Tear.

Tho public acclaimed the declaration to make Servian and Bulgarian money interchangeable. Many Christian deserters from the Turkish army have entered Bulgaria.

DANGER OF AUSTRO-RUSSIAN CONFLICT. COUNT BERCHTOLD'S NEGOTIATIONS. A SIGNIFICANT INTERVIEW. VIENNA, October 14. The "Neue Wiener Tagblatt" denies that Bosnian volunteers are joining Servia.

Count Berchtold has initiated negotiations with a view to averting an Austro-Russian conflict during or after tho Balkan war. He asks Russia to approve of tho non-annexation of Novi Bazar by Servia or Montenegro. Nevertheless, Austria apparently is indisposed to give' a pledge to refrain from new conquests in the Balkans. There are persistent rumours of tho mobilisation of four Austrian army corps. Much comment has been caused by the remarks of M. Pasics to a " Neue E'reie Presse " representative. Ho said that if other Powers interfered Russia would do likewise, then there would'be danger of a world's war. Tho remark is interpreted as Russia's answer to Count Berchtold concerning the maintenance of Austrian interests in the Balkans. GERMAN FOREIGN OFFICE ACTION. ANGLOPHOBE NEWSPAPERS REBUKED. BERLIN, October 14. The Foreign Office, through the "Cologne Gazette," rebukes the tactics of tho little Pan-German newspapers in accusing Britain of fomenting a European conflagration by inciting the Balkan States to attack Turkey.