THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15123, 14 October 1912, Page 7

THE WAR.

CONTINUED FIGHTING

GENERAL OUTBREAK LIKELY

BATTLE AT BERANA.

CONTRADICTORY REPORTS

BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY

THE MONTENEGRIN LOSSES

120 KILLED IN ONE ATTACK.

MARCH ON SCUTARI.

TURKISH FORCES ISOLATED,

By Telegraph— Pre» Association.—Copyright.

(Received October 14.. 12.50 a.m.) London, October 13. The accounts of the results of the fighting between the Turks and Montenegrins that have so far come to hand are of an incomplete and to a certain extent contradictory character.

A report from Podgoritza (the headquarters of King Nicholas's forces) states that the Montenegrins lost 120 killed and 400 wounded in the attack on the Turkish fort at Detschitch.

The Daily Chronicle's correspondent nt Belgrade states that the Montenegrins have occupied the Turkish frontier' town of Berana, where the Christian women and children were massacred in August. Servian insurgents burned the barracks in the town and killed some of the soldiers. They captured 80 other's and handed them over to the Montenegrins.

Conflicting Accounts. The advices from Constantinople are exactly opposite to those from Belgrade. They report that the Montenegrins were defeated at Berana.

It is'also reported from Constantinople that the heights of Gusinye, which, were taken by the Montenegrins, have been reoccupied.

Neither of these reports has been confirmed.

A report of the Montenegrin occupation of Byelopolye (a Turkish town 20 miles from Berana) has been received, but this is considered incompatable with the Constantinople report of a Turkish victory at Berana. Reports received in London state that the Montenegrins have *only taken the outlying forts of Berana. -. - The Advance on Scutari. .After'll hours' fighting on Thursday the Montenegrins eaptured the fort dominating Tuzi, thuß opening the road to Scutari (Albania). General Marfinovics has crossed the Royana River and captured several blockhouses near Scutari., j

Kins: Nicholas has long coveted Scutari. If he annexes the town he is likely to offend Austria, owing to the hitter's protectorate over Catholic Albanians.

A later report from Podgoritza states that fighting on Friday was general along the whole frontier.

Attack on a Fortress.

General Martinovich, who is commanding a division of the Montenegrin army, attacked the strong fortress of Tarabosch, which dominates Scutari.'

Six thousand Malissori tribesmen attacked the .Turks in the rear.

King Nicholas led a night attack and captured Fork Rojane and Branja Island. The latter is like a hill on a plain, and is equipped with big guns, the fire of which was illdirected.

The Turks retreated and attempted to destroy the bridge leading to the island: This effort, however, was unsuccessful.

Eighteen Turkish Battalions Isolated.

Eighteen Turkish battalions on the left bank of the River Lim arc reported to be isolated.

The Daily Mail's correspondent at Serajevo (Bosnia) reported that on Thursday the firing of the field guns was heard at Fotcha, on the Bosnian border.

A despatch from Cettinje states that the losses on both sides have been heavy.

The Malissori tribesmen are assisting the Montenegrins.

Certainty, of General Balkan War.

Newspaper correspondents in Vienna and the Balkan capitals agree that a general outbreak of war between the Balkan States and Turkey is certain.

The correspondents attribute the present delay to a desire to complete the mobilisation of troops.

THE TURKISH FORCES. GENERAL MOBILISATION. PROCLAIMED BY SULTAN. A TOTAL OF 400,000. (Received October 14, 12.50 a.m.) Constantinople, October 13. The Sultan has proclaimed a general mobilisation of the troops. He exhorts the Turks to emulate their brethren in Tripoli and to repel the, enemies who are seeking to snatch their patrimony. The mobilisation is already proceeding rapidly and smoothly. Nazim Pasha has been placed in, supreme, command. It is estimated that a week hence 140,000 soldiers from Asia Minor will be concentrated in European Turkey, making a total of 400,000 men.

Guns and;. ammunition are being poured into the district between Adrianople and Eirkilisee, behind the chain of forts devised by General von dcr Goltz in 1909.

The Turks have armed the Pamaki Bulgarians who; under Ahmed Agsa, were responsible for the Batak massacre in 1877.

The Porte has enrolled the students who created the recent disturbances and has thus silenced the troublesome element. SERVIA "GOING AHEAD.'* LEGISLATORS' WARLIKE- MOOD CONCENTRATION OF FORCES (Received October 13, 5.5 p.m.) "Belgrade, October 12. Several members of the Skupshtina (the Servian Parliament) have declared in interviews that " no matter what the Powers desire we will go ahead. What we take we will keep, even if Austria doqs not recognise territorial changes." Servia's left army is concentrating at Baribod and co-operating with Bulgaria. The central army is concentrating at Nish, from whence it will operate against Uskub (Turkey). The right army is being assembled at Kraljevo, whence it will be able to work towards Novi Bazar. (Boceivod October 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 12. Military experts attribute a delay in the mobilisation of the Servian army to heavy rains and to a desire to give Greece time to get the cruiser Cham Ho, and the destroyers she has just purchased, out of British waters. BULGARIA'S READINESS FOR WAR.

CAN RAISE £12,000,000.'

"AN APPALLING RANSOM." Sofia, October 12. The Minister for Finance (M. Theodoroff) states that Bulgaria has £4,000,000 in her war chest, and therefore, without risk, can issue £12,000,000.

M. Gueschoff (Premier of Bulgaria) stated in an interview that the impending war was the appalling ransom that they were going to pay for the freedom of their Christian brethren. '

(Received■ October 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 12. Mr. Bennett Burleigh (the Daily Telegraph's correspondent), in telegraphing from Sofia, states that Bulgaria has an ample transport system. , The field telegraph system is also complete. Five aviators have joined the Bulgarian Army. AUSTRIA'S MILITARY VOTES NOT INTENDED FOR WAR. BUT TO S'TRENGHTEN HER INFLUENCE. (Received.October 13, 3.5 p.m.) Vienna, October 12. Dr. de Bilinski (Austro-Hungarian Minister for Finance) has informed the Austrian Delegation that the increased military credits asked for (amounting to £12,000,000) are in no wise intended for war. In the event of war, however, he said, international deliberations will follow in order to bring the Balkan question to a final settlement and Austria will be better able to carry her views into effect if she is well armed.

A telegram from Novi Bazar states that the leave of Austrian officers has been suspended.

Count Berchtold (Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs) has informed the Austrian Delegation that owing to the prevailing excitement it would be difficult to exercise the Emperor's protectorate over the Roman Catholics, in Albania.

(Received October 13, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, October 12. The Paris newspapers contend that Austria's activity in regard to the Balkan situation shows an intention to peremptorily intervene if Servia bars the route to Salonica. REINFORCEMENTS IN BOSNIA. WAR ZONE LIKELY TO EXTEND Vienna, October 11. Austria has informed the Porte that the garrisons in Bosnia are being reinforced, inasmuch as the action of Montenegro is likely to bring the new Austrian territory into the theatre of hostilities. EFFORTS FOE PEACE. NEW PROPOSALS PROBABLE. DISCUSSION BY POWERS. (Received October 13, 5.5 p.m.} Paris, October 12. The Matin declares that the Powers are discussing the formulation of clearer joint proposals for a settlement of the Balkan difficulty. Baron D'Estourr.elles de Constant, a noted French peace advocate and a member of The Hague Court, has written an open letter to King Nicholas in which he denounces the declaration of war, and warns hire that the censure of the civilised world will be visited upon him.

TURKEY'S REPLY DEFERRED. AWAITING NEWS FROM THE . \ . FRONT. (H«oeived October 13, 5.5 p.m.) Constantinople, October 12. The Porte has deferred an examination of the Powers' Note regarding the Balkans until to-morrow (Sunday) in the belief that the reported

Turkish victory at Berana, and the reoccupation of the heights of Gusinye will.be officially announced.

Five of the Ambassadors at Constantinople have sent a No to to the Porte* couched in energetic but noncomminatory terms declaring their intention to discuss the question of the realisation of reforms in Turkey and Asia, the Treaty of Berlin, and the declaration of the International Commission of 1880..

WHAT BULGARIA WILL SAY. "TOO VAGUE'AND TOO LATE." (Received October 14, 12.50 a.m.) "' . Sofia, October 13. It is understood that the Bulgarian Cabinet's reply to the Powers' representations will be that they are too vague and too late. ATTITUDE OP GREECE. A REPORTED WITHDRAWAL. DENIAL FROM ATHENS. London, October 12. The Frankfurter . Zeitung states that as a result of ' negotiations, Greece has been induced to abandon the Bulgarian alliance and to agree to demobilise immediately. Reports from Athens, however, state that the Crown Prince has been appointed commander-in-chief in Thessaly, and that he is expected to join the troops to-day. The Athens newspapers indignantly deny the statement that Greece is withdrawing from the alliance. The Chinese cruiser Cham Ho, which has just been completed at the Elswick yards, has been sold to Greece. She is ready for her steam trials. Turkey was also competing for the purchase of the vessel.

THREE VILLAGES BURNED.

A MONASTERY ATTACKED.

MANY PEOPLE KILLED.

London, October 12.

The Daily Telegraph's Belgrade correspondent stated that the BashiBazouks burned three villages on Monday, and attacked the monastery of Kratchevo.

The villagers went to the help of the monastery, many people were killed and several were wounded.

Bulgarian bands have blown up two bridges in Turkish territory between Ishtib and Kochana.

THE WOUNDED. THE RED CROSS SOCIETY. ROYAL NURSE AT THE FRONT. (Received October 13, .5.5 p.m.)' London, October 12. The British Red Cross League, of which Queen Alexandra is president, has offered to render assistance to all the belligerent Powers concerned in the Balkan war. Athens, October 12. The Princess Alice, wife of Prince Andreas (son of the King of Greece), and daughter of Prince Louis of Battehberg,' has started for the frontier with a number of nurses.

STOCK MARKET DEPRESSED

GENERAL FALL IN PEICES. (Received October 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 12. Heavy selling orders from the

Continent have depressed the Stock Exchange, and there has been a general relapse in prices.

FUTURE OF MACEDONIA. WHAT . THE BALKAN STATES DESIRE. In writing of the Balkan situation recently, Mr. .H. C. Woods said in the Fortnightly Review : — With regard to the future of Macedonia, the people of each of the neighbouring States possess some different ideal, which is more or less supported .by their t brothers within the Ottoman Empire. Whilst Servia in her heart of hearte favours a division of the country between herself, Bulgaria, and Greece, she appear.? unable to com' 3 4o' any arrangement with Bulgaria as to the future of certain districts which are in dispute between the Governments of Bulgrade and of Sofia. Greece also advocates a division of tho country, but on such a basis that the Bulgarians and Albanians would never consent to it. Whilst Bulgaria herself and a certain section of the Macedonian Bulgars desire an autonomy for Macedonia which might further the eventual union of that unhappy province with Bulgaria, a number of tho Macedonian Bulgars advocate a policy which ■ would secure Macedonia for the Macedonians. The future appears to me entirely to depend upon the attitude of tho Turks towards the Christian population.

If th© authorities endeavour, by more or less liberal and fair government, to regain th© sympathy of the population and to carry out, at leas, to some extent, the promises made to toe people in 1908, then Macedonia may stdl remain an integral part of the Ottoman Empire. A limited form of centralised government, for Macedonia as a whole, or an increase in the powers of the Governors-General of the European Vilayets of Turkey, may yet *a,ve the situation. If, however, the Yonm* Turks continue to {urn a deaf ear to th? repeated good advice of the disinterested Great Powers, and insist on pursuing their present policy of endeavouring to '"Turkey" all tho elements of the population, then the future will largely depend upon the agreement or non-agreement arrived at. between certain of the Great Powers who have a distinct interest in Macedonia.