BALKAN WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15130, 22 October 1912, Page 7

BALKAN WAR.

TUBES STILL LOSING VICTORY FOR THE CREEKS. BATTLE AT MELUNA PASS * — A DESPERATE RESISTANCE BAYONET- AND CAVALRY N CHARGES. RETREAT OF THE TURKS. BULGARIAN AND SERVIAN CAPTURES. MONTENEGRIN SUCCESSES. TWO POSITIONS TAKEN. By Telegraph Press Association.— (Received October 21, 11.40 p.m.) London - , October 21. The war news received from the Balkans since yesterday shows that the Turks have suffered further defeats, having been worsted in encounters with the Greeks, Bulgarian, Servian, and Montenegrin forces. The Greek troops, under the command of the Crown Prince (Prince Constantine, Duke of Sparta), after four hours' fighting yesterday, dis- : lodged tnV Turks at Meluna Pass, just across the Turkish border. ' ' Six thousand Turks,- and seven siege guns were stationed on the heights behind Glassona. The Greek forces consisted of five divisions. In a preliminary artillery duel the new Schneider guns wrought great havoc. At two o'clock the Crown Prince ordered the first division to charge with the bayonet. The Turks offered a desperate resistance, but the Greek cavalry completed their discomfiture. Meanwhile the Greek second division was clearing the hills to the east and threatening to cut off the retreat of the Turks. The Turks withdrew to a strongly fortified defile, leaving 80 prisoners and seven guns behind: The Crown Prince's eldest son (Prince George) received his baptism of fire during the battle. Two Greek battalions and two batteries have occupied the heights of Grimbooa (Epirus). Greece' has'declared''a blockade of Preveza (a fortified Turkish seaport on the north side of the entrance to the Gulf of Arta). The Capture of Mustafa Pasha. One hundred and seventy Turkish prisoners were captured at Mustafa Pasha, the Turkish stronghold which has-been captured by the Bulgarian forces.. The King of Bulgaria, his sons, and their suites drove in motor cars to a hill, and with field glasses watched the Bulgarian troops occupying the fortifications at Mustafa Pasha one after another. The King meeting the first of the wounded, decorated them. He afterwards visited the headquarters of the first army at Tirnova, arid then returned to Vara Zagora. The Bulgarians have captured Mehoza (another Turkish post) at the bayonet's point. A report from Sofia states that the Turkish fortress of Kirk Kilisse (32 miles east of Adrianople) has been surrounded by the Bulgarian troops since Saturday. Kurtkall (a strategically important post seven miles south-west of Mustafa Pasha), which has been captured by the Bulgarians, is 2300 ft, above the s°a level. It commands the valleys of the Maritza and Arda Rivers. War Correspondent's Daring Dash. The Daily Telegraph's Sofia correspondent. (Mr. Beaumont) reports that, he made a daring dash in a motor car over three mountain ranges to reach Philipopolis (Southem Bulgaria). The authorities threatened to arrest him if he continued in his effort to reach the scene ' of the fighting. Mr. Beaumont states that a member of King Ferdinand's staff told him that 1100 Bulgarian cavalry had a sharp fight with 2000 Turkish cavalry. The Bulgarians lost 100 men, but finally they were victorious. King Ferdinand watched the onslaught. The wounded were taken to the waiting room at the Philipopolis railway ijtation. The Bulgarians, Mr. Beaumont states, have occupied numerous villages and have enrolled the nonMoslem inhabitants who are capable of fighting. Advance of the Bulgarians. The third Bulgarian army is advancing in Turkish territory along the Valley of the Arda,, River, which Joins the Maritza River neai Adrianople. Sandansky's. recruits are increasing daily. At Prin, a mountainous district, he has already armed 300 C peasants with Mannlicher rifles. Turkey Claims. Two Victories. It is stated by the Turkish War Office that only skirmishes have sc far taken place on the Bulgarian frontier. Turkish official accounts of the Bulgarian movement state that or Friday the Bulgarians attacked ar inferior body of Turks at Kirkjaali After several hours' fight the Bui garians were repulsed with serious loss. ■ » . ■ On Saturday the Turks counter attacked and seized Harmantopt

Mountain, an important strategic position. Servians arching on Uskub. A total of 120,000 Servians have crossed the frontier into Turkey. A cold rain is rendering the operations very difficult. The Arnauts (Albanians) ambushed 70 of the Servians at Comitajis, and killed them all. The Servians have captured Egrig Ualanka, a small Turkish,town near the frontiers of Bulgaria and Servia,. They also captured several railway bridges before the Turks were able to blow them up. < ■ '•• The Servians are now advancing on Uskub (an important Turkish town), they are meeting with little resistance, but the road is almost ] impassable. . Further Montenegrin Successes. | After two. days' fighting the Montenegrins have captured the Turkish position of Pl&va. From Plava the Montenegrins marched to Gusinje which they have also captured. Prior to the capture of Plava Hassim Bey and Mahmud Begovie, at the head of 2;X)0 Arnauts (Albanians), marched from Plava to reconquer Berana. The Montenegrins ambushed them, and a desperate fight fallowed, the Arnauts being cut up.' Hassim Bey and 280 others were captured and taken to Podgoritza. .