BATTLE OF MUSTAFA PASHA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8258, 22 October 1912, Page 1

BATTLE OF MUSTAFA PASHA

WATCHED BY BULGARIAN KING AND PRINCES.

KIRK KILISSEH SURROUNDED,

SOFIA, October 20. The King, the Princes, and their etiites went in motor-cars to a hill overlooking the scene of battle, and with held glasses watched the troops occupying the fortifications of Mustafa Pasha one after another. The King, meeting the first of the wounded men, decorated them. Ho afterwards visited tho headquarters of the first army at Timova and Soimenli, two small towns, a few miles north or Harmanli, and then returned to Nova Zagora. A hundred and seventy Turkish prisoners were taken at Mustafa Pasha. Tho fortress of Kirk Kilissoh, thirtytwo miles east-north-west of Adrianoplo, has been surrounded since Saturday by Bulgarians. Kurtkale, a port of strategical in portanco seven miles south-west of Mustafa Pasha, which has .been occupied by fho Bulgarians, is on a mountain range, at an elevation < 2300 feet, and commands tho Maritza and Arda valleys. The third Bulgarian army is advancing southward along the valley _ of the Arda, a river which discharges into the l Maritza at Adrianople. The Bulgarians captured Mehoza at the point of tho bayonet.

TURKS TELL DIFFERENT STORY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, October 20. Official accounts of the Bulgarian movement state that on Friday the Bui garians attacked an inferior body of Turks at Kirk Jaali, and that, after several hours’ fighting, the Bulgarians were repulsed with serious loss. On Saturday the Turks counter-attacked* and seized the Harmantopo Mountain, an important strategic position. A JOURNALISTIC COUP. OOW “DAILY TELEGRAPH” CORRESPONDENT GOT “COPY.” (Received October 21, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 21.' Mr Beaumont, tho “ Daily Telegraph’s ” correspondent at Sofia, made a daring dash in a motor-car over three mountain ranges and reached Philippopolis. Tho authorities threatened to arrest him if ho continued his effort to reach tho fighting line. Mr Beaumont states that a member of King Ferdinand’s staff told him that a force of 1100 Bulgarian cavalry had a sharp fight with 2000 Turkish cavalry. In tho general melee tho Bulgarians lost 100 men, but finally proved victorious. King Ferdinand watched tho onslaught. Tho wounded were taken to the wait-ing-room of tho Philippopolis railway station. Tho Bulgarians have occupied numerous villages, and are enrolling nonMoslems capable of service. Mr Beaumont hoard that in Macedonia the rebels wore masters of tho Salomca highways, and had dynamited bridges and great stretches of railway.