THE OTTOMAN ARMY

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

THE OTTOMAN ARMY

PROFITS BY ALLIES’ DELAY IN

DECLARING WAR,

PROJECTED MARCH ON SOFIA,

(Reocivod October 21, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 21. “The Times” Constantinople correspondent states that there will be 700,000 Turks with the colors by the end of October. Twelve thousand are passing over the European railway daily, irrespective of infantry dispatched along marching routes. Bulgaria had given Turkey an unexpected ten days’ breathing space, enabling the Turkish general staff to surprise European observers. The Salonica correspondent of “The

Times” estimates tho strength of tho Macedonian army at 170,000 men. Ot these Hasin Xausiu Pasha has 32, (Hp defending the Greek frontier, Ali Nabir Pasha has 40,000 on tho Struma River, in Eastern Kossovo, and Zeki Pasha has 100,000 between Kuprili and Uskub (a stretch of about thirty miles). These figures are being augmented rapidly by tho arrivals ot Asia Minor Rodifs (men of the second line of the army). The fortnight’s delay will cost the Allies dear, as Zeki Pasha is cx : pected to fight his way to Sofia via Egri Palau Ka, assisted by 40,000 Albanian Irregulars. Commissariat arrangements for tno western army present a great difficult, as tho harvest is a failure and the situation in many Macedonian villages Is pitiful. SANDANSKY’S RECRUITS. SOFIA, October 20. Sandansky, tbe brigand chief, is securing recruits daily in the mountainous district of Drin, in tho vilayet of Monastir. He has already armed 3000 peasants with Mannlicher rifles.