BALKAN WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8262, 26 October 1912, Page 5

BALKAN WAR

KIRK KILiSSEH REDUCED SEVERE FIGHTING REPORTED AT MANY POINTS. By Telegraph —Press Association —Copyright LONDON, October 2L Tho correspondent of “Tho Timets” stales that Turks aro concentrated in Thrace, the country lying between the Danube and the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea and the Adriatic. The organisation of transport? requires time; heuce tho main body ifi two or three marches south of the present lighting. Tho advanced lino has been given tho mission of delaying tho enemy's advance. It has apparently been successful, though greatly outnumbered. Correspondents at Stara Zagora state that the districts of Basing and Djumalabala. Turkey, are entirely in the hands of the Bulgarians, a number of wno’m have boon detached for the purpose of repelling a further Turkish attack on Black Sea ports. _ t Mr Bennett Burleigh, tho T)aily Telegraph's" correspondent, states that the Tufkfl have been steadily repulsed. Their gun fire is indifferent. , Later telegrams state that tho rursish garrison, 50,000 men, at Kirk Kilisseh (thirty-five miles east of Adnanople) many Krupps, and much ammunition, were captured after a succession or assaults. THE CAPTURE OP MEN. SOFIA AWAITS CONFIRMATION. SOFIA, October 2i. The statement regarding the capture of 50,000 Turks requires confirmation. Official reports state that a battery of ouickfirers was captured, also f many prisoners. The Turks are returning in disorder towards the southeast. Two Pashas were among tho captured at Kirk Kilisseh. , . , The Turks, in yesterday s sorties from Aarianople, lost twelve .guns. The Bulgarians are now within three to five mflce of tho fortress and aro fortifying thVir position. , ___ The Bulgarians captured two guns at Menomia (or BazlogV fiify-fivo miles iouTh by east of Sofia. Hundreds of prisoners have been taken north-east of Adrianople. JUBILANT BULGAEB. (Received October 25, 10.10 p.m.) SOFIA, October 25. Tho Turks, finding Kirk Kihsseh untenable, retired to Hunarhissar, twentyfive kilometres to the south-east, leaving sixteen ammunition waggons and much first reporta of tho Kirk Kilisseh victory caused vast crowds of demonstrators, bearing the flags of the Allies, to march to tho Palace and tho Legations, parties of scouts heading the processions, M. Pan is, Greek Minister, was carried shoulder high. TURKS ROUTED IN REARGUARD ACTION. (Received October 25, ILIS p.m.) LONDON. October 25, Tho "Daily Chronicle's” Stara Zagora correspondent says 1200 Turks were captured in Kirk Kilissoh. with many Krupp guns and quioklirers. The Turks fought a rearguard action in which the Bulgarians were also victorious. AN AUSTRIAN ACCOUNT. (Received October 25, 10.10 p.m.) VIENNA, October 25. Tho "Eeiohpost," whose correspondent seems to be accompanying the Bulgarian march, states that General VVauolt, with the first army, on Tuesday commenced attacking the outworks at Adrianople. The northern army meanwhile marched along on both sides of the Tunja river. The right wing reached a point west of Havaras, seven miles north of Adrianople, the centre occupied a position near Arnaut Kevi, six miles to the northeast, and the left wing got to Musubiii, seven miles east-north-east of Adrianople. In the west other divisions attacked the heights of Chatalja and Arda on Wednesday. The Turks showed great bravery, and carried out a counter movement at Arnaut Kevi; but wore repulsed though well supported by artillery. The Bulgarian quicklirers mowed down whole detachments. General Diminiffs army, which was massed east and west of Timovo, mode tho attack on Kirk Kilissoh. TURKS ADMIT DEFEAT. CONSTANTINOPLE. October 21. Nazim Pasha, Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish forces, accompanied bv war correspondents, has gone to the front. There has been heavy fighting between Adrianople and Kirk Kilisseh. both sides ...splaying the utmost bravery and determination. It is now officially admitted that the Turks are retreating. The Turks in the Arda redoubt assumed the offensive early on Tuesday last, and drove off the Bulgarians, who were advancing east of the Tunja River. The Bulgarians have attacked the Turks at Kalemonsda, west of Adrianople, The fighting continues. Bulgarian cavalry attempted to rush a position at Adrianople, but were driven off with great loss. Mahmud Mukhtor Pasha, eon of the Grand Vizier, Ghazi Mukhtar Pasha, defended Kirk Kilisseh. There is continuous rain throughout the seat of war. The Porta has raised the import duties to 14 per cent. MANOEUVRES EXPLAINED. (Received October 25, 11.15 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, October 25. It is officially explained hero that three Turkish army corps made an offensive movement east of the Tunja river with a view of forcing tho Bulgarians to deploy and disclose their strength. The manoeuvre was not because the Turks encountered tho main army, which had been left as a covering force near Adrianople. Simultaneously a Bulgarian force attempted to work round to the Turks’ roar and menace the Constantinople communications at Mankatar, which an advanced column attempted to surprise. When the Turks found the Bulgarians in strength they did not persist in the effort to keep them in check, but retired southward. ‘ „ , , It has now been decided to fall back on Babaesld and Kuleli Burgas, twentyfive miles south of Adrianople, where seven army corps aro concentrated. Four more corps of reserves are in course of formation nearer Constantinople. A garrison of an army corps was left at Adnanople. If tho Bulgarians refuse.to take the offensive Nazim Pacha. Turkish Com-mondop-in-Chief. will force a general engagement north of Adrianople- The retirement from Kirk Kilisseh was purely a strategical move, to enable Nazim's .units to concentrate. Many war correspondent# hare arrived at Babaeski.