WAR IN THE NEAR EAST.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11773, 28 October 1912, Page 4

WAR IN THE NEAR EAST.

SEVERE ENGAGEMENTS. TURKISH REVERSES. HEAVY LOSSES. GREAT BATTLE APPROACHING. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Pee Press Association.) Received October 26, at 1.55 p.m. Athens, October 25. On the nineteenth the Crown Prince and his staff attended the funeral of sevenuv men massacred at Serfidze. Six 'hundred prisoners have been sent to Greece. The Greek successes n.t the Sa.randoporo defile, are. attributed. to the mobility of the troops a.nd to their possession' of long-range guns. Constantinople, October 25. v The Turks assaulted Damunuiibala: and captured the centre position'. The' Bulgarians retreated with considerable loss. . The Turks at Dospat captured a; Bulgarian battery. ;. s ,. Fighting continues .along the Adrian- - ople-Kirk Kilesseh line; .and the Bulgarians are gaining somejground.VT-heyr. are endeavoring Turks." They have cut communication with Constantinople. <:-■■■ " ";':.'"." The Turks w;ith a' heavy, artillery night firo from Fort Mar ash, west of AdrLauoplo, repulsed t3ie Bulgarians with heavy loss. - Sixty thousand, form the garrison of Adriaiiople, and a similar number are protecting the lines from. Adrianople. Olueborga's whole Asiatic force is concentrating on; Adrianople. . .'» . Received October 27, at'-5.5. p.m. , London, October 2$J// The Times reports that Bulgaria en-' deavored to cut off Abdullah's retreat to Constantinople, but the.. army Was hampered by inefficient cavalry. :\ Interest centres in Abdullah -rather than in Nazim Pasha, who Has assumedcontrol". ■/..'.-

The indications are for a coming great battle.

Received October 26, at 6.20 p.m. .- ' • . London, October 25. . , The Central News-Agency, saysithat, MukhtatPasha and Prince Aboul Halim were, taken prisoners at Kirk Kilesseh. i Vienna, October "25: ' . A portion of the defenders at Scutari were withdrawing to Zabritia heights,southward, but were. interrupted... ; ; The Turks are preparing to.retreat; . The Montenegrins have silenced three, batteries at Tarabosch. Belgrade, October 20. Details of the -fighting round 'Kutnanovo show that 25,000 Turks -were engaged in the conflict, which was continuous throughout .'Utesclay and Wednesday and part of Thursday. The Crown Prince Alexander led, tlie Servians, who captured 12 guns and 'ah enormous quantity of ammunition. It is reported that the Turks lost 5000: men. . '

Vienna, October .27. Desinte the message- showing a satisfactory development of tlie. Bulgarian -tactics, tho Bulgaria.ii sacrifices in the viciniity of Mirash >aaid .we're heavy. Ooi-pses littered the battlefields east and west of Adriaiiople. There was 'sanguinary -fighting in th« woods around, laud'iiti' some instances there were hand-to-hand encounters, daggers only being used. ■••-■•' An aeroplane containing' three Russian officers was wrecked at Tarnow, one man being killed and others severely injured. Constantinople, October 27. An Ottoman soldier, .in a 'melee northwards of Kirk Kilesseh, got mixed' up with tho Bulgarians, _but sejzed a, maxiin "gun aiid ciirried iifc to lu's comrades, after a miraculous escape from death."

GRECIAN ENTHUSIASM. ATROCITIES. ;■'■' .y Athens, October 26. After three days' fighting the,; Tin-its retired from their -positions at Kihfi'a, and the Greeks are marching on Phillippiada and Strebina. A reconnoisane'e discovered that the village of Koumstades had been looted: Tho young men had been killed by the Turks and the women and children fearfully outraged. Eight hundred ; additional Cretan volunteers have arrived. Fighting continues at Pintepigadhia, southwards of Janiria. . The Crown Prince entered Kozhani unopposed. The Turks subsequently attacked, tlie place, but were repulsed. The inhabitants of Kozhanilwelcbnied' the Greek cavalry brigade. Dragoumis, the Greek GovernorGeneral of Crete, was received with delight at Canea. Received October 28, at 8.30 a.m. AtlieiX!?, October 27. A detachment 'of Greek reservists' from New York wero ac-carded an. ova-, tio.n. ~. . ; The Greeks have occupied Sniirasus, PMHipiada-, Lonros, Elenltherokliori, and Strebina. The Turks lied', aba.ndoniihg aniniiuii-' tion and provisions. An officer arid 12 men were captured. The Turkish inhabitants are everywhere fleeing before the Greeks, and many are senditife their families to Egypt. • The Greeks are appointing officers in all the occupied'distracts. . Turco-Albanian bands a.re pillaging, massacring, and setting'fire ihio/agtiouti the Epirus; " Athens, October 27. The Greek fosses 'sit- Sarandoporp 'Pass; prior to the wisrlo 18. officers and 169' men killed,;4o officers and 1037 men wounded. . .- ■ The Turkish losses were extremely heavy. '"■•"'•< Received October 28, at 9.25 a.m. Sydney; October 28. Twenty Greeks -sailed on. Saturday. to> join their countrymen in the battle-' field. ■■■■,... . v £IOOO has been cabled to Athens 'fm-r----the war fund, iand it is expected that another thousand will be sent this week.j TURKS UNPREPARED. ' " > UNDERFED AND UNDEKLED. London, October 26. Tlic'Turks'' organisation is- inferior arid their artillery will not compare with that of the allies. They have deficient transport equipment "and '.'feeding ar-' rangements, and insufficient horses". , The Redif regiments are badly underofficered.

it is rumored that there are grave''dif- ; ferences between Nazim Pasha and Abdullah Pasha. , : - ; , : Tho Daily Telegraph's correspondent, refers to the lack of Turkish enthusi-' asm owing to misrule and 'distrust' between tho Old and Young Turks. The Asiatic reservists in recentmonths ordered to Albania, Tripoli, and other parts have lost "heart. - The Howjas and: priests work up some enthusiasm at Stamboul, hut even at Stamboul the Turks have to be forcibly. enrolled, many of the wealthier paying; tho exemption fees. STORMING OF EIRE EILESSEH. PORT ARTHUR, OF THE WAR. Received October 26, at 1.55 p.m. Sofia, October 25. Tlie Premier, commenting. on. the Kirk Kilesseh affair, said the.•allies' had no intention 'of exterminating the Turks. If the Powers aro sincerely desirous of pacifying the Balkans peace can soon be concluded. Cettinje, October 25. The infantry quitted the entrenchments and advanced on Scutari till a withering Turkish fire checked them. A shell- fell within ten. yards of the' Crown Prince. The envoy's mission failing, preparations arc being made to attack Scutari on three siders. The population is in a panic. General Vukolitch has subdued the -Arnauts and the road, is now open to Ipek. Belgrade, October 25. "With the capture of Sienetza, the Servians, claim that they dominate the Sanjak of. Novi Bazar. Those who were wounded in the battle of Prepolatz on the 18th narrate that- the Turks were moving in the woods' across the border and the Servians had barely reached their defensive posifi«n when the Arnauts and Turkish regulars opened a heavy fire. Fighting continued for 13 hours, and latg in the afternoon the Turks were within. 15 yards of the trenches. Then the Servian comrrander ordered a bayonet charge. One thousand Turks

were killed and the Servian losses were considerable. Belgrade, October 26. General Savoff on AVexbiesday precmptorilv ordtred General Dimitrieff to take Kirk Ivilesseh by Thursday morn-

ing. ■ Tho troops advanced with alacrity in brilliant moonlight, and successive positions were stormed with the bayonet, wherein the Bulgarians excel. The position at ten in the morning was untenable. Mukhtar and. Abdul Pashas and a portion of 'the garrison had ' already escaped to Bunohissar, with a considerable amount of material. . At. eleven the remnant..of the, garrison hoisted tlie.wbrte"'fl"a'g silid surrendered. The Bulgarian casualties were 5000. Reports from Tirnovo show that the Turks fled before the Bulgarians, and arrived! in -a- miserable jplight: ; ; Their rat'lon'sfwete-hall' afkila ; a;liead dailyTilie Bulgarians afeipursuing the fugitives.south, Visa. •The'Jiuthoritaes regard Eirk Kilessch as the Port Arthur of the war. It is estimated that tho garrison consisted of 800f3, while th-e outside support numbered 50,000. rwAfter severalJdayfc' mailcauvring the 'BulgaHaiis completely surrOuntled tltat force. ,r)espijte.tli2 Turkish courage, tho -Bulgarians if -rtVsile<l- earthwork after earthwork upon a fort that crowned a Mil, sheaves of dead jnasking their : , J-■;■■■' : ; ; '. ' -Filially the Turkish courage collapsed and,/Kirk'Kpfsfeh fell. There is plenty of evidence of the use of tlie sword and bayonet. .Many famislied Tiu-lts were'found in. Kirk ''Kilesseh, indiicating' inefficient transport. " / Belgrade,; October 26. The Seivia.ns "liaV'e captured Vuchitin...' |*Seceiv;ed October 27. at 5.5 p.m." London, October 26. TJie. bombardment caused a conflaigrittion in :jKi*k Kilesseh'. (■ ' -There "Was a ter'rific struggle in the vinersjard northwards, from whence the Bulgarians eni eredi masters after an 'hour's street fighting. / . ' They pursued the retreating Turks, whose losses were 1'3,000. • ._- Berlin. October 27.

TJie-Lokalanzeiger-s Starazogova corrbspentient reports 4iliat Pasha's retreat has been cut off.

: DESPOILING THE TURKS. ■Recedved'Qcteber 28, at';oi2s, a.m. ' :,, . : . London, 'October 27., The .Servians have occupied Uskub; -The ! Seiviari 'spoil at Kumanovo was 55 field arid six mountain guns,. and 16 mitrailleuses. , ..:./:':..v........ ■ Tlie : Bulga'rian booty at Kirk Kilesseh' was 58 guns and two aeroplanes. .:■ The turning ..movement Visa continues, and a big Tiattle Has been progressing all to-day. ' Belgrade, October 27. • rThe capture of TJskub was not resisted. , : ' ,- Tlie -consuls have .1 .requested the 'Gtot\4i ■comniandihg the -victorious .ariiiy, .to the inhabitants. The Serna'ni sjpdil at Stiritaa included 13 field guns and nine mortars. Received October 28, at 8.30.a,.m.. Sofia, Octobei- 27. The Bulgarians' spoil at Kirk Kilesseh included seven/baifrteries; of quickfirers wiiji'.ammunitionwaggohs, 18 fieldl guns, .12 twelve howitzers, and provision tents: '. : Mukhtar Pasha', fleeing, abandoned a portion, of -his private baggage. , Twelve 'hundred soldiers at Kirk -Kil'isseh- are prisoners. . Ivanpff is steadily closing the cordon round' Adrianople and' strengthening his positions by earthworks. There"" .was . a heavy bombardtaenit froih the north-westr aiiid a fresli sortie was made towards Arnautkoej, but this was repulsed, the Turks suffering heevily.- ' :: . .' ?

" The Bulgarians at Kirdchali seized one million cartridges, many shells, and quantities of food. The Bulgarians operating in the :;Bregalnilza : Vaßey, had > 'sanguinary encounter, 'but. captured -KJoohaaia, together with 100 prisoners, a. battery of field-artillery, a. mountain battery, and a miaiitity of ammunition. . , Tile population in the Djumaya district are in full 1 " revolt! against the Toirks, and Bulgarian bands are being greatly strengthened by well-equipped •peasants, who have sent their' cattle to Bulgaria. They liave also a-uiried their corncrdps to prevent the Turks making ■use df them.

THE POWERS AND THE STATUS .':' QUO. \

TUfiKISHaINTEGRITY. "Vienna, October 26. The Kirk Kilesseh defeat and the demoralisation of the Turks have made a profound impression. Influential newspapers declare that the;Povyers claim that Turkish integrity cannot'bc upheld. .The' Neuc Freie Presse says the status tjupi is shaken, and the Powers cannot insist on confining the victors to their former limits. The Zoit says Europe. :rihist /accommodate itself to revolutionary changes in the Near-East.-The Foreign Ortice, through the .\Veiner Gazette, declares that Russia and Austria, will inform the Balkan kingsi at the right time that Turkey's integrity must be untouched. The Reichpost savs the status quo of the Balkans is dead, and no dilpomatic skill can, revire .it. Austria has neither the >povvoi nOi the mission to prevent Turkey's collapse. The newspaper hopes it w ill be possible to reconcile Austria's interest with Balkan expectations "Received October 28, at 8.30 a.m. London. October 27 The ObseTv ei 's St Petersburg cor , respondent says xhe war will be stopped within a few'weeks by united; Europe, and all aiTan gem cuts towaids that object are progressing After that Europe will Speak concerning reforms Reutei's Constantinople correspondent states that Hussein. Hilmi's, appointment at Vienna is asenbed to the Porte's deAne to secure Austna-JTun-garv's support iiti tho moment of final settlement. Berlin, October 27 The North Germain Gazette says the Powers ar~o striving to act in unity as soon as the development of the war is ripe therefor.

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER

HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLES. Sofia, October 26. The Bulganans captuied, besides the laihvay station outside Adrianople. thiee forts at MaTash, with 1800 pusoneis, also Havaias, north-east, and Sunlai, north-west of the citj. The Bulganans havo also occupied Potchevo. ■Belgrade, October 26, The Turks v began the offensive at Kumanovo, attacking the Servian pesitiosn, five miles distant, on Wednesday afternoon The battleheld was sbiouded in fog b\ dusk The Tuikish onslaught was checked with scvoie losses on both sides At one in the morning tho Servians appioached the Turkish ontienchments and fought for two hours At daylight tiie Seivian aTtilleij covered a general advance., The country is open and exposed, and the Scmans were undei heavy fire. Nevct theless- they stormed the Turkish carthwoiks, ropeatcdlv diiving out the Turks in a hand-to-hand combat. Manv diopped their rifles, and used knives The Scivians beftne noon had cleared the Bibovkas Vallcv and "Kumanovo, the Turks v llhdiavviiig fifteen kilometres. The S{ iv lan artillei v aiimliilafced tliree squadrons of cavalry The Servians lost, many officers killed, A Turkish officer was wounded, and proved to lip> German. The Turks attempted to retake Novi Bazar, but were practically annihilated. Constantinople, October 26. .Ahmed, son of Muthtar Pasha, Commander at Kirk Kilesseh, was taken prisoner. Sofia, October 26. Tn th<? flighting at Yurush, near .Adriannple. the Turks lost 300 killed and 500 prisoners, three quickfirets, and 12 ammunition waggons. Tho Bulgarians have reached Karadnch. within three and -a-hslf miles of Adrianople. Their hnmbsrdment set fire to a portion of the city. The Bnlsarian-s are »lreadv in possession of the Adrianople railway station.

General Ivanotf is now completing the investment by linking up at Bosniakcui the forces from Arda and Kirk KiKssc-h road. TURKISH MOBILISATION ONLY HALF-COMPLETED. Received October-28, at 8.15 a.m. ' Constantinople, Octpber 27. Mobilisation is only half-completed, and 400,003 men will shortly be concentrated near Constantinople, where a decisive-battle will occur. -■■'•. Received October 28, at 9.40 a.m. _ London, October 2y.-v The Telegraph's Constantinople .-sot-" respondent states that Nazimf Pasha, in an- .interview, said Turkey was unable to .spare manv men «t, Scutari. ' Renter's Constantinople agent states | that TSOO frontier 'refugees, compnsiußag'ed -and decrepit men; -vvbm'eh, ana children, have, arrived : by train at Stamboul, and are being specially housed and fed. • Bucharest, October 2/. '■■' Thousands of' Bulgarian ■reservists, also Russian .volunteers, .have reached Bulgaria fronV Russia. ■ "'..■ '-',.'". . - - " . . Vienna, October 2<. ■ The Slav: Associations in Bohemia are sending to Montenegro'a field hospital of -130 -beds, 15 medical stiidents, and 25 ; nurse's. - _. . • Sofia, October 2r, • Professor Clainnont's Austrian ambulance'section has an-ived. It consists of five well-known doctors (including two. "rnilitary'doctors), and 14 nurses. '..>.■■ .-•,..- Cettinje, October 2y. The Turks rcocciipied several capfyiired;■ "position's at Scutari during torrential ruin. Received .October- 28, at 8.10 a.m. ■ ■%)' .-London, October 27. - The Servian. Legation itiinoimces thaifc 500 Arnoirte and Turks,at Kumauovo were bayonetted for Attacking a detachment sent to receive their surfeKde'r : after" the white flag "had been hoisteH. : ', ; ... : , ,-, ..

: cBoLE|tA IN TimKlSil TROOPS. "'''•'■■' ' : The Tefegrapli'si Conistaiitinople correspoudeJiH; "chotera tiasap-peia-ed; ;among the 'Turkish: Jtroops. It was brought from Anatolia. - -MOSLEM SYMPATHY. | •;':;• - Simla, October 26. The Moslems in the chief centres of India, including Delhi and Bombay, I have subscribed £15,000 to the Red Crescent fund.to assist the Turks.