THE BALKANS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10477, 12 October 1912, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

TRANSPORTING RESERVISTS. - —-v- ■■■-lixju; 73WMM United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Veinna, October 10. Several Greek steamers have been commandeered at Cardiff to transport Greek • reservists resident in England. COMPETITION FOR CRUISER. London, October 10. Greece and Turkey are competing for the purchase of the Chinese cruiser Chambo, which is being built at Elswick, and is now ready for steam trials. WAR BEGINS. HEAVY FIGHTING AND HEAVY LOSSES. ! Constantinople, October 11. Five Embassies presented a collective Note couched in energetic noncemmiuatory terms, declaring their intention to discuss the realisation of reforms in Asia, the Treaty of Berlin' and the Declaration of the International Commission in 1880. Five thousand students, all armed with revolvers, despite the troops, forced their way to the Grand Hall of the Porte. . The Minister of Marine left the Council and addressed the students. On the explanation that the application of Article 28 did not mean the granting of autonomy, the students hissed excitedly. The Minister continued by stating, “The longer war is delayed, .the better for Turney.” The students replied: “Down with the Berlin Treaty. We want war. ” Tiie Grand Vizier also spoke. Athens, October 11.

Harrowing accounts are being received of the excesses of the TurcoAlbanian brigands at Epuris, where they are burning homes and terrorising Christians. Porlgoritza, October 11.

War has begun. The King and the Princes, with a brilliant staff, attended a little church to witness the Bishop bless the standard. The first shots were fired amid Montenegrin hymns and church bells. Podgoritza is the centre of a splendid system of macadamised|roads. Early on Thursday the Montenegrins resumed the bombardment of Detchitch, a detached hill strongly fortified, and covering the entrance to Tnrmi. The battery was silenced at 11 o’clock. Meanwhile, there is heavy fighting at Tuzi, where there is a garrison of about two thousand. The result is unknown. Tuzi commands the road to Scutari, where the garrison is reported to be 12,500, in addition to Bssad Pasha’s five thousand. Tuzi offers the only opportunity for serious Turkish resistance. There are 50 miles of natural obstacles to the Montenegrins, in the shape of small rivers.,. Otherwise the road runs through a plain three miles wide. King Nicholas has long coveted Scutari. If he annexes it, he is likely to offend Austria, owing to the latter’s protectorate of the Catholic Albanians.

Vienna, October 11. Negotiations are pending between Austria and Russia aiming at a policy of disinterested action, based on the understanding that Novibazar shall remain Turkish. M. Berchtold, speaking ,to an Austrian delegation, stated shat tbe exercise of the Emperor’s protectorate over the Catholics in Albania was difficult, owing to the prevailing excitement. London, October 11. _ The Montenegrins sileiSfced a fortified mountain position at D etch itch. The Turkish garrison surrendered with four guns._ There were heavy losses on both sides. Berlin, October 11.

The Kaiser ordered the German Embassy to place several floors at the disposal of Turkey’s wounded. Turkey" accepted tbe offer with gratification.

WAR CERTAIN. Received October 1, 10 a. in. London, October 11. Correspondents and the Balkan capitals agree that war is certain. They attribute the delay to a desire to complete mobilisation. The Chronicle’s Belgrade corresuondent says the Montenegrins have occupied Berana. / ( SOME INCIDENTS, Eighteen Turkish battailous on the left bauk of the River Lim are re ported to be isolated. The Servian insurgents burned the barracks at Berana, and killed some soldieis. . Telegrams from Constantinople announce a Montenegrin defeat at Berane. The Daily Mail’s correspondent says field guns are heard at Eoteha on the Bosnia frontier. A telegram from Novi bazar says the leave of Austrian officers lias been suspended. Tbe Telegraph’s Belgrade correspondent states that Baslii Bazouks burned three villages on! Monday j and attacked a monastery at Vratchevo. The villagers went to help and many were killed or wounded.

AN APPALLING RANSOM. Sofia, October 11. M. Gneschoff, President of the Council, interviewed _on the impending war, said “It is an appalling ransom we are going to pay tor the freedom of our Christian brethren. ” THE SINEWS OF WAR. The Minister of Finance states that Bulgaria lias four millions sterling in her warchest, and therefore I without risk can issue twelve millions of paper money. GREECE SECEDES. Berlin, October 11. The Frankfurter Zeituug states that asm result of the negotiations ! Greece has been induced to abandon ! the Bulgarian Alliance, and will be I demobilised immediately.

Geneva, October 11. Reuters’ Athens correspondent reports that the Crown Prince has been appointed Oommander-in-Chief in Thessaly, and is expected to join the troops to-morrow. Cettiuje, October 11. After 14 hours fighting the Montenegrins captured a fort dominating Tuzi and opening the road to Scutari. Martinovics crossed the Bojana and captured the block houses near Scutari.

A WARNING FROM FRANCE. Received October 12, 10 a.m. Paris, October 11. Baron Destouruelles de Constant, in an open letter to King Nicholas, denounces the declaration of war and warns him that it incurs the ceusurejff the civilised world. Sofia, October 11. 2 Five aviators have joined the army. TURKISH PREPARATIONS. Constantinople, October 11. Mobilisation is proceeding rapidly and smoothly. Nazim Pasha has been placed in supreme command. It is estimated that a week hence 140,000 Anatolian troops will be concentrated in European Turkey, making a total of 400,000 men. Guns and ammunition are being poured into the district between Adrianople and Kirkilisse behind a chain of forts devised by Von Der Goltz in 1909. The Turks have armed the Pomaki Bulgarians, who, under Ahmed Agsa, were responsible for the Batak massacre in 1877. The Porte by enrolling the students has silenced a troublesome element.

CHINESE CRUISER SOLD TO GREECE. Loudon, October 11. The Chinese cruiser Ohamho lias been sold to Greece. PRINCESS AS NURSE. Received October 12, 1 p.m. Athens, Otocber 11. Princess Alice has started for the frontier with a number of nurses. AUSTRIAN PRECAUTIONS. Yienna, October 11. Austria has informed the Porte that the garrisons at Bosnia are being reinforced, inasmuch as Montenegro .has brought the theatre of hostilities to new Austrian territory. Cettinje, October 10. The Malissori are assisting the Montenegrin's. The latter are advancing. Tiie losses on both sides are heavy.