THE BALKANS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10497, 6 November 1912, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

ABDULLAH’S SHATTERED LEGIONS. A NATIONAL SCAPEGOAT. United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph Copyright. London. November 5. The remainder of Abdullah’s shattered legions, continues Mr Donohoe, wandered across the fields, leaderless and hungry, towards Ohorlu. Hundreds perished from wounds, starvation and cold. Men dropped senseless from fatigue and froze to death. Abdullah was in no better plight than the humblest soldier. He arrived at Ohorlu foodless. He attributes the Bulgarian success largely to an efficient Intelligence Department and superior artillery. For a month Thrace was overrun by Bulgarian spies, and excellent maps were prepared, so that the artillery took up positions at preascertained ranges. In their preparations the Bulgarians displayed the finesse of the Japanese. Abdullah knew the Turkish army was a Colossus with feet of clay, but he did not shirk his duty. Already he is earmarked as. the national scapegoat. The broken army is crawling np the steep and rocky slopes of Ohorlu, over its wide plateau and down the other side across the stony, valley towards • Chatalja, the Bulgarian cannon roaring in the rear. Insatiably death takes its hourly toll. The track is paved with dying. Again the enemy lias shown marvellous celerity in pursuing, the advance guard never being far from the rear of the retreating forces. The defence of Chatalja, from which much is expected, is likely, when subjected to strain, to prove a delusion, and nothing short of the Powers’ intervention can prevent Prince Ferdinand’s entry of Constantinople.

MUEHTAR PASHA. Mr Martin Donohoe, the Daily Chronicle’s correspondent, states that after the Bulgarian wedge was driven in between the several wings, Mukhtar Pasha, retreated in tolerably good order fiercely contesting the ground, losing heavily, and sacrificing his men cheerfully in the hope of giving the shattered half of theJTurkish'army a chance of reforming at Ohorlu. • xn Mukhtar’s rearguard. action, the magnificent third division was annihilated. For five hours it stood its ground ready to die, as the Bulgarians found to their cost when they flung themselves on the Turkish bayonets, the heap of Bulgarian dead covering the ground in front of the third division for half a mile—grim testimony to the fierceness of the struggle.

ARMISTICE IMPOSSIBLE. Paris, November 5. M. Poincaire, replying to Norad Judhigan’s request, said it would be impossible to grant an which would shatter the . Allies’ plan and give Turkey time to reorganise. He was willing to examine a definite peace offer. 1

AUSTRIA’S ATTITUDE. Paris, November 5. The Temps says Russia, France and Britain have set aside interests which might well have taken territorial form. Austria’s silence renders mediation impossible. Vienna, November 5. • Newspapers, discussing Servia’s aspirations to secure a port on the Adriatic, declare that Austria cannot ■ tolerate any shifting of power which threatens her rule over the Eastern Adriatic and blocks her access to the Aegean. TURKEY EMBARRASSED. Paris, November 5. The Porte has notified the Ottoman Ambassadors that the position is not desperate, though embarrassing. MORE MASSSACRES. Athens, November 5. At Satitisn, near Kozani, the Turks pillaged a monastery of the Virgin and cut a monk in pieces. They impaled a year-old child and massacred many inhabitants. COVERED WITH DEAD. London, November s. The Turks defeated at Yenidje consisted of Serpe’s- division _ of 35,000 with thirty guns. The field in the vicinity is covered with dead, amt the roads towards Salonika are strewn with equipment. The army reached Salonika "in complete disorder. • TURKS DEMORALISED. x ■ Belgrade, November 5. It is estimated that the Servians captured two-thirds of the Ottoman artillery. Examination proves that the Turks held almost an impregnable position at the Katchahik Pass. This proves the demoralisation of the Turks in ‘yielding before scarcely a shot had been fired-

THE MONTENEGRINS. •Sofia, November 5. | It.is reported shat the Montenegrins were unable to hold Tarabosch, trom which they were dislodged, leaving several guns, which they disabled. The Montenegrins burned Mohammedan villages at Nossi. The Malissori, who repeatedly attacked the Turks, scored small success..

TUEKO-ITALIAN TREATY. • London, November 5. The Chronicle’s Geneva correspondent states that a secret clause in the Turko-Italian treaty is to-the effect that Italy shall hold the JEgeans during the Balkan war, and shall not yield possession until Turkey requests her to do so.

UNFORTUNATE MUKHTAR. Constantinople, November 5. According to reliable accounts, the Turkish right is meeting „with much success, but the commissariat has failed. Bad weather prevented reinforcements from landing at • tfie Turkish base, at Midia, consequently Mukhtar was' compelled to sacrifice the advantage gained. COMPARISON IN GUNS. Throughout the campaign Turkish artillery officers have been amazed at the superiority of the Oreusot over the Krupp guns. CHRISTIANS FEAR MASSACRE. Hostility to Europeans is increasing, particularly among the lower classes. Some workmen’s guilds openly boast that they have taken a vow to massacre every Christian if the Bulgarians enter Constantinople. The police prevented an aimed gang from marching against the European quarters. . The Greek Patriarch has received information of a terrible massacre at Rodozto. , EFFECT OF THE WAR. London, November 5, Mr F. Acland, speaking at Edmonton, said he was hopeful that the outcome of the war would leave Europe easier than it had been for hundreds of years, and produce amelioration in the government of the great populations. There was nothing in the situation at present to render that impossible. ■.

THE SIEGE OF SOU ARt Uskub, Novembers. The third Servian army is advancing westward towards Durazzo, on the Adriatic. Another division, under Zircovich, from Novibazar, is approaching Scutari. BRITISH STEAMERS CAPTURED Athens, Novembers. The British steamers Austrian and Woolwich have \ been captured at Piraeus with contraband. A MERCHANTMAN DESTROYED Athens, November s. A Greek merchantman struck a mine in Salonika harbour and was blown up close to Austrian warships. THE FORTE’S APPEAL. Received November 6, 9 a.m. Lonclon, November 5. Sir E. Grey, in|the House'of Commons, said it was true that the Porte had appealed to the Powers to secure the suspension hostilities and the Powers were exchanging views. It would be delicate to interfere unless both belligerents asked for it. No one could question the Allies’ right to formulate t their own terms.

THE BRITISH MEASURES. ’ , Vienna, November o. The Neue Friepresse states that diplomatic circles view the British naval measures |in the near “East as a possible prelude to the annexation of Egypt. A PROTEST AND A REPLY. Cettinje, November 5. /Foreign Consuls protested to Prince Danild against shells falling among peaceful Christians and Mohammedans at Skutari. The Crown Prince replied that the town was fortified and neutral buildings ought to be marked with special flags. He concludes -by mentioning the misuse of the white flag, of which the Montenegrin soldiers were made victims. , A RESTING ARMY.

Sofia, November 5. The Mull in the operations at Chorlu is due to the Bulgarian army being given ftwo days’ repose after four days and nights of fighting, The period;_expires to-day when the advance on Chataldja will be resumed with reinforcements from Adrianople. The latter will he replaced by Servians. The second Bulgarian army under Kntinjeff is marching by the coast along the Sea of Marmora to effect a junction with Dimitrieff at Chataldja.

THE GREEKS. Athens, November 5. The Greeks Phara. WATER SUPPLY CUT OFF., Constantinople, November 5. A large force occupied Derkos and cut off. the aqueduct upon which the capital is dependent for the water supply. TURKS SURROUNDED. Bulgarian troops have occupied the region between Chorlu and Chataldja, completely surrounding the Turkish force. DEFENDING CHATALDJA. The Turks are preparing to defend Chataldja. Asiatic troops are constantly arriving and 1500 Circassian horsemen have lauded. A RUMOUR DENIED.

London, November 5. Sir Edward Grey in the House of Commons informed Sir Bonar Law that there is no foundation for the report that Britain had addressed any warning to Bulgaria. (Cheers). The movement of British warships is precisely' similar to that of the other Powers.