Progress of the Balkan War.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 61, 5 November 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War.

(By Electric Telegraph.. —Copyright —United Press Association.)

IRREVOCABLE DISASTER.

London, November 4. Mr. Donohoe, the ‘Daily Chronicle’,s’ correspondent with the Turks at Chcrlu, one of two English correspondents caught in the stampede, says that an irrevocable disaster has befallen the Turks, followed by confusion and a rout unparalleled since Moscow. It was the most complete military disaster since Mukden, and the greatest debacle since Sedan. Forty thousand narrowly escaped the same fate. Sev-enty-live per cent of his artillery are captives.

“MEN MELT LIKE SNOW.”

The men melted like snow before the summer sun. The disintegration was soon general and the demoralisation complete. It was only by handfuls that the army found its way back to Cliorln, the Bulgarian artillery cruelly harassing them and mowing down thousands. The terrible scenes bo witnessed have burned themselves on his memory. Throughout the terrible Hight the superiority of the Bulgarian artillery was pronounced. 'Jiie Turks wore unable to withstand one murderous fire, and withdrew slowly. The gunners were dead and the majority of the horses were killed by the afternoon. The Turks were shelled at Luleburgas. The civilians having previously tied, the noncombatants’ locs was insignificant.

RATS IN A TRAP.

The Bulgarians launched their infantry attacks and stormed the 1 urks, who withdrew, hut the rearguard was caught like rats in a trap.

FOODLE3S FOR TWO DAYS.

Two-thirds of the corps, though foediess for two days, stulmornly resisted, and died to a man. At a railway station four miles from Lulehurgas the Bulgarians were checked for a couple of hours. Here the Turkish cavalry were conpentrated under Salih Pasha and Fend Pasha. As the Bulgars approached they were exposed to an unexpected raking fire from batteries posted on tlie hills round the station. The shr. pnol tore their ranks. Then Salih’s cavalry, dashing from their concealment, swept like a tornado upon the exposed infantry. The Bulgarians turned, and the cavalry rode them down, causing extraordinary havoc. Elatedly the Turks pursued them, when suddenly the Bulgarian machine guns opened, tumbling Turks and horses in a mangled mass.

FEW RETURNED.

Few who entered the charge returned. Meanwhile the Bulgars’ heavy artillery caused the Turkish garrison to retreat, but few reached the hills. Tne Turkish artillery then concentrated on the town of Lulehurgas. Houses wore destroyed and many Bulgarians killed in the ruins. The Bulgars got their artillery into position, and a duel commenced. The Turkish positions were badly chosen, lacking cover and with no trenches for supporting the infan try.

TURKS’ ONLY RAY OF HOPE.

The fourth, last, and only ray of hope for the Turks lay in Mukhtir Pasha’s effort to relieve the pressure by turning the Bulgarians’ left. Abdullah Pasha was unable to accede to the second corps’ appeal for help at Bun-’ arhissar, where the ammunition was exhausted, nor could the centre company at his request hold their ground.

“SUAVE QUI PEUT.”

At three on Thursday a general “sauve qui pent”—every man for himself) —occurred. Everything was abandoned in the stampede across flic Thracian veldt. Seventy-five per cent, of the wounded were further injured by the shrapnel. Out of two battalions which arrived at Lulehurgas on the day of the battle only six were alive at sundown. i

The second corps caught six Bulgarian spies, courtmartiallod and shot them.

MURDEROUS MARKSMANSHIP.

Mr. Donohoe, continuing, states that the Turks lost heavily, but their severe bombardment caused the Bulgars to temporarily evacuate Lulehurgas. Towards evening, however, the Bulgarians’ advance became more rapid. The infantry pushed forward with incredible speed, while the artillery took up positions as coolly as in peace manoeuvres, and know the range to a nicety. The marksmanship was as superb as it was murderous. The Turks were poorly supplied with ammunition, most of which was expended in the morning’s battle.

GUNNERS AV/AIT DEATH.

Many of the Turkish gunners stood by their guns, unable to reply, and awaited death, which came swiftly, while the Turkish front was harrassed by a. terrible fire. As time progressed it became simply a carnage, men falling in hundreds. The appalling shell fire destroyed the morale cf the Turks As night came the Bulgarians fell on the foodless and sleepless men, for the Bulgarians seined endowed with relentless energy. The dead encumber ed the ground. Doctors were few, and ambulances none. The greater portion of the wounded perished during the bitterly cold night. The retreat .for perhaps an hour was orderly, but pressure at the rear reduced the vanguard to a rout.

BULCARS OCCUPY SAKLJOZ.

Two hours after sunrise the Bulgarians learned what had happened to Abdullah’s armv, and started in pursuit, and occupied Sakljoz without a shot being fired in defence.

SHELL FACTORY BLOWN UP.

Cettinje, November 4

Owing to the carelessness of a wo -k----man the shell factory at Old AnMvari caught fire and blow up, killing five.

THE DARDANELLES PASSAGE

(Received 5, R.lO a.m.) Constantinople. November 4. The Porto lias granted the Powers a passage through the Dardanelles. The Turks officially announce Die withdrawal of Chatalja owing to disgn st. The British Consul-General despatched a steamer to embark the Britishers at Rodosto desirous of leaving.

FURTHER TURKISH ATROCITIES

Sofia, November 4. The Turks at Kirk Kilissie shut the Christian solders of the Ottoman regiment in a house and massacred them. They killed a Bulgarian priest after cutting off his nose and gouging out his eyes. Then they massacred the women and children over the priest’s body.

KING PETER'S ASSURANCE.

At TJskub large, crowds acclaimed King Peter’s entry. The King assured the Turkish inhabitants they would be free to live unmolested under the new 10 After the Turks’ flight, the debacle ensued. The scum of the mob began plundering and fired the depot containing ammunition, but volunteers extinguished the blaze before it reached the shrapnel. General Yankovich has reacred Govstivar, on route to Monast;r. It is reported that the_ Skuptstjnu next session will pass a Bill annexing the districts of Novi bazar, Kossovo, TJskub, Voles, Prizrend, and Sibra. Belgrade, November 4. Three million cartridges, five hundred rifles, and seven waggon loads of stores were chptured at Mitrovitza. _ Tno (Servians arc within thirty miles of Moiiastir.

Athens, November 4. The Greek fleet is cruising off the Dardanelles, awaiting the Turkish fleet.

A Greek detachment 1 aided at Stiavros and is advancing on Salonika. The Greeks occupied the Nicopoli;heights overlooking Preveza, blowing up a Turkish battery. The Turks and Bashibazouks fled, but were cap lured. 450 being made prisoners. At Preveza the Turks sank a torpedo boat to avoid capture. Vienna, November 4. The ‘Reichpost’ reports that the captured Turkish officers state that Turkey believed the Bulgarian attack is concentrated on Adrianople, where it would bleed to death trying the capture, thus giving Turkey time to mobilise. They admit a want of unanimity among the loaders. The ‘Ercmdenl)l;vtt’ warns Sorvia for having occupied Prizreno for neither military nor national motives, hut for operations hevond that point.

PROPOSAL FO RFi/iEDI AXIOM.

(Received 5, 9.15 a.m.) Paris, November 4. M. Poincaire has suggested that prior to mediation by the Powers, they should give a pledge not to make good the territorial claims Britain and Russia have accepted, but Germany and Austria have not replied. The papers in Vienna argue that Austria is unable to pledge herself beforehand without knowing the con; o quences. The French newspapers fear that Austria intends annexation, thus open ing the way for other Powers’ ambitions, adding that Italy has an eye on Albania.

Other newspapers suspect Germany of preparing a surprise, and urge M. Poincaire to temporise. It is semiofficially stated that the Porte lias asked Prance to secure too Powers’ intervention in order to stop hostilities and impose an armistice. M. Poincaire replied that France was unable to complete arrangements with out infringing international law, and was only able to examine with all t >e other Powers the demand for mediation, properly so-called, if made. (Received 5, 9.20 a.in.) London, November,-I.

The ‘Daily Mail’s’ Vienna correspondent say's that Austria’s disinterestedness has become, through;, _'t lie overthrow of Turkey, an impossibility. The gravest peril to European peace is that Austria should be allowed a field, she being squeezed between Europe and the Balkan League, or will find herself isolated as a disturbing factor, to the concern of the Powei;s. (Received 5. 9.50 a.m.) London, November 4. It is stated from Balkan official sources that the allies will not tolerate foreign interference, as the conditions of peace of the whole campaign and the political programme were prearranged, and there was not the least danger, of disagreement among the allies regarding the division of territories and tne/definition of frontiers. (Received 5, 10.15 a.m.) Sofia, November 4. The Bulgarians, after fierce fighting, captured Buk railway station, eastward of Drama, thus severing Turk sh communications from Macedonia with Adrianople, The Turks attacked tie Bulgarians in the Bunarishisso districts on Friday, but were routed, five officers and 1300 men with quickfiring battery being captured. Two'Bulgarian divisions operating in Tumrush and Mehomia districts have effected a junction below Nevrokop, and the Bulgarians and Servians united in the Vardar Valley. Both armies are marching on Salonika unopposed. ' Athens, November 4.

Greek gunboats, participating in the attack on Nicopolis, sank two Turkish gunboats. Greek forces at Preveza included Cretan and Epirot volunteers. The Turkisii oflicers were allowed to retain their s words.

The Turkish story of the Greek defeat at Voclena is unfounded. The Crown Prince’s army, after two days’ fierce fighting, routed thousands of Turks at Yenidje, including many strongly entrenched,, and they hotly pursued and captured fourteen iurkisn guns. Constantinople, November 4. Anxiety is increased by the aniyal of hosts of fugitives in a most pitiable state of destitution. The military is requisitioning bread, the sale of which to the public is forbidden until the afternoon. ,

(Received 5, 12.25 p.m.) London, November 4

Britain is communicating with the other Powers before replying to Turkey, M. Poincaire proposed the recognition of political and administrative changes in the parts occupied by the allies, the retention of the Sultan’s sovereignty in Constantinople, and surrounding region, and the summoning of a European conference to which the Balkan States should ho invited.

Pourparlers, armed with powers and proceeding on the basis of M. Poincaire’s proposals, are likely to ho erpedited by the Porte’s application aiming at the cessation or hostilities. Mr. Asquith lias announced that the cruiser Weymouth has arrived at Besik a Bay, and was going to Constantinople.' The British Ambassador bad detained the steamer Citv of Chios in case of the Britishers being end n gored. Arrangements were being made for a second steamer, also for a second warship at Salonika.

(Received 5, 11.35 a.m.) Vienna, November 4. The ‘Reichpost’ says the activity of the garrison at Adrianople is diminishing.

JTie Bulgarians hope soon to transfer the heavy siege guns to ChataJdja. Bashibazouks were guilty of frightful atrocities in the region southward of Babaeski.

Newspaper correspondents at Chorlu state tnat the concensus of estimates at Sofia is that 200,000 Turks were killed and wounded at Lulebuigas.

The Bulgarians during the past few days had 200,000 wounded. it is officially stated that 4000 were killed.