Progress of the Balkan War.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 62, 6 November 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War.

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

THE STORY OF LULEBURCAS.

cut a monk into, pieces, impaled a throe-year-old child, and massacicd many inhabitants. A'Greek merchantman struck a mine in Salonika harbour, and was blown up close to the Austrian warships. The ‘Chronicle’s’ Geneva correspc ndent states that a secret clause in the Turko-Italian treaty was to the eileco that Italy holds the Aegean Islands during tlie Balkan War, and will not y iold possession until Turkey requests her.

London, November 5. Mr. Martin Donohoo, the ‘Daily Chronicle’s’ war correspondent, continuing his report of the fighting at Luleburgas, says that after the Bulgarian wedge had been driven in between the several wings, Mukhtir 1 asha (commander of one cf the armies) retreated in tolerably good order, fiercely contesting the ground, losing heavily and sacrificing men cheeviu.ly in the hope of giving the shatered halt of the Turkish army a chance of reforming at Chorlu. Mukntir Pasha’s rearguard action was magnificent. The third division was annihilated. For five hours they stood their ground ready to die, as the Bulgarians found to their cost when they flung themselves on the_ iurkish bayonets, a heap of Bulgarian dead covering the ground in front cf the third division for half a mile—grim testimony to the fierceness of the struggle. The Shattered Legions.

ARMISTICE IM PRACTICABLE.

Paris, November 5. The Porte has notified the Ottoman Ambassadors that the position is not desperate, though embarrassing. M. Poincaire, replying to a request, says it is impossible to establish an armistice, which would shatter the al ies' plan and give Turkey time to reorganise. 'His willing to examine a definibe piace order. ‘Le Temps’ says that Russia, France and Britain have set aside interests which might well have taken territorial form, whilst Austria’s silence renders mediation impossible.

The remainder of the shattered legions of Abdullah Pasha (Command-or-in-Chief )wandored acioss Thracian fields leader!ess and hungry, towards Chorlu. Hundreds perished iroin their wounds, starvation and cold. Men dropped senseless from fatigue, and froze to death. Abdullah Pasha himself was in no better plight than the nimblest soldier. He arrived at Chorlu foodless. , ~ , Abdullah attributes the Bulgarian success largely to their efficient intelligence department and superior artillery. For a month Thrace was overrun by' Bulgarian spies. Excellent maps were prepared, so that the artillery took up positions at pre-ascertainod ranges. In their preparations the Bulgarians displayed the finesse of the .Japanese.

POSITION OF THE TURKS,

Belgrade, November 5. It is estimated that the Servians captured two-thirds of the Ottoman artillery. _ An examination proves that tue Turks held almost an impregnable position at Katchanik Pass, a fact which proves the demoralisation of the Turks, they yielding before scarcely a shot was fired.

Sofia, November 5. Twenty battalions of Turks on Sunday, supported by artillery, made sorties on both banks of the Maritza river, west of Adriancple. The Bulgarians, by a vigorous counter-attack, drove hack the enemy to their fortress, inflicting heavy losses.

“A Colossus with Feet of Clay.”

Abdullah knew the Turkish army was a colossus, with leet of clay, hue ■ad not shirk his duty. Already he is earmarked as the national scapegoat. Uic broken army is crawling up tuo steep ,rocky slopes of Chorlu, over ids wide plateau, and down on the otJicr side across the stony valley towards juatalja, not many/ miles from the capital. The Bulgarian cannon arc coai'iii ir in the rear. Insatiable death takes Hourly toll, the track being paved with dying. Mr. Doiioiioo goes on to say that again the enemy have shown marvelunis celerity in pursuing the advance ouard, they never being far from tne rear. The defence of iduvtalja, from which much was expected, is likely', wnen subjected to the strain, to prove a delusion. MARCH OH CONSTANTINOPLE. Vienna, November 5. The ‘Reiehpost’ says that -10,UJU Servians are pushing forward to strengthen the Bulgarians at Adiiunople, to enable the latter to join in the march to Constantinople. The previous engagements made serious gaps in the vulgarians’ forces, and these require to bo filled in order to permit of the march on Constantinople being the triumph which the victorious army demands. TURKS’SMALL SUCCESS. Vienna, November 5. It is reported that tiie Montencg ins were unable to hold 'Jarabosch, ceing dislodged, but ’leaving several guns, which they disabled. The Montenegrins burned the Moammedan villages at Moasi Missobni, which was repeatedly attacked. The Turks scored a small success. THE TURKS’ COMMISSARIAT. s Constantinople, November 5. According to reliable accounts, the Turkish right was -meeting with much success, but the commissariat failed. Bad weather prevented reinforcements landing at the Turkish base at Midia /in the Black Sea); consequently Mukhtir Pasha was compelled to sacrifleo the advantage ho gained throeghout the campaign. The Turkish artillery officers are amazed at the superiority of the Civusot over the Krupp guns. V NEWS OF MASSACRES. Hostility towards Europeans is increasing, particularly' among the lower classes. Some of the workman’s guilds openly boast that they have taken a vow to massacre every Christion if the Bulgarians enter Constantinople, or Roumelia is severed from Turkey. The police prevented an armed gang from marching against the European quarters. . The Greek patriarch has received information of a terrible massacre at iiodozto. THE THIRD SERVIAN ARMY. ITskulj, November 5. The third Servian army is advancing westward towards Dupazzo (a port on the Adriatic). Another devision, under General Zircovich, from Novi bazar, ,is approaching Scutari to help tlie Montenegrins. AUSTRIA’S FUTURE. Vienna, November 5. The newspapers, discussing Servian aspirations to secure a port in the Adriatic, declare that Austria will not tolerate any shifting of power which will threaten her rule over the eastern Adriatic and block her access to the Aegean Sea. WHAT THE WAR MAY DO. London, November 5. Mr. E. Aclnml (Financial Secretary for War), speaking at Edmonton, said he was hopeful tnat the outcome of the war would leave Europe easier than it had been for hundreds of years, and produce an amelioration in the government of great populations. There was nothing in the situation at present to render that impossible. THE RETREAT TO SALONIKA. Athens, November 5. The Turks defeated at Gendijo e n sisted of a Semes, division of 25,000. with thirty guns. The field in the vicinity was covered with dead. The roads towards Salonika are strewn with equipment. The Turkish army reached Salonika in complete disorder. THE UNSPEAKABLE TURK. At Satiti.su, near Kozani, the Turks pillaged the monastery cf the Virgin,

WARSHIPS WASTING ORDERS.

Odessa, November 5. Eleven Russian warships are at the entrance to the Bosphorous, awaiting oj dors.

THE PORTE’S APPEAL.

(Received 8.50 a.m.) London, November 5

Sir Edward Grey, in the House of Commons, said it was true that the Porte had appealed to the Powers to secure a suspension of hostilities, and that the Powers were exchanging views. It would be delicate to interfere unles both belligerents asked for intervention. No one could question too Allies’ right to formulate their own terms.

THE NEUE FREIE.

Vienna, November 5. The Neue Erie Presse states that diplomatic circles view the British naval measures in the Near East as a possible prelude to the annexation of tfgypt.

SHELLING PEACEFUL CITIZENS

Cettinge, November 5. The foreign Consuls have protested to Prince Kanil against shells falling among peaceful Christians and Mahommedans at Skutari. The Crown Prince replied that the town was fortilied, and neutral buildings ought to be marked with special flags. He concluded by mentioning the misuse of the white hag of widen Montenegrin soldiers were made victims. THE ADVANCE ON CHATALDJA. Sofia, November 5. There is a lull in operations at Oborin, duo to the Bulgarian army being given two davs’ repose after four days and nights. The fighting period expires to-day, when cue advance on Ohataldja will he resumed with reinforcements--from' Adrianople. The latter will be replaced by tile second Bulgarian army under General Kutinjeff, marchin-' by the coast along the sea of Marmora, to effect a junction with General Dimitrieff at Ohataldja. THE CREEKS AT PHARA. Athene, November 5. The Greeks occupied Phara. CUTTING OFF THE WATER. (Received 6, 11 a.m.) Sofia, November 5. A large force occupied Derkks and cut off the aqueduct upon which the Capital is dependent for its water supply. Bulgarian troops have occupied the region between Chorlu and Ohataldja, completely surrounding one Turkish force. Constantinople, November 5. The Turks are preparing to defend Ohataldja. Asiatic troops are constantly arriving. 1500 Circassian horsemen having landed. CHEERING SIR EDWARD GREY. Sir Edward Grey informed Mr. Bonar Law that there was no foundation for the report that Britain had addressed any warning to Bulgaria. (Cheers.) TJie movement of the British warships was precisely similar to other Powers.

HOW BRITAIN IS INTERESTED.

In a well-informed article on the situation in the Balkans, as it was at the beginning of the year, a writer in 'Round Table’ pointed out the inevitableness of war occurring this year, and the great danger to the peace of the world which would follow. Forecasting the probable result if the scramble in the Balkans became general, ho said : “It may leave things exactly as they are, because no one is able to win a

decisive victory, and because the chief parties can reach no agreement about changes, or it may involve a complete ’•'’-settlement. If so, the maximum change that seems possible is that Austro-H angary should incorporate Sqrvia, Montenegro and the Southern Slavs, that Bulgaria should annex South-eastern Macedonia and reach the Mediterranean, that Greece should acouiro Crete, the Aegean Islands and Epirus, and that Albania should form a new State, wedged between Austin the greater Bulgaria and Greece under some sort of international orgmi-atou Thus would the political organisation of the Balkans he founded on language ami race. “What of Turkey and Russia? Turkey would probably retain Constantinople—the last outpost of her ancient

Empire in Europe—because no other arrangement would command the assent of the Powers. If Russia were willing to treat Bulgaria as its advance guard, a pacific agreement with Austria would ho possible. But she would require a new arrangement about the Dardanelles and probably territorial compensation elsewhere. And is there any doubt that that would mean a further approach to the Persian Gulf, at the expense of Turkey or Persia?

“Whatever ill. Sazan off may say or desire, Russia is bound to move" towards tilt' Persian Gulf so long as she does not break up internally, and so long as Persia and Turkey remain as chaotic as they are to-day. It is not a question of her policy or ambitions, it is a question of necessity—the same necessity which has driven us to conquer India, Egypt, Rhodesia, and the Soudan. Tims is the British Empire vitally interested in the Balkan question. for it may bring appreciably nearer the day when the greatest land empire in the world, containing more than 150,000,000 white people, will break its pennant on the oceans which wash the shores of South Africa, New Zealand, India, and Australia.”