Progress of the Balkan War.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 63, 7 November 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War.

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

RETREAT FROM LULEBURGAS

fip-ht in the district between Serai and Cliorln. The Turkish rearguard lied. Both sides sustained heavy losr.es.

PLIGHT OF THE WOUNDED

LANDING BLUE JACKETS.

London, November 6

The Daily ’Telegraph's correspondent, describing the retreat after Luleburgas, says that the strongest speedily got to the front, but tiie Avoak and wick and Avounded struggled painfully behind. Thousands oi wounded made pathetic ettorts to keep up with, their comrades. Man/ fell on die roadside, crawled off the track and died. For three days all Avere foodless. Every stream and mud-pond Avere filled Avitn men in a fearful struggle to quench their thirst.

Constantinople, November 6. Three thousand2six hund. ed wounded have arrived. Admiral Milne, commanding the MediteiTaiican .station cruiser Good is proceeding under full steam to Constantinople, and arranging to land a lai'ge force of bine-jackets. The Turks surrendered at Praliep, after sharp lighting, in which they sustained considerable losses.

The correspondent adds that the Tunts had, at the commencement of the campaign, two thousand officers short. The loss of officers iu the battle was enormous; hence it was an mipussioilicy to maintain the semblance or order.

“SCUTARI COULD HOLD OUT.”

(Received 7, 10.10 a.m.) Ccttiaje, November 6. The Austrian military attache landed at Scutari under the white Hag to report" Turkish defeats in Thrace and Macedonia. The commandant declined to believe him, and declared Scutari could hold out for three months.

The retreat, looking back Irom the rising ground at Chorlu, presented an extraordinary sight. Fifty thousand stragglers dotted the plain, men, horses, guns and ox Avaggons all converging on tAvo roads _ leading to GlioiTu, and bent on reaching the town iciore nightfall. If the routed army fails at Chorlu • o AviJJ fall back on Constantinople, the starving hordes there are bound uu begin looting. 'J ho city’s forces ate incapable of preserving order. The military authorities at Constantinople throughout the campaign deliberately deceived the outside world, nopuig (mat tiie bravery of the ’Luries would puli them through at the elevjiith hour. Tho army (adds the cmrespondent) Avas defeated by sutler starvation rather than by any otnor factor. The Turkish army, he says, itas no general staff capable of i mining ■t country circus. The greatest battle of modern times Avas longht Avithout tno smallest preparation to succour the wounded. Inc low surgeons available lacked every necessity. The artillery had but a lew hours’ supply of ammunition. Whole battalions and brigades consisted ol ignorant Anatolian peuiants, thousands of Avhom had nerer handled a iilia oefore. The corrosuoudent did not see a Turkish machine gun in action. _ * iiio Bulgarians’ artillery, on the other hand, Avas matchless. Tiie ammunition supply amis a masterpiece of organisation. The machine gun fire was deadly.

AT THE BAYONET’S POINT.

(Received 7, 11.36 a.m.) Belgrade, November 7. The Turks who were defeated at Kumanovo are assembling twenty battalions, and many guns, in the mountains between Knprili and Prilep. As the roads have since become impassable, the Servians were unable to utilise artillery, but thetinfantry, nevertheless, obtained a brilliant victory in face of a murderous'artillery lire. They took position after position at the point of the bayonet. ‘ ... The Servians are now in the vicinity of Salonika, which is completely invested.

ADRIANOPLE IN HABITANTS.

Sofia, November 7

The populace at Adrianople is par ic,stricken, and there is fighting to obtain food.

A Bulgarian Red Cross hospital has been opened with 2000 bods at Tirnovo. Vienna, November 7.

Many newspapers are convinced that Austria and Italy will veto any attempt by Sorvia to obtain an outlet to the Albanian coast.

St. Petersburg, November 7. The police dispersed a meeting of the Slavonic Association, when fiery ,speeches were delivered against Austria and Germany.' • Constantinople, November 7. The Porte has warned •- the local Kurds that they will be held responsible if they start trouble.

Bucharest, November 6

There are indications that Roumania desires tlie old frontier of Rusthuch and V’onia, and will join the Triple Alliance ior support. Belgrade, November 6. The Servian casualties to the 3rd inst. are as follows: Killed: 72 officers, 3117 men. Wounded : 238 officers and 9682 men. Missing: 688 officers and men.

In the Capital it is reported that the Turkish right wing revolted on account of lack of food. It is hoped that train loads of bread despatched since Sunday will avert.a panic. The Bulgarian night attacks on camps are described as marvellous, and are aided by powerful searchlights. They dropped shells with the utmost accuracy into Nazim Pasha’s headquarters at Hademkinij, inside the centre of the Chataldja lines. If Constantinople be occupied, it is expected the Turkish Government will cross the Bosphorus and disclaim all responsibility for the situation and avoid signing a treaty.

PORTE SUES FOR MEDIATION.

Paris, November 6

Turkey has renewed its request for mediation. M. Poincaire, the Premier, repeated his previous answer, that he was prepared to consult the Po wers if the belligerents accepted mediation.

REFUSAL TO SURRENDER

Cettinje, November 6

Montenegrin and Austrian officers, under the wnifce flag, demanded the surrender of scutari and Rizabey, hut the demand was refused. The Montenegrins have occupied Alessia and the ports of Sangiovanni and Demedua. The Servians and Montenegrins have jauctioned at Ipek, and are now marching against Diakova. MANY VICTIMS TO DISEASE. London, November 6. The ‘Lancet’s’ correspondents at the front state that the mortality arising from disease in the Balkans is likely to lie enormous. The arrangements of both sides for dealing with the sick and wounded are inadequate. Starving noncombatants are pouring into Constantinople. Disease is likely to decimate them. AUSTRIA NOT ANTAGONISTIC. Budapesth, November 6. Count Bcrchtokl, addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee, said tjie present aspirations of the allies was incompatible with the principle of the integrity of Turkey, but Austria showed no tendency towards territorial expansion. Austria was prepared to make, largo allowances for the new situation created by the allies’ victories, and lay the foundations of a lasting and friendly understanding. On the other hand Austria also had the right to doimind that her legitimate interests should not suffer in the settlement. He hoped Roumania’s interests wc.u'd meet with corresponding consideration.

Constantinople, November 6. H.M.S. Waymouth has arrived in the Bosphorus. Snow is falling on the mountains, delaying the military developments of both sides.

The embassies have requested permission for the passage of a second warship through the Dardanelles. Vienna, November G.

The whole of the, Turkish a rmy is not as >et within the Chataldja line. The western section, which took up a position east of Cliorlu, was vanquished yesterday, and is retreating to Chataldja. ■J ne ‘iieichpost’ says that the Montenegrins crossed the Bojana River, but a superior Turkish force at Berdica compelled them to retire. Vienna, November 6.

The Bulgarian left wing of 54,000 men has reached Stroudja, and will continue the advance on Icherkeakeui, the main body passing through Strondja or the region behind Derkos and the Chataldja lino. 'The southern army will execute a frontal attack on Chataldja-

BATTLE NEAR ADRIANDPLE. Sofia, November 6. A battle lasting all day has just taken place near Adrianoplq. 1 wenty thousand Turks attempted to break through the besiegers of Adrianople. .Both lost heavily. The Bulgarians by a violent general bayonet charge, com.polled the Turks to retire within their lines,, where they were supported 'by artillery. The Bulgarians did uo 1 follow the refugees'. They state Ad vi:uioplo’s water supply is cut off, and the inhabitants are dependent on the river. There is much sickness.

TWO DAYS’ FIGHTING. (Received 7, 5.30 a.m.i Sofia, November 0. There has been a great two days’