Progress of the Balkan War

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 68, 13 November 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War

THE BATTLE OF FRILEU.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

(United Press Association.)

London, November 12. The ‘Telegraph’s’ Uskub correspondent reports that the Prileu battle was fought in a defile on the highway. Owing to the difficult nature of the pass the Servians used only two mountain guns. The Turks consisted of thirtyfive battalions with eight mountain guns, and were entrenched in a position of enormous strength. Part cf the Crown Prince’s army was ordered through the pass to dislodge the enemy, which was in force on the way to Monastir. The defile through which the Servians were compelled to approach the trenches was so narrow that only one battalion could be deployed in firing line.. The sth Regiment furnished tho first line, but, despite heroic bravery, was repulsed with heavy loss. Fresh troops had a similar experience throughout Monday. Two mountain guns on Monday night were carried over the pass, and dug into the hillside where they could fire on the Turkish trenches. The Servian attempt was renewed at daylight on Tuesday. Later the Util Regiment, despite fearful .osses, captured a rugged steep hill, commanding part of the Turkish defence. The Turks desperately attempted to retake tho hill, considering it the key of the position, but were repulsed with great carnage. The ground was strewn for miles with dead and dying.

ASSAULT ON ADRIANOPLE. Vienna, November 12. The ‘Reichpost’ says that the Bulgarians are conducting an assault on Adrianople, and are striving to make up for the insufficiency of siege batteries bv foolhardy and costly infantry attacks. Of sixteen companies in one charge only two returned. - The Bulgarians are encircling Ro’.oato.

AUSTRIAN DEMONSTRATIONS. Vienna, November 12. Demonstrations in favour cf the Balkan States are frequent in the southern Slav parts of Austria-Hungary. The municipality at Spalato arranged a torchlight procession, wherein the flag of the Balkan Stater, was carried and the Servian Hymn sung. At Agram King Peter was cheered as King of Croatia. London, November 12.

Reuter’s Athens correspondent reports that the Kaiser’s telegram congratulating Princess Sophie on the capture of Salonika concludes with three “Hurrahs.”

DETAILS OF THE BATTLE. London, November 12. Darkness enabled the Servians to gain further positions by the use of the bayonet. The ground was covered with ice and snow, and the hardships were terrible. At dawn on Wednesday fresh Servians occupied the firing lino, two guns supporting a determined attack. For some hours the issue hung in the balance, the Turks tenaciously holding the 'Finally the.Servians advanced through the defile within 300 yards of the'Turks, and charged. The Turks threw down boulders, crushing scores, but the Servians, clambering in the face of a deadly fire, sprang into the trenches, bayonetting and smashing the Turks with clubbed rifles when the bayonets snapped. Soon the enemy was in full flight. The scene was appalling, many scores of dead and wounded lying in the trenches, which were full of snow, trodden and transformed into crimson mud. _ _ .t , H ;* r. The fugitives joined the garrison at Monastir, forming a total of forty-five battalions, with forty puns. Sofia, November 12. Murderous artillery fire repulsed a sortie from the Adrianople north-west front. There were extraordinarily heavy casualties on both sidefe. ? The Bulgarians, after routing the Turks in a series of fierce fights, are advancing towards Salonika. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Cettinje, November 12. The bombardment of Tarabosch was continued. On Sunday evening the Turks were driven to the highest points. Becoming desperate from exposure. intensified by the snow and the lack of food, the garrison attempted to force its way to Scutari, but the Montenegrins drove them back.

AUTONOMY OF ALBANIA. Buda,pesth, November 12. Daneff’s mission is interpreted as an indication that Bulgaria is sympathetic to Austria’s sensitiveness regarding the Servian claims to Albania, which were not part of the allies’ original programme. Bulgaria is now determined to insist on the autonomy of Albania. Vienna, November 12. Franz Ferdinand goes to Berlin at the end of next week to consult the Kaiser regarding the Triple Alliance s action. Sofia, November 12. The Turkish prisoners working on the construction of a railway conn cting the arsenal and the main line, and making ammunition ox waggons, are being paid a franc per day.