Progress of the Balkan War

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 73, 19 November 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War

CHATALDJA ATTACKED. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press xTssociation.) Constantinople, November 18. Though firing shrapnel daily, a doi liberate attack on Chataldja was made at three o’clock on Sunday morning. Six Turkish torpedoers and gimboacs are lying close to Bsynk Chekmedjo, ready to shell the Bulgarians if they attempt to cross the shallow lake. The artillery duel continues all day. Nazira Pasha reports that i e repulsed the centre and left attacks, and destroyed three Bulgarian batteries. The’ military precautions taken in tho city have been posted. Mussulman refugees are arriving at the Bosphorus villages from tho firing line. The ambassadors met at the Austrian Embassy and discussed safety measures. THE CHOLERA FIEND. There are a thousand cases cf cm 1ora at Chataldja, and the daily mortality is 50 per cent. Numberless cholerastricken men lie moaning in the trenches. Alriza Pasha, commander of the First Army Corps, is affected, and his condition is hopeless. A thousand sick and hundreds of dead are lying on tire station platform. Three thousand cholera patients remained in the railway carriages at Sun Stefano for twenty-four hours, foodless and waterless, pending a decision of their destination. Ultimately, they were sent to tho quarantine : t ition. It is regarded as impossible that the Bulgarians will occupy the Turkish lines, for fear of infection.

AN ARTILLERY DUEL. London, November 18. ■‘Tlio Times’’ Chataldja correspond - snt says that the Bulgarian artillery positions are less advantageous than che Turkish ones. The black background disclosed the flash of the batteries as soon as they were Unmasked. The Bulgarians threw their shells too high. The casualties wore slight. A Turkish warship joined in the duel, firirg heavy broadsides and capping the Bulgarian right with great pillars . of quirting mud. The fire was the heaviest artillery combat since the Japanese pounded General Grekoff’s rearguard at Liaoyang. Small groups of Bulgarian infantry dribbled loosciv but gallantly forward, but the Turkish gunners found them nicely. The movement failed. The Turkish machine guns stifled a similar movement in the direction of Hededieh forts. MONTENEGRINS VICTORIOUS. Cettinjo, November 17. The Montenegrins have occupied San Giovanni. There was a severe fight before the Montenegrins reached San Giovanni. The losses were .heavy, the Turks fled towards Alcssio The Montenegrins are closing in on Scutari. REPUBLICAN CONSPIRACY. Constantinople, November 18. It is understood that 200 arrests have been made in connection with the plot to create a republic under Shew kot Pasha. The arrests include Tadaal Bey, Captain Djam Poulat, and several Young Turk ex-Beputies. One of the Fatter mortally wounded a policeman, *Snd vtmis ' %l\ersup(Sn’ l " i and sentenced to death. Several were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. I)javid Bey escaped in a Russian vessel. Salonika, November 17. The explosion killed 312 Turkish prisoners and injured 430. It is believed to have been an act of vengeance on the part of two Bulgarian band loaders, Sandansky and Me ml jo ft’, for the Turks destroying their bands. Athens. November 18. All the houses in the vicinity of the Salonika magazine were destroyed. The magazine contained Servian ammunition. Cettinje, November 18. A shell exploded a magazine in the town of Martinivitch. HOSTILITIES SOON CEASE. (Received 8.5 a.m.) Vienna, November 18. The ‘Rcichpost’ states that hostilities at Chataldja will soon cease. The Bulgarian plan is to secure the positions and exclude the possibility of reverse. As a condition of the negotiations ■regarding entering Constantinople, in the armistice, the Serb deputies in the Bosnian Diet resolved in favour of Servia extending her territory to the Adriatic Sea.

The police dispersed Servian students demonstrating at Serajado. Two Dalmatian Councils have dissolved owing to pro-Balkan sympathies.

Ukranian students at Gukavna who smashed the Russian Consulate windows, were arrested. The Austrian Consul escaped to Mitrovitza, where he is practically a prisoner. The Consul at Prizrend was similarly; treated because he transmitted Austrian news of Servian outrages. The Albanian Consul at Mitrovitza alleges he saw many Albanian bodies floating in the river. Berlin, November IS. The military correspondent of the ‘Lokalanzeiger’ says that under pres ent conditions it is possible Adrianoplc will hold out for two months. The allies are still outside the range of the real defences. The Turks are foolish in their negotiations, as at present the best Bulgarian troops have been decimated, and the last man and the last rifle have been sent to the front. SERVIAN SUCCESSES. (R eceivcd 9.15 a.m.) Belgrade, November 18. Twenty thousand Turks opposed the Servians at Monastic in tenable weather. The Servians, who were often knee-deep in water, captured Oblako va and Kochista Heights (3600 ft) b.t brilliant night attacks; simultaneously the right wing threatened the Turaish retreat. The Turks made desperate resistance, the Servians losing 200. Fighting is being continued. SURRENDER OF MON ASTI R. 50,000 PRISONERS. (Received 11.50 a.m.) Belgrade, November 18. Monastic has surrendered. The Servians took 50,000 prisoners, including three Pashas.

(.’Received 11.25 a.m.) Belgrade, November 18. King Potor attended thanksgiving mass at Uskuh. Athens, November 18. The Greeks have occupied Icaaia. (Received 1:5 p.m.) Berlin, November 19. The King of Bulgaria has summoned a German specialist to stamp out cholera in the Bulgarian army.