THE CAPTURE OF KIRK KILISSE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 29 October 1912, Page 5

THE CAPTURE OF KIRK KILISSE.

MAGNIFICENT GALLANTRY OF

BULGARIANS

DESPERATE HAND TO HAND

FIGHTING

ENTANGLEMENTS WILLED WITH

CORPSES

THRILLING STORY .OF THE

BATTLE

Received 11.29 p.m., Oct. 28

LONDON, Oct. 28

The " Daily Telegraph's" bolia correspondent reports that the armament at Kirk Kilisse consisted of six and eleven-inch guns, there being altogether one hundred pieces. The fortress was reputed to be impregnable- except by mining and major" forms. It was surrounded by redoubts and entrenchments. The Bulgarians did not possess a single siege gun, their victory being something miraculous.

Dimitieh's four divisions formed an immense flying column provided with four days' rations, and an extra snipply of ammunition. Assault followed assault. The Turkish gunnery failed to dislodge any of the attackers from their positions. Bayonet attacks were made at night time, the Bulgarians stealthily advancing to the redoubts, and they must Rave filled the entanglements with their corpses. They sacrificed everything to rapidity. Ladders swayed and,-tottered until placed in position, enabling the soldiers to scale modem forts.- Hand grenades were used. The forts were without searchlights, and rain iand darkness facilitated the approach. A Bulgarian aviator in the daytime perceived a Turkish division hurrying from Adrianonle. Subsequently, on his report, the lurks were ambushed, and decimated Ihpv abandoned their artillery. The garrison consisted of 10.000 rnon. Two hours before the crowninc Bayl onot charge, two regiments of Kurdish envnlrv made a sortie towards the Bulfnnnn 1-rio with a view to opening the rond for th G infantry to protect the withdrawal. The Bulgarian cavalry oansrht thorn on tho flank, this leading +o an inextricable and .sinr^inary ptC In cement of horses and men. " The' hnrds fled, and the Bulgarians imme(liatelv annihilated a regiment of info ntrv m the viVnt-v. The Turks ro'zed with panic, fled.

Renter's Sofia oorrc-nonrlent reported +Vof tho Turks loft 500 dead at Kirk hnisse.