New-York tribune., 1912-11-04
ROUT OF THE TURKS
TOLD BY A WITNESS
Nothing Like It, Says Martin H. Donohue Since Napoleon
Retreat from Moscow-Forty Thousand
MosIems FALL
[By Cabl. to The Tribune ]

AVASClNIl
[ BY Gable to The Tribune
London, Nov. 4.--"The Daily Chroni-
Gle" publishes to-day a special cable
dispatch giving graphic story of the
great rout of the Turkish army. II is
told by Martin II. Donohoe, who was
with the Turkish troops In their panic
stricken flight. There has been nothing
like it, he says, since Napoleon's his
toric retreat from Moscow. Forty
thousand men, the flower of the Turk
ish army, fell and 10 per cent of the
Turkish guns were captured. The
Turkish generals are trying to stem the
panic and the remnant of the army is
making final stand.
1t is not expected, however, that
many troops will ever get behind the
line of forts at Tchataldja. The cable
gram is dated Chorlu. November !, bv
motor car to Constantirople. 1t arrived
there on November .. and was taken by
boat to Constanza. Rumsnia, arriving
there at noon on November 3, whence
II was cabled 10 London.
It's tenor shows that an irrevocable
disaster has befallen the Turkish army
"a terrible appalling defeat. This has
been followed by utter confusion and
by a rout. for which there is scarcely
a parallel in history. The rout, which
i'm its latter stages degenerated into a
wild panic and stampede, quickly COM
municated itself TO the whole fighting
force.
Four Army Corps Decin,ated.
AS wire" says the dispatch. -four
fine corps forming Abdullah's splendid
army lie battered and decimated. The
defensive lines fed pellmell before the
advancing Bulgars. 1t has been the
most complete military disaster since
Moukden. the greatest debacle since
Sedan. Forty thousand men, the flow
er of the Turkish troops, have fallen
while Abdullah himself narrowly es-
capped the same fate.
l1lS men SttAllVh " AAA'iN "''S 'N'
denly, like snow before a summer sun.
The disintegration once begun soon be-
came general. Brigades dissolved into
regiments, regiments into companies
and companies became small groups,
until all cohesion disappeared and the
Generalization was complete. BY
handfuls the army found its way back
to Tchorlu, the Bulgarian artillery
cruelty harrassing them and moving
them down in thousands.
For a like disaster one is compelled
to turn to Napoleon's memorable re-
treat from Moscow. ] have seen many
campaigns, but this is the first time
have been with beaten and fleeing
army. and the terrible scenes l have
witnessed have burned themselves into
my memory.
oIn order TO avoid confusion | viii
make clear the position Of the Turkish
fnrce. After Kirk -Kilisseh the Turks
had retreated southwest and taken up
a new line. Its left wing, formed by
the Fourth Corps under Abouk Pacha'
occupied Baba Eski and the heights
west of Lule Burgas. Next came the
First Corps, under Favir Pacha. The
Turkish line ran thence TO Bunarhis-
sar. round which lay the Second Corps
under Nazir Pacha. At the extreme
right flank. with its base at Visa, was
the Third Corps. under Muktar Pacha.
Early on Tuesday the Fourth Corps.
on the extreme left, found itself hotly
engaged with the enemy. The Turks
held the line on the hills west OF Lule
Burgas. The Bulgarians, advancing In
large numbers, strongly supported by
artillery. speedily drove back the Turks,
who retired in the direction OF Lule
Burgas.
throughout the terrible fighting the
superiority Of the Bulgarian artillery
was very pronounced. The Turks were
unable to stand the murderous fire
and withdrew slowly. Their sunners
being dead and the majority Of the
horses killed, the artillery was forced
10 abandon many guns TO the enemy.
THE Bulgarians, who displayed ex-
traordinsry energy, pressed forward,
determined TO make the most OF their
advantage. BY afternoon the Bull
garians had shelled the Turks out Of
Lule Burgas. Fortunately, the inhabi-
tants had previously fed, and the loss
OF life among non-combatants there
fore was insignificant.
Having effectually sllenced the fire
of the Turks, the Bulgarians launched
an infantry attack, which stormed the
town at the point OF the bayonet. The
greater part Of the Turkish garrison
-h..n L., ,I,Ithdrnu,n