The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-11-21
TURKS HOLD own
IN ARTILLERY FIGHT
An-Cay Bombardment Of Teha-
taIja Line Fails to Rout Them.
WORST SINCE JAP-RUSS WAR
Correspondent at Hamidieh Forts
Tells of Thrilling Battle Now Be-
ing Fought by Ottoman and
Bulgarian Troops.

London, Nov. 1S-The Times CORE
spondent at the Tchatalja lines tele-
graphs:
THE Bulgarians unmasked their
artillery positions at daybreak and
opened a heavy fire along the front
from the Hamidieh forts at Papas-
burgas. This is the first real endeav-
or they have made against the Tur-
kish lines.
"The opening of the battle was a
wonderful spectacle. The black face
of the Bulgarians' position sparkled
with flashes. Some OF the Turkish
heavy guns fired black powder. The
bursting of heavy shells soon raised
curtain Of smoke, which, mingling
with the morning mist rolled majes-
tically down the valley between the
combatants.
"A Turkish warship in the bay
Joined the concert, firing its heaviest
guns in broadside, Gaping the Bull
garian right with great pillars of
squirting mud and fire.
tillery combat seen since the Japa-
nese massed corps of artillery pound
ed Grekoff's devoted rear guard out
side of Liaoyang
Working my way under the shrap-
mel fire, discovered that during the
night the Bulgarian infantry had pass
ed down under cover of the banks OF
the Karasu and were trying to take
possession Of the upper loop Of the
railway, Small groups Of Bulgarians
rose out of the shelving banks and ad-
vanced cautiously and slowly.
"The Turkish gunners found them
nicely and the attempt failed.
THE whirr of machine guns and the
crash of infantry magazine fire in the
direction of the Hanidieh forts told
us that another infantry effort was
being made there, but the fire died
down, and as there was no movement
on the part Of the Turkish reserves.
1t was presumed that this attempt
also had failed
This was ten o'clock In the morn.
Ing. The armament was still ringing
with the crack of shrapnel and the
dull reverberations of heavy ord
nance: The Bulgarians scorched us
heavily, but the burst shrapnel took
high, and in my part of the field
there were but few casualties. The
Turkish infantry were very snug, and
unless ordered to man the works, the
men we're cheerily munching bread.
carloads OF which reached US during
the engagement.
Toward II o'clock there was a lull,
and as could not make out the
slightest movement among the Turk
ish reserves. It seemed to me that the
Bulgarions had found their task less
easv than they had anticipated. 1t
certainly looked as II the taking of
this Turkish position on the left will
only be by the slow process OF steal
Ing positions under cover OF heavy ar
tillery'
THE engagement began at o'clock
In the morning. 1t was pitch dark
The Bulgarians were about two miles
from the Turkish advanced posts. A
strong force tried to creep into the
valley separating them from the
Turks, under cover of darkness. But
the Turks discovered the movement
and the Bulgarians retired.
"The attacking forces then opened
with a heavy artillery fire, which was
the signal for general assault all
along the line. The din was terrific:
the earth seemed to tremble under
ones feet.
THE opposing armies retained their
respective positions for hours, but II
was evident that colossal effort was
soon to be made.
"In the sky Turkish aeroplane ap-
peared. The Turks finally perceived a
detachment of Bulgarians sheltered by
the forest Of Straza. and sent a con-
tingent to set fire to 1t, forcing the
Bulgarians to withdraw.
"The engagement, 30 far as one
could Judge, seemed to be going in
favor Of the Turks in the Derkos re-
gions, where they took many prison
ers, and number of heavy guns"