The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-18
HEAVY FIRING is
HEAkD AT FRONT

CoNSTANTINOPLE, Nov T.
Heavy firing has been heard here very
distinctly throughout last night and
today crowds are assembled on roofs
and other points Of vantage in the
city, listening to the sound of the
guns, and looking Tor signs of the APP
preaching Buigars.
A courier. Just arrived. reports that
a great battle Is commencing all along
the line Of the TchatalJa forts. The
Turkish warships in the Black sea and
the Sea OF Marmora are cooperating
with the land forces in the hope OF
checking the turning movements by
the Bulgarians. The cannonade by
the artillery and the fleet Is 80 intense
that houses in kermer Burgas. a
dozen miles from the front, are vio-
lently shaken.
A great sensation was caused today
by the news of the discovery Of
Young Turk plot to establish a re-
public under Mahmoud Shevket
Pasha, the Young Turk military lead
er. who successfully planned the revo-
latinn which overthrow Al adul AfanSd
and who. until few months ago, was
minister of war, when he was replaced
by Naztm Pasha. 1t was planned to
carry out the coup d 'etat in day
or two. The recent activity of the
Young Turks, however, aroused Stis~
picion. Several volunteers were en-
! relied TO spread discomfort In the
army. When the plot became known
the government Immediately ordered
the arrest of the chiefs Of the COM
mittee of union and progress. Thirty
were arrested at daw2- The prisoners
include Emroulah IAsy. ex-minister of
public Instruction. two ex-deputies and
several prominent journalists. sjavid
Bey, ex-ininister ~ public works.
managed to escape on Russian ship.
Arrests were also effected in Smyrna,
Trebizonde and other places.
City Outwardiy Calm
Despite this abortive plot and the
sound of the guns. which tell of the
presence of the enemy at its gates.
Constantinople remains outwardly
calrn--a calm born Of disappointment
and despair Faith in the ability of
the army to hold the last line of de-
Tense. So strong a week ago, has now
almost vanished The Turk Is quite
resigned TO seeing his capital fall into
the hands of the enemy.
That the Bulgars Will enter the cap
ital is now regarded as certain The
peace ptel4a4nar4e@- came too late.
The Turkish peace proposals were not
of such character as to succeed TO
battle, and n early entry of the Bull
garians into this city.
| have obtained what / believe to
be a.reiiaOle summary Of the pro-
posals which Turkey proposed to the
Bugarians. They are of an extra
ordinary character Turkey suggested
that she should keep that section Of
Thraee Immediately west OF Constan
tinople. and all the region south OF
4 Il IL
rianople itself should remain a Turk
Ash posse ssion. Servia was to have
Old Sersia; Greece, a large tract of
Southern Albania. and Montenegro
was To receive strip OF territory adj
Jaeent Lo its southeastern frontier. All
the remaining conquered regions were
10 be governed on terms similar to the
old law OF administration OF Rou-
nldfIla. SuCh proposals, OF course, did
not inspire much hope here, where
they were generally regarded as too
grotesque. All elements Of the popu-
lation are eagerly desIrous OF peace.
even If it leaves in Europe only a tiny
shadow Of the once great Turkish en-
pire.
Negotiations Came Too Late.
Now that the city has heard the
deep tongued guns at work in the pre-
liminary OF that stupendous battle
which will finally decide Turkeys fate.
ii is recognized that the peace nego-
tiations ca me too late.
Even a drawn battle said d high
official to me at the porte today.
Knight save Constantinople for US,
Otherwise all in Europe has gone for
ever"
The streets of Constantinople dur
ing the last day or two hs c present
ed worse sights than even the refugees
crowding into the city These rcfu-
gees 4ra remaining here ,enMl they
can bb shipped 10 Asia. l estimate
that fully fifteen hundred are lying
Ill in their filthy carts and tents. Win
the cholera situation appalling. and
a serious menace to the health Of the
4 city, il is Impossible to estimate ex-
actty the rate Of mortality, but IL must
be frightfully high.
Today ] saw several carts going
along the streets of STEAMBOAT with
dead bodies Tying on the carelessly
packed salvage Of the belongings Of
these wretched people. In order to
reach the city quicker, the refugees
sold everything that they possibly
could.
Strengthen Last Lines.
During the last few days the mill
tary authorities have been making
. every possible efforts TO strengthen
B the last line of CoEstantinople's de-
fense. All day long struggling roads
men, scarcely drilled and Of poor
physique, have been pouring out OF
the city in the direction Of the posi-
thor Of the Turkish forces. One pities
these poor, raw peasants. who are sent
Il forward and expected to stand against
y the Ruigarians. flushed with victory
r Horses laden with Bill sorts of stores
are also to be seen struggling pain