New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-22
Constantinople Itself Admits
Enemy Is Withip Twelve
Miles of Adrianople,
Reinforcements for
Which Fall Back.
MOVEMENT ALMOST FLIGHT
Governor Of Threatened City Warns
the Residents to Husband Their
Food and Also Recommends
Those Able to Leave
to Do So.
tBy cable to The Tribune. ]

London, Oct. 22-The eyes of Europe
are directed toward Adrianople, where
all military critics are agreed one Of
the worlds historic battles must be
fought. While the Bulgarian main
army has forced the Turks back on the
outer forts Of Adrianople. the left wing
is also making considerable progress,
and various unconfirmed kilograms
have been received announcing the
capture of Kirk Kiliseh, in Thrace.
where the Bulgarian attack, It is al-
legged, was so sudden and so carefully
planned that 10000 Turkish soldiers
were captured and three months am
munition, food and general supplies for
an entire army corps fell into the
hands Of the victors.
Strong detachments Of Bulgarian
troops started Immediately TO cut off
all communication between Kirk-Kili-
sch and Adrianople and soon after
ward the whole string of outlying forts
north of Adrianople were taken by
Bulgarian troops.
1t is added that the success Of the in
vading army has been such that all
troops intended as reinforcements for
Adrianople have been stopped and are
retreating further east along the rail-
road line as far as Ergene. Some Of
these troops, which were sent only
few days ago from Constantinople, are
now retiring so precipitately toward
Eski Baba that the movement is
equivalent 10 a flight.
The Turks after their first reverses,
seem to have lost all confidence in
themselves and their leaders.
Penned Up In Adrisnopis.
The latest dispatch from this district
asserts that communications with
Constantinople are already completely
severed and that the Turkish army
now penned up in Adrianople, which
is much smaller than has been esti-
mated, is at the mercy of a few weeks
siege by the Bulgarian troops
King Ferdinand is personally direct
ing his armys operations and is show
ing himself a shrewd and brilliant
commander. Some even predict .hat
Adrianople will fall into the hands Of
the Bulgarians after only few days
siege.
1t is admitted in Constantinople It.
self that the Bulgarians are estab-
lished within twelve miles OF Adr'a-
nople and that a big battle is immi-
ment. The Governor Of Adrianople
has issued a proclamation warning the
residents TO husband their food, owing
to the possibility Of an investment OF
the town. He recommends those able
10 leave 10 do 50.
A strong Bulgarian force yesterday
attacked Razbozet, near Adrianople.
which fell into their hands, and a large
number of Turkish prisoners were
taken, who were at once escorted to
Bulgarian territory.
Heroic Bulgarian Attack.
The strong Turkish fortress of CHR
men, ten miles to the south of Mus
tapha Pacha, was the scene Of heroic
attack Bulgarian troops TO the number
Of ten thousand stormed the outworks,
drove back the Turks at the point OF
the bayonet and finally took the fort,
all with comparatively few losses, thus
pushing the investment Of Adrianople
ten miles further south.
The great Turkish fortress, 1t is now
stated. will be entirely invested from
Chirmen to Kirk-Kiliseh, as extreme
wings west and east. From these
points the investment lines are folding
south TO a meeting place on the River
Martha, when Adrianople will be COM
pleteIy shut off from communication
with Constantinople.
II there is any truth In the story Of
the capture of Kirk -Kiliseh the Turks
are unquestionably in perilous posi-
lion. There are numerous roads lead
ing from Kirk -Kiliseh south TO the rail-
way by which the Turkish army draws
its ammunition and supplies BY fol-
lowing them the Bulgarians could come
in behind the Turks and cut off their
retreat.
Ottoman Plan of Campaign.
Meanwhile none of the news of fight
ing has originated in Constantinople.
and critics are now speculating on the
possibility of the Turks being able to
proceed with their plan Of campaign.
The Turks counted on being able to
hold the Rulgarians along the line from
to Kirk-Kiliseh, and on
making a rapid dash through Mace
donia to Sofia, but the scheme has pse-