The Washington herald., 1912-11-21
Detailed Account of Reverse of Bull
gars Before ConstantinOple
Told by Correspondent.
SCENE OF STRUGGLE
BETWEEN SEA AND SEA
Both Sides Lose Heavily, Especially
King Ferdinand's Troops
During Retreat.
BY MARTIN II. DONOHoE.
SPECIAL Correspuodentl

of the Turks, who gained their first
advantage in this war at their last
stand. The Bulgarians. unable to hold
the advanced positions they had storm
ed at so much cost, and having failed
10 make any impression OF the forts
around Hademkeui, have now fallen
back with their heavy artillery. AS they
retreated, the Turkish guns shelled
them. thus reversing all previous expe-
riences of the campaign.
The fighting has been very severe,
and the Bulgarian loss, especially in the
retreat, was considerable. All the re-
doubts taken by the enemy have now
been reoccupied by the Turks, who are
much elated at having beaten of what
they consider was the Bulgarian main
attack. 1t is probable. however, that
the Bulgarians regarded it merely as
reconnaissance in force, designed to test
the strength and vulnerability of the
Turkish works.
Both Sides Exhausted.
Both sides are exhausted by reason Of
the fearful artillery duel OF the last few
days. The Turks displayed an infinitely
better fighting spirit than hitherto, and
the infantry in particular showed admi-
rable steadiness and morale.
Papas Burgess, to the extreme left of
the line, is again in the hands of the
Turks.
tranquility. Occasionally a little artillery
firing has broken out on the right and
left TANKS. but for the moment the Bull
Earians have had enough Of fighting. and
show no signs of resuming the offensive.
The forts around Hademkeui have
proved harder nuts to crack than the
enemy imagined. The finer class of the
Turkish reserves are now on the fighting
line. They show great steadiness, and
are doing much to restore the ancient
prestige Of the Turkish arms.
Losses Are Heavy.
The last engagement entailed great
losses on both sides and the Turkish
Wounded are now served by decently
good ambulance corps, which is bringing
the MANNED soldiers into Hademkeui in
large numbers
The great battle which probably will
decide the fate of the Turkish Irmy, il
not of Turkey itself, began at daylight
Sunday, when the Bulgarians took the
offensive. They opened a heavy fire on
the Turkish advance works in front Of
Hademkeui, which runs along the valley
of that name. 1t had been expected that
the enemy would make its chief attack
much further to the right of the Turkish
line. but this proved to be incorrect.
Throughout the day the Bulgarials con-
centrated all their efforts on trying to
break through the Turkish lines between
meje Lake. The Bulgarians, in force
were Immediately north and south OF
Chatalja, which stands on low ground
under the shelter of the hills. ChataDa
itself, which is undefended, was occu-
pied some days ago by the enemys cav
airy.
How Armies stand.
Before proceeding to describe the battle
in detail will attempt to make clear the
position of the rival armies
That Of the Turks runs from sea to
sea Their left flank rests on Bjuk Chek-
meje Lake, which is sepa rated from the
sea by a narrow causeway. along which
runs the main road, which is crossed by
a bridge. In the estuary are the Turk
ish warships, which for several days
past have directed a heavy fire against
the Bulgarian troops massed on the
heights in preparation, presumably, for
a turning movement OF the Turkish left
The lake itself is too wide for success
full forthcoming, so that the only possible
way by which the Bulgars could cross
TO the east shore is the stone bridge
scarcely wide enough to accommodate
two carts abreast To prevent the pos
sbilty Of a night surprise by this route
the warships turned their guns on this
bridge, which was completely demolished
after two days of shelling.
Turks Destroy Bridge.
The defensive line of TchataIja really
begins eastward Of the village. There
wide valley. through which flows the
shallow Kara River. separating Tchatalja
Heights from those of Hademkeui. The
valley terminates at the head of the
lake, into which the river flows. The
ground nearing the head of the lake Is
for the most part fiat, broken occasion
ally by hillocks. Along the low ground
is chain Of redoubts, beginning at the
head of the lake. Beyond these redoubts
are rife pits, and they form the most ad-
vanced Turkish line of defense. The
forts of Hademkeui are stationed on a
hill. Immediately opposite Tchatalja viii
lage, which is visible for miles around,
owing to it's mosque and barracks.
a few struggling houses lie around the
) forts, and beyond is a white minaret Of
the mosque of Hademkeui village, with
the railway station on the reverse side
Cf the hill and invisible.
The enemy were concentrated around
Chatalja. On the left flank of the Turk |
ish line was the second corps of Turks |
infantry under Hamid Pasha To the
southeast Of Chatalja was the first corps, |
commanded by Nazlm Pasha, while sew
eral positions were held by troops under |
Ahmed Pasha. Northward of Hadem- |
keui was the third corps, with Mahmud !
Mukhtar Pasha at their head. while the |
fourth reserve corps with the reserves |
station was at the east The right Turk |
ish flank was protected by Lake Derkos, |
and several warships lying off Kara Bu- |
rurun, on the Black Sea, attempted to
check the Bulgarian advance.
Fleet BOmbards BuIEnrs
Three days ago the Bulgarians occu- |
pied Osmani. on their extreme left, and
Niftlikjeui. which is further south |
Thence the Bulgarian line ran to Cha
talja and then by Yenijekeui TO the ex-
treme right opposite Biiuka Chekmeje !
village.
The Turkish fleet in the Black Sea had
for two days maintained a bombardment |
of the Bulgarian positions near the coast, |
but had not succeeded in checking the |
advance to any appreciable extent This |
was the situation at dawn Sunday. when |
the center OF interest in the scene of |
operations was suddenly transferred to |
the Turkish left flank by the opening |
of a vigorous attack on the part Of the |
Bulgarians.
Throughout Saturday night the Bull |
garisns had been busily engaged in COM
pleting preparations for breaking through |
the Turkish defense at this point; their l
heavy artillery occupied an excellent po- |
sItion on the hills which commanded /
both sides Of Chatalja and they utilized
the darkness Of Saturday to push for
ward a strong infantry within striking