The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-18
Guns Heard In City

London, November lS.-"Constantf- nople awakened this morning to the rumbling of guns" says dispatch from the Turkish capital to the Daily Telegraph. The sound was feeble and dull, like distant storm, but at inter- vals became distinct 10 the people thronging the terraces.
 "It was possible only to tell that tho firing came from behind the hills mask ing Tchatalja and Derkos.
 The extraordinary calmness and in- difference of the population in Pera is striking The streets today were thronged with the usual Sunday crowds and cafes and places of entertainment did business as they did before the war. Reassured by the presence in the roadsted of the foreign warships and the only thought, seemingly was for pleasure.
 As far as the government is con cerned the principal pre-occupation for the moment Is insuring the position Of the cabinet by the arrest of as many members of the union and progress party as possible. It Is said that nearly 200 leaders have been placed In jail.
 only foreigners appear aware of, and to have respect for the tragic grav- ity of these historical days, which have not been matched since 1453. It was on May 29. of that year that Constanti- nople was taken by the Turks under Mahomet IT. which ended the eastern Roman empire"
 Negotiations Fail
 The negotiations for an armistice have failed and the Bulgarians today opened the attack against the Turks all along the Tchatalja lines. The heavy artillery duel continued throughout the day.
 rad to ka PttIna riaD rara ration for an infantry attack. The Turkish fleet participated vigorously in the defense at the Marmora end lines and presumably Turkish warships as- sisted at the Black sea end also.
 Nazim Pasha. the Turkish comman- der in chief in dispatch this evening claims to have repulsed the Bulgarian attack and destroyed three Bulgarian batteries.
 No news of the battle has been TO- ceived as yet from Sofia and no infor- nation as to the str1r@th of the forces engaged on either side.
 Nazim Pasha's headquarters are near the Hademkeui railway station. Accord ing to latest reports the battle com menced with nightfall
 The resumption of hostilities Is not regarded as indicating the collapse of the peace associations. but rather as q means to hasten Turkeys acceptance of the allies terms by proving her com plete helplessness. or. as one corres- pondent phrased it. "to establish an accomplished fact before making. fur ther communications"
 Prepared for Peace
 The Bulgarian government organ Mir reverts to the subject of peace and plainly intimates that the allies arc prepared to consider the question of an alliance with Turkey provided the latter promptly accepts their terms which would give Turkey the opportunity of welding her territories Into a modern state. and making friends of her con querors.
 The Bslkan states clearly have in mind the formation of such an alliance as would he able to defy European in- terfence in the disposition of the spells of war.
 Every day brings fresh dispatches recording the terrible spread of cholera It is now stated there are q thousand cases daily, with mortality of 50 per cent while the Turkish authorities arc