New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-21
ULGARIANS SUCCESSFUL
BEFORE TCHATALDJA LINES
Correspondent Throws New and
Unexpected Light on Fight
ing Early in the Week.
tBy Cable to The Tribune.l
London. Nov. 21.-Ashmead Bartlett

| Inc DdIN ltltBIdpIl "oA
spondent with the Ottoman army, in
dispatch dated November 1S, via Con-
stanza, throws new and unexpected
light on the operations at TchataldJa
and indicates that the Bulgarians ac-
complished a good deal more in the as
sault on the chain Of forts than Is
generally. supposed.
At o'clock on Monday morning, ac-
| cording to the dispatch, the Bulgarlahs
concentrated their infantry against the
advanced works in front of Hademkeui
and delivered an attack with decisive
effect, the whole works falling into
their hands after three-quarters of an
hours lighting at the point of the bayo-
net The Bulgarians are now estab-
lished in an arc made by the receding
circle Of hills which form the nam
line of the defence, and are in a posi-
ton TO attack the main line around
Hademkeu itself. But what is still
more serious is the fact that they can
enflade' the left wing of the Turkish
position, and If they pierce the centre
at Hademkeui both wings will be cut
off and obliged to retire in confusion II
they escape at all.
Having captured the outer works, the
Bulgarlans again devoted the entire
day to a tremendous bombardment OF
the remaining works, and also de-
moralizing the reserves by concentrat-
ing their fire on the exposed camps in
the early part of the morning. This
fire on the camps was not very et-
fective, as the light and conditions for
shooting were not favorable, owing TO
the mist, and in consequence major
ity of the shells burst too high; but
when the day cleared the shooting once
more resumed its oldtime accuracy and
the effects became painfully evident
among the troops of the first army.
steady dribble of men began 10 leave
the lines and make for the rear and for
shelter. Apparently no efforts were
made to stop them, and soon whole
battalions began to clear off in a mass
and whole army corps showed signs of
breaking up and retiring in confusion.
Throughout the morning the Turkish
artillery hardly replied to the enemy's
fire, being either chary of disclosing
it's position or else short of ammuni-
ton. II is evident that this lombard
- rtsac
intended only to demoralize the troops
and keep in check any attempts to
make a counter attack against the
main Bulgarian attack against Ha-
dcmkeui During the morning and af-
ternOon no infantry ATTACK was deliv-
cred against the main position, which
was subjected TO the same concen-
trated Commandment TO which the outer
works had been subjected on the pre-
vious day.
When the correspondent left the field
the position was this: The Bulgarians
occupy all the advanced works. They
have established artillery in them, and
now are bombarding the centre of the
main line Of defence around Hadem-
keui, evidently with the intention of
delivering an infantry assault late in
the evening. II this attack should sue
coed the famous lines are won, and the
Turkish army has no alternative but
10 retire TO Constantinople. If the
army once again starts TO re-
treat II will break up altogether,
as all question of an early re-
tirement through the mountainous
country in the rear Is out of the ques-
ton, and the retreat Will be merely
repetition Of those scenes witnessed
after the battle OF Lule Burgas, with
the army eventually arriving in SIAM
boul instead of Tchataldja.
In later message the same corre-
spondent states that operations seemed
more in the nature Of reconnaissance
in force, and the Bulgarians have
withdrawn to the positions held before
the attack.
The correspondent fully confirms the
terrible CnOlCGd SCtltS, lIe horror Oh
which, he says. can never fade from
his mind. AS there were no medical
arrangements the victims were simply
thrown out TO die. Then the body
was hastily covered with thin layer
of earth.
THESE CHASTITY mounds" he says.
litter the whole country; there Is no
escaping them. But these horrid scenes
in the villages pale in significance as
compared with the horrors of Hadem
keui, where the remnants of the de-
feated army finally rallied. These men,
who lived for ten days on green corn
or scraps of offal picked up on the
march, yield the greatest number of
victims. | never actually entered the
village of Hademkeui, because the
sights outside caused me to turn my