The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-18
Magnificent Artillery Duel Is Fought Along the
 Tchatalja Lines
CHOLERA EPIDEMIC
 IS GROWING WORSE
Peace Negotiations Have Failed. Conditions In Besieged City Are DepIorable and Scores Are
 Dying From Plague

Constantinople, November r, 10:45 D. m. The great battle between the Bulgarians and Turks is on all along the line of the Tchatalja Qualifications. Maxim Pasha, tho Turkish commander in chief sends the following dispatch tonight:
 The battle which commenced this morn ing with an attack by Bulgarian infantry lasted until one hour after sunset. The enemy, who advanced chiefly facing our right wing and out center, was repulsed b your infantry and artillery fire. Three Bulgarian batteries were destroyed"
 All through the day the sound of the heavy guns was heard in constantinople l. ceased only with darkness The firing along the entire line was evidently prepar- atory to an infantry attack
 The Turkish batteries replied vigorous ly The Turkish ships in the Sea of Mar mora shelled the Bulgarian positions. Un- doubtedly the fleet in the Black sea also took part in the engagement, though de- tails from that point are lacking.
 Troops Near City
 
 1t seemed for time as though the battle had ended, but again the booming was heard. and the movement of troops could be observed not far from the very gates to the capital. A detachment of several thousands from the Tchatalja lines was replaced by fresh troops who had been held in reserve near the city.
 The refugees behind tl.e lines began breaking camp early in the day and moved back toward Constantinople. The Greek villagers, who heretofore had re- mained admirably indifferent to events, prepared to desert their homes. While calm prevailed there was deadly tension in the knowledge that the fate of the capital the Turkish army and those who waited anxiously in Constantinople was at stake.
 Duel Was Magnificent
 Several members of the legations and other foreign residents witnessed the ar- tillery duel. which they described as mag niflcent., on the Sea of NIarmora, and the : shelling from height to height across Bjyuk 5helSmedke lake and over the 1lalns toward the horth< The Ia sss os the guns on both sides were visible over miles of the country.
 Within the city every military precau- ton was taken. Plckets were posted at various points and patrols guarded the streets. The ambassadors held a meeting at the foreign ministry with the com rnanders of the Ottoman gendarmerie and devised measures for the safety of for eigners.
 It was decided that detachments for the protection of foreign institutions will be landed al dawn tomorrow. They will remain concealed in the buildings and will only cooperate with the local Turkish forces should assistance be re- quired
 The Austrian Ambassador Marquis de Pallavicini, notified the porte of this determination. but emphasized the friendly character of the measures un- dertaken, explaining that they were in the interests of the safety of foreign subjects and institutions
 The sanitary board, at meeting to- day, urged that steps be taken to pre- vent the armies now facing each other at Tchatalja from entering the capital owing to the cholera epidemic. The resolution to that effect was proposed by the British delegate