Imperial Valley press., 1912-10-28

devouring every scrap of information.
In view of the strict censorship and
the skill with which King Ferdinand
| of Bulgaria has masked the move
ments Of his troops, they are about as
| much in the dark as the general public.
However the army experts especially
the strategists and tacticianS of the
general staff, have their interesting
| views of the war. One of the most
| pronounced of these is that it is
tirely too early to draw the conclusion
| that this will be short, sharp strug-
gle and then all will be over.
Many dispatches have predicted the
end of the war in six weeks. Military
experts think this improbable. Recall
ing the fact that in 1877 and 1878 there
was a great war conducted in practical
ly the same territory between Russia
and Turkey, that it took Russia over
nine months to defeat the Turks, and
that this was not done without one of
the severest winter campaigns in his
tory, the military authorities are not
| in hurry to draw the conclusion that
this new war in the Balkans is going
10 be hurried to a quick termination.
Some of the very men who fought in
their chief schooling in war in that
contest. One of the most striking
features of the war between Russia and
Turkey was that, while the Turks were
slow in getting into action, while the
were laggards in getting their armi es
to the front to cope with the Russians,
after the preliminares they woke up
and made a most desperate resistance. |
The present situation points to a !
similar outcome. The Turks have got
the worst OF the early fighting. They
have shown symptoms of poor organi- /
cation; but they are naturally good |
fighters, and it will not be surprising !
il they get their second wind and then !
put up a furious resistance that will tax
Nhe strength of the Balkan allies to the |
utmost.
That there will be winter campaign |
ing in the Balkans is to be expected un- !
less one side or the other should sue !
ceed in smashing the enemy with un-
expected rapidity. In the war of 1877 |
rs, the Russians followed their way |
across the Balkan mountains in the |
middle of winter, with the temperature |
low and the snow at times 10 feet deep /
1t was this winter campaign that en-
abled them to crush the Turkish armies |
which were thinking the czar's armies |
would walt until spring.
In view Of the experience of that war |
it is deemed here almost a certainty /
that the allies will not halt their troops
to go into winter quarters. They are |
expected to battle to a finish regardless |
of snow and ice and all the rigors of |
the intense Balkan winter
One of the most brilliant American'l
soldiers, General Francis Vinton Green. !
was with the Russian army in the 1877 |
rs campaigning. His observations, re
ported to the war department then, are t
extremely Illuminating as to the nature |
of the present struggle, and army Of
fcers are studying them.
LONDON Oct. 2S.-The first class |
reserve of the British fleet, numbering |
about 10000 men, have been notified
from Chatham to be ready to answer
call to service.
VIENNA, Oct. 2S.-A dispatch was re
ceived here saying that it is reported
in diplomatic circles that Scutari has /
fallen at the hands of Montenegrins.
LONDON. Oct. Notification of tn |
capture of Scutari by the Montene grins |
has been received here. Turks have
been quietly withdrawing for some !
days.
Serb armies are closing in on Uskub, |
their objective, and from the Bulgars
circling in front of Adrianople comes |
word that the flames of the burnin 2 !
suburbs of that city are lighting up the |
Bulgarian entertainments.
AL along the line from Scutari to |
Adrianople the allies are pressing on
" ard, encouraged by their victories, |
though they have been won with tre-
mendous casualties and heartened by |
the apparent Willingness Of the Turks |
to take the offensive.
North of Adrianople the Bulgars are |
shelling the city, while their advance |
is swinging south to meet the main |
force of the Turks concentrated some |
25 miles below the city.
One Bulgarian brigade is already at
VIA 50 miles east of Adrianople, and |
the headquarters will be moved south
soon.
Toward the Constantinople road Il !
strong Bulgar column is moving by
way of Providja and Cadera and an
other division is driving down the