New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-18
Turkish Fleet Participates Wig
orously, Both at Sea of
Marmora and Black Sea
Ends of Tchataldja
Defences.
GUNS HEARD IN STAMB0UL
Moslem Detachment Replaced by
Fresh Troops Several Thou
sand Strong Held in Re-
serve Near the Otto
man Capital.
LBy Cable to Tho Tribune. !

IBy Cable to The Trlbune.l
London, Nov. 1S.-The armistice is
at an end, and the great deciding bat
tie has begun. The only information
about it comes from Turkish sources,
and is to the effect that the Bulgarians
have suffered heavily in an unsuccess-
full effort to force the Tchataldja lines.
Nazim Pacha telegraphs that the
Bulgarians began a general attack at
3 o'clock yesterday morning. The
fighting lasted until ar hour after sun
set. The attack was mainly delivered
against the Turkish right and centre,
but it failed, it seems. and three Bull
garian batteries were destroyed.
In Constantinople there was great
excitement all day throughout the city.
Many of the housetops were crowded
with people listening anxiously. A
correspondent who procured a convey
ance and drove out in the direction OF
the firing for a distance of twenty
miles fell in with a number OF officers
and private soldiers coming from the
locality Of the engagement, and on
questioning them ascertained that the
battle began with the opening Of a
heavy Bulgarian artillery fire on the
Turkish positions on the heights
around Tchataldja and Hademkeui.
The Bulgarians were advancing slowly
beyond the Tchataldja hills, but were
being subjected to heavy fire and
were losing considerably.
Turks Hold Their Position.
The Turkish fourth army corps was
making a determined effort to turn the
enemys right flank.
The position at midday was that the
Turks were still holding their positions
at Hademkeui.
The fighting is still going on, and
sounds of furious artillery duel could
be heard. on going back to Constanti-
nopie the correspondent met several
bodies OF reinforcements being hurried
to the fighting area, as we'll as some
bands Of volunteers, who with flags
HglH6 Dld'SlJ "CAS hloiI IillS 10 bdl-
tie.
This battle will be the decisive
struggle Of the war. All that can be
said at present, however, is that the
Turks are evidently making a deter
mined stand.
According 10 another story, the Bull
garians have suffered a serious check
at Tchataldja. Turkish soldiers, it is
stated, have made prisoners eight bat
talions of Bulgarian troops and also
taken several guns and an enormous
quantity of munitions of war.
News of Victory Confirmed.
The Foreign Minister confirms the
news Of victory, without, however,
specifying the exact number of prison
ers.
The official message, 1t will be seen,
gives the latest news Of the battle,
but does not suggest that the lighting
is not to be renewed to-day.
If Nazim Pacha can for once be re-
lied on, his message proves that Tcha-
taldja deserves its great reputation as
line defence, but the Bulgarians
probably did not expect TO force it at
the first attack.
Further news is eagerly awaited, as
on the result of the battle The terms
on which peace will be made will
largely depend.
"Constantinople awakened this morn
ing to the rumbling Of guns" says
dispatch from the Turkish capital To
THE Daily Telegraph" The sound
was feeble and dull, like a distant
storm, but at intervals became distinct
TO the people thronging the terraces.
pera Calm and Indifferent.
1T was possible to tell that the firing
came from behind the hills masking
Tchataldja and Derkos, but whether
the Tchataldja forts were firing on the
advancing Bulgarians or the Turkish
cruisers were bombarding the road
from Derkos to prevent the Bulgarians
from turning their lines could not be
said.
'The extraordinary calmness and in
difference of the population in Pera are
striking. The streets to-day were
thronged with the usual Sunday
crowds. and the cafes and places of
entertainment did as thriving a busi-
ness as before the war. Reassured by
the presence in the roadstead of the
sora,op uarshiDs the only Thought
seemingly, was pleasure.
"As far as the government is con-
cerned, the principal occupation for the
moment is insuring the position of the
Cabinet by the arrest Of as many Of
the members Of the Union and Prog