Evening star., 1912-11-17
ARMY is STRETCHED
ACROSS THE PENINSULA
Scutari, Adrianople and Monasti1
Still Holding Out.
CAPITAL A CITY OF THE SICK
Wounded Soldiers and Cholera
Patients Fill
Bearing King Nicholas Is
Target for Shells.

LONDON, November 16-The general
advance of the Bulgarian, army upon the
Turkish lines at Tchatalja, the main OBJ
stacle between it and Constantinople has
commenced, and, according to Sofia re-
ports, already has met with some sue
cess
Ihe Bulgarians aim at attacking the
forts of which the line is composed 81
multaneously, and, with that object, the
army is stretched across the peninsula.
With every available piece of artillery
that could be gathered together it Is
marching straight toward the works.
which, until the Turks suffered the Sc
ries of awful defeats. were considered
by military experts impregnable
The advance guards of this great army
of invasion already have reached the
village of Lazarikeui, near Lake Derkos,
on the Turkish right the town of Tcha-
talja facing the center of the line which
takes its name from the town, and Ar
nautkeui, farther to the south and near
to the Sea of Marmora.
Shelling Turkish Forts.
All these places have been occupied,
and from Arnatukeui the Bulgarian ar
tillery. is sheiling Biyuk Chekmedye.
where there are two Turkish forts, COM
posing the extreme left of the Turkish
line.
At other points, too, the guns have
begun to speak and from the hills around
Constantinople firing can be heard. Some
small accommodating parties have got
around the flank of the Turks right and
Tchatalja lines and the capital. But the
Tchataalj lines and the capital. But the
various divisions have only just COM
menced the attempt to make a breach.
which will give them an opening toward
the city of their desire.
Those who have visited the Turkish
front differ considerably as to the ability
of the defenders to hold the forts. Some
declare that the Turks. strengthened by
reinforcements with an abundance OF
ammunition and provisions, will make a
good stand, while Others cannot believe
an army still containing remnants of
forces so badly beaten in previo en-
gagements can hold out. In addition,
cholera has invaded the camp, to further
decimate and dishearten them. And,
again. the Bulgar.ans will have the ad-
vantage of superior artillery.
Headed Toward Janina.
Scutari, Adrianople and Monastir still
are holding out against the allies, who
keep up their bombardments The Greeks
now are heading toward Jaime, and the
Montenegrins, according to an unconfirm-
ed report, have beaten the Servians in the
race to San Giovanni d Medua, which, it
is said, they have taken.
Constantinople, at the gates of which
the Bulgarians are knocking, is now a
city of sick, wounded and hungry refu-
gees. With the thousands of wounded,
in addition to cholera patients, all hos
pitais are overtaxed.
A oution has been added to the
other troubles of the Turkish govern
ment The Young Turks, on wnom so
much of the blame is placed for disas-
ter, are suspected of being concerned In
movement to overthrow .he govern
ment and a section in .,lot to restore
the ex-sultan, Abdul Hamid, to the
throne The sovernmen mt has taken dras-
tic action against '.le suspects, many OF
whom have beer. arrested.
Arr1istice Plea Discussed.
Meanwhile the allies are discussing
Turkeys request for an armistice The
terms Of this. granted, will include
basis for a peace settlement leaving de-
tails to be worked out later. The peace
basis, however. will include the surrender
of the towns and positions now being be-
sieged.
The opinion prevails that the concentra-
ton of Roumanian troops on the Bulea-
rian border is the result of a diplomatic
pre-arrangement. which has for its OBJ
iect the application of pressure upon
Bulgaria to modify her claims. Russia
too, is acting a mediator and is pre-
pared to guarantee, If Bulgaria desires
it, that Turkey shall not convey troops
to the Black sea coast while the negotia-
tions are proceeding.
Powers Excange Powers.
The powers continue to exchange views
and the Turkish ambassador, Tewflk
Pasha. is frequent visitor to Sir Ed
ward Grey the British foreign secretary.
The latter, in a private letter. says pros
poets of solution of the European situ-
alton are not unsatisfactory, but that
he will be compelled to keep close to his
office for some time yet
The Austro-Servian controversy over
Albania and a port for Servia on the
Adriatic sea is considered in a more ia
vorable light. and in Vienna this is cred
couraging Servia from making claims
| that Austria is not able to concede
Italy, according to the Tribuna is
| ready to admit Servia'S right to an Adri-
attic port. but insists upon absolute au-
| tonomy for Albania.
Firing Is Heard.
CONSTANTINOPLE. November 49,
| Firing has been heard since morning
| from the various heights in the direc-
ton of Tchatalia, but the nature of the
result of the engagement has not been
| learned.
1t is reported that the Bulgarians have
attacked the Turkish position at Biyuk
| Chekmedye. on the Sea of Marmora. and
Turkish warships have been occupied all
day In shelling Bulgarian detachments
at various places along the coast
| Refugees say that a portion OF Ro-
| dosto has been destroyed by fire. The