New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-27

commander at q o'clock, under cover OF
the artillery, to which the Turkish field
guns replied vigorously.
The ground over which the Servian
troops had to advance was open and
the infantrymen were exposed to
sweeping fire. Nevertheless, they
stormed the Turkish trenches again
and again, until finally, at the point OF
the bayonet, they drove the ottoman
troops out.
1t took the Servians four hours to
clear the valley but it was then found
necessary before occupying Kumanova
to take the heights on the right bank
of the river, to which the Turkish
troops had retired in disorder.
At one period during the fighting the
Servian artillery annihilated three
squadrons of Turkish cavalry, and the
Turkish losses are said to have num-
bered five thousand killed and wounded,
while twelve of their field guns were
captured.
The Servian casualties also were
heavy. They lost many officers, includ-
ing two regimental commanders and
several battalion commanders.
At the town of Novipazar, further 10
! the north. there was also brisk battle
Z l. t,T- Ivrf 10 ~.
| JAMS the Turks attempted to retake IL
but were repulseI and virtually ami
! hilated.
The Attack on Seutarl.
The Montenegrin generals report the
capture of further towns III the district
of Novipazar and the taking of Koplik'
a point near Tarabosh, from which
| they can throw shells into the fortress
| of Scutari.
Tarabosh is being attacked from
! three sides with sixty-two field guns,
| according TO a special dispatch from
/ Antivari.
The other Montenegrin army. COM
manded by General Vukotich, has de-
| feated a force of Turkish irregulars
who were intrenched at Regeva, en-
| deavoring to prevent the advance OF
| the Montenegrins 10 Ipek. The Turks
were put to flight and abandoned two
| field guns and some ammunition and
1 baggage. General Vukotich is now ad-
vancing upon Ipek.
| The Greek troops now control The
/ two main roads leading from the Greek
/ frontier and they are advancing along
/ these toward the Turkish fOrtresses OF
/ Janina and MOnastir. The latter move
ment threatens the city of Salonica'
Six hundred Turkish prisoners taken
by the Greeks have arrived at Larissa
on their way to Athens.
Turkish Mobilization Slow.
The Turkish mobilization is only un-
/ der way. 1t is claimed that the Otto
man Empire is able to mass 100000
mon outside Of Constantinople, where
as the allies have practically their full
strength in able bodied men already
in action.
Even if this, which is the first stage
of the war, is entirely successful for
the small states, tho second stage will
be more interesting. The great ques-
ton then will be whether Turkey can
defend Constantinople, which, il is gen.
orally believed, she can do, unless I'M
SUSPECTED conditions develop In the
army or revolution and bankruptcy
strike her from behind and whether she
can organize and equip her forces for
an aggressive campaign which viii
sweep back the Balkan armies from the
territory they seized in the first stage
Of the war.
Politically there is one outstanding
fact; that is, If the armies of the Bal
kan kings are able to hold even what
they have gained thus far Cand the en-
tire European press seems to take II
for granted that they cam there is a
new nation in Europe. Instead OF four
feeble kingdoms, to which the great
powers have given orders from time to
time. there is another coherent and ar
ticulate power.
New Problem for Powers.
fortnight ago the great powers
served notice in the form Of joint
note to the belligerents that whatever
the result Of the fighting there could
be no change Of boundary lines. The
Balkan States are saying to-day,
What we have we will hold" And
the British press, at least, is accepting
that as a fact. The Balkan States,
united and flushed with victory and
under arms, will be a bristling nettle
which the great powers will hesitate to
take hold Of.
The chief interest in the war, purely
from a technical point Of view, is that
It is largely test Of the German
school against the French. The Turk
ish army has been trained by General
Won der Goltz and his assistants and is
equipped with German weapons. The
| Greek, Bulgarian and Servian armies
| had French instructors.
All reports from the armies Of the
allies describe the Turkish prisoners
as detected, i'll fed and poorly clothed;
hut soldiers know that prisoners are
always detected and hungry, and d.
NOT attach much Importance TO that.