The Washington herald., 1912-11-03
CONSTANTINOPLB
AWAITS INVASION
Continued from PaGe One.

altering through tho censored telegraph
and cable Offices to-day. bring the first
real news Of the magnitude Of the battle.
From the time the Bulgarians instituted
their advance from the Roumanian bor-
der to the capital more than 5O0.oCo men
have been engaged in the conflict and
at least 5000 men, probably 100000. are
dead or wounded. Two-thirds Of the
losses fell upon the Turks.
Sofia and Constantinople report the
arrival in the respective capitals OF
thousands of wounded soldiers. Indi-
eating the part played In the struggle
by the saber and bayonet. a majority OF
the wounded bear gashes from sharp
blades instead Of bullet wounds.
The special correspondent with the
Bulgarian army reports the fighting in
the week-long battle as most severe on
the left wing of the Turkish army. the
only cessation in the attack coming
when Gen. SavofY sent his main force
to his own left to draw the main Turk
ish army to their own right and then
wheeled the army back when he saw
that Maxim Pasha had fallen into the
trap.
Turks Forced to Retreat.
On Monday the BulgaSians shelled the
Turkish left with six batteries. following
with an unsuccessful infantry attack.
Tuesday morning was devoted to an ar
tillery duel, in which neither side gained
any. advantage. d.
Late Tuesday Bulgarian re-enforce-
ments began to arrive from the d!rec-
ton Of Adrianople and they were rush.
ed to the firing line. The onslaught by
the fresh troops that followed forced
the Turks to retreat to Torgut.
Dawn on Wednesday disclosed a death
grapple that extended along the entire
battle line or twenty miles. For the
most part the fighting was hand-to-
hand. During these brief hours Of COM
bat thousands were killed. pierced by
bayonets or slashed with sabers. Late
Wednesday the Bulgarian artillery was
rushed from the rear and placed d.
rectly IN front Of the Turkish center.
A devastating shrapnel fire followed. AL
though the Turkish infantry suffered
heavily and several times was at the
point of actual rout. still the Bulgarians
were unable to shatter the bravely de-
Tended line.
A desultory fire was kept up by both
sides Wednesday night and Thursdays
break found the two armies again grap-
plins.
The Turkish lines seemed much thinner
and the troops fought with less vigor
than the day before. All their forces
were on their left wing. This wing must
be shattered. Gen. Savon then executed
his daring detddr. Turing away the best
part Of the Turkish army to the latter's
right.
Deal Final Blow.
The Turkish wing thus weakened, the
Bulgarians dealt their final crushing
blow. In less than one hour the Turks
were fleeing in disorder. Their line broke
in twenty places. leaving great gaps
through which the Bulgarians rushed to
the chase. The scene was one OF indie
scribable confusion. the retreating Turks
uttering their hideous Mohammedan yelIs
and the victors wildly shouting as they
gave pursuit. Here and there q Turkish
detachment feeling more loyalty to their
commanders than their comrades stood
their ground against the frightful odds
and were mercilessly cut down.
Yesterday and to-day the fighting has
been mainly between the Bulgarians and
the Turkish rear guard. OCCASIONALLY