Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-10-25

the Loss
at 10000
This Is the Figure Given for
Those Killed or Wounded
in the Great Battle Near
COnStantinOple pleThurSday

Vienna, Oct. 25,-With more fight
ing men engaged than ever faced each
other in any of the battles of the Ma
poleonic wars Turk on the one side
and Bulgar and Serb on the other to-
day are battling for possession Of
Adrianople, the gateway to the sui
tan's capital on the Bosphorus.
Entrenching as they go, a force es-
tmated at more than 100000 Bulgar-
ians are creeping in on Adrianople,
taking outlying fort after fort at the
bayonets point, and at any hour a gen
eral assault may begin. BY the last
direct news received here from the
front the Bulgars, spread out in cres-
cent formation, have captured the ma
jority of the Turkish redoubts sur
rounding the city, and are less than
three miles from its main line of de-
fenses
Losses Are Heavy.
SO far as is known here, the force
of Servians engaged in the attack is
small, but 1t is believed that at least
one column has cut in from the west,
and is assaulting the outworks from
that side, while the main Bulgar at
tack is being delivered from the north
and east. In this direction lies Kirk
Kilisseh, which was captured yester-
day by the Bulgarians after battle in
which the losses in killed and wound
ed on both sides are conservatively
placed anywhere between 5000 and
10000 men.
The Turkish Strength.
Mystery still shrouds the exact
strength of the Turkish force defend
ing Adrianople Some experts believe
that the Moslems have not more than
10000 men in action, and declare
that the main strength Of the Turkish
army, under Abdullah Pasha is only
now approaching the battle ground. II
this proves correct, the opinion is
general that Adrianople must fall,
and that the final battle of the cam
paign is likely to be fought at some
natural fortress between Adrianople
and Constantinople.
That Nhfe fa Tho YNIaV, nf tho fTnpiF
however, is gravely doubted, for its
execution, It is pointed out, would be
attended with the greatest risks. Many
observers here believe that the Turks
have been caught unprepared, and
that the prestige of their earlier vic
tories already had made the ultimate
triumphs of the Balkan allies almost
sure. The view is held that with
Adrianople and most Of Western Tur-
key in their hands and junction OF
their forces effected, there would be
little hope on the Moslem's part OF
victory unless they should win in
final pitched battle at or near Con-
stantinople, on which the whole for
tune of the MosIem war would Depend
Cut City OFF From Aid.
News of the Bulgar successes at
Kirk Kilisseh, Of their investment OF
Adrianople, today appear Of first i'm
portance in dispatches from the front,
but It may we'll be doubted If they are
more vital to the design of the Balkan
allies than are the operations of the
Serbs the Montenegrins and the
Greeks to the west Early in the
struggle it was predicted here that
the war plan Of the allies would be to
cut off the Turkish territories OF the
west from all communication with
Constantinople, and hour by hour dis
patches from the front bring confir-
nation Of this view. Today dispatch
es from Cettinje show that the Monte
negrin forces are actively engaged in
an assault on Scutaria. probably the
most powerful Turkish fortress in Al
bania
Crown Prince Alexander, Of Servia'
is about to effect a junction with Cen
eral stephanvcitch's force of Serbs
and Bulgarians at Uskub and on the
south the Greeks are pressing steadily
forward to the investment of Saloni-
ka
Looks Bad for Turkey.
with Montenegro assigned to the
task NJ defeating and holding the |