Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-11-01


army, which for several days, un-
der the personal supervision of King
Ferdinand of Bulgaria, had been press
ing the Turkish lines guarding the ap-
proaches to Adrianople, won a great
victory by capturing Kirk Kilisse This
town, strongly fortified. was regarded
as the key to Adrianople.
The battle was the bloodiest that
has been fought in eastern Turkey
since the war began The force of
Bulgarans was part of the army OF
$4,000 that has been trying to capture
Adrianople 1t was estimated that TO-
900 Turks We're spread over the coun-
try from that city to Kirk Kilisse.
Inspired to greater effort by the vic
tories of the last few days, the Bulgari-
ans showed reckless courage in the
battle In defiance of the heavy guns
of the Turkish forts, they rushed for
ward and easily swept aside or killed
the outlying defensive forces.
The cannon of the Turks sometimes
moved down the Bulgarians by the
dozen, but more damage was done by
the infantry fire, as the Bulgarians
had to move across open country In
the trenches of the outer works, the
fighting was hand to hand. Occasional
ly groups of Turks were trapped in
the pits and killed by volleys from the
victorious invaders.
For several days the Bulgarian
forces had been directing all their
strength against Kirk Kilisse (Forty
Churches) Both sides fought with
great determination, realizing the i'm
portance of the position. 1t was the
headquarters of the Turkish Third
army corps, commanded by kenaan
Pasha Its garrison of 5000, including
two generals, surrendered to the Bull
garians, and another force of Turks
that had been sent to aid the garrison
was driven to flight.
Heavy losses were suffered by both
sides all along the line to Kirk Kilisse.
At last the Turkish garrison, real
iZing it's dangerous position, attempted
a sortie from the northeastern quar-
ter Of the town. For more than an
hour there was hot fighting a short dis
tance in front of the Turkish fortifica-
tions, and then the defenders were
forced back within the walls. They
left twelve cannon on the field
Strengthening their positions over
night, the Bulgarians made a general
advance in the morning. Their forces
had been SO distributed that the town
IL 4
chance of the garrison escaping.
For several hours the fighting ragged
around the Turkish Notifications, and
finally Bulgarian division captured
one of the redoubts. News of that vic
tory was spread along the Bulgarian
line, encouraging the attacking army
to greater effort.
At IL o'clock the town was surrend-
cred. Part of the Turkish force that
had been sent to reinforce the garri-
son encountered the attacking force
and was routed in sharp battle out.
side the city. That force retired in
disorder to Bunarhissar, fourteen
miles to the southeast leaving on the
field battery of quick firing guns, six
teen ammunition wagons and large
quantities of ammunition and food.
The Greek army, commanded by the
Crown Prince, captured the Turkish
town of Servia The Turks, before
evacuating the town, massacred the
Greek inhabitants. The King and
Queen of Greece have gone to the
front
1t was announced officially at Bel
grade that the Servian forces have
occupied five towns, including Kuma-
nova, a short distance from Uskub
The Turkish batteries around Humane
va were annihilated in the three days
fighting
The Montenesrin troops have occu.
pied the height of Chirki, dominating
the city of Scutari
From Constantinople comes an ad.
mission of the defeat OF the Turks h
forces near Kirk Kiisse, but all 9TH
er claims OF victory by the allies are
denied.
There was the widest sort of a cele.
bration in Sofia when news of the can.
ture of Kirk Kilisse was announced
There were Thanksgiving services in
the churches and the streets were
iammed. with the jubilant populace
carrying the flags of the allies and
singing the national anthem.