Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-06

Bulgarian and Servian
Troops Lay Siege to Fort
ress of the Ottoman With
Little Apparent Effect.

Sofia, Feb. 5.-The bombardment OF
Adrianople continued today on all sides
of the city. The heavy siege guns
brought up by the Servian troops were
trained on the principal works OF the
fortress.
Bulgarian army headquarters report
that yesterday passed without any
fighting along the Tchatalja lines.
Losses Reported are Small.
Constantinop1e, Feb. 5.-Mahmoud
Shefket Pasha, Turkish grand vizier
and minister of war, left for the front
at noon today. His departure Is taken
to indicate that some forward action
is contemplated by the army at Tcha-
talja. "
The forty-eight hour bombardment
of Adrianople by the Bulgarians and
Servians has thus for resulted in only
eight deaths within the city, according
to the war office's official statement.
Fifty private houses have been set
on fire. Shukri Pasha, commander IN
chief of Adrianople, reported by wire
less telegraphy to the war Office here
today: .- g.. ~.
"The enemy is bombarding us. One
hundred and thirty-eight common
shells and eleven shrapnel have fallen
in the city, killing eight people and
wounding ten. A number of houses
are in flames. The bombardment con-
tinues."
Reports are Biased.
Ic-don. Feb. 5-The bombardment
of Adrianople. which opened on Mon
o1 yx,if int rti
today. .s .-.
A report was spread that the Bull
garians had decided to suspend opera
tions for twenty-four hours SO as to
give the Turkish garrison an oppor-
tunity OF surrendering This, how
ever, appears to be without founda-
tion. as are many Of the stories spread
broadcast in reference to conditions
around in the beleagured fortress.
A message from Belgrade. Servia,
this morning speaks of the "heroic
conduct" OF couple Of Servian regi-
ments which participated in an attack
on tho outer circle of forts. There
is no means of verifying this or any
otro~ rerorts as such fighting as may
be in progress is taking place behind
closed doors SO far rs the outside
world is concerned. Dependence has
to be placed on the more or less biased
stories given out by the respective
army headquarters. Only on extremely
rare occasions can a newspaper cor
respondent succeed in circumventlng
the strict censorship.
Offer "a Hour Respite
Ben. bardments of Adrianople ceased
temporarily at II o'clock last night,
with the Bulgarian-Servian besiegers
offering the Turkish army "a hours
in which to capitulate according to
news agency dispatch from Sofia early
today If no advantage was taken of
the { Ger operations were to be re-
sumed a
d One of the attacking divisions has
advanced to position about mile
nearer the fortress than was occupied
before the armistice.
Refuse Germany's Request.
o.. Berlin, Feb. 5.-The Bulgarian gov
ernment has refused to grant the ap.
peal made by the German empress to
the queen of Bulgaria for permission
for German Red Cross expedition to
enter Adrianople to attend the Turk
ish sick and wounded
After the German minister at Sofa
had tried in vain to induce the Bull
garian war authorities to allow Ger
man medical help to pass through their
lines, the German empress telegraphed
Queen Elenore to use her influence but
the Bulgarian government now says
that tactical considerations make it
impossible to grant her request.