The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-05
PROLONGED SIEGE
IS ANTICIPATED
Not Even the Residential
Portion of the City is
Being Spared-Omcial Re
port From Constantinople
Says That Adrianople
Easily Repulsed the First
Attacks.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

A06OO1<44G ExlE0O.
London, Feb. IA terrific bonn
bardment of the forts around Adrian
o2le was begun last evening by the
100, 900 Bulgarians and Servians sur
rounding the city. Almost at the mo-
ment OF the conclusion of the armis-
tice at o'clock siege guns and field
guns from various points COM
manding the forts opened fire. Not
even the residential portion of the city
was spared.
There is considerable difference of
opinion as to how long the fortress
win be able to hold out. One despatch
from Mustapha Pasha today, which
reported that the heavy cannonade
cluded with the prophecy made by
would sufice for the besiegers to
force the Turks to capitulate.
Military men, however, who know
something about the several lines Of
forts which form the defenses of
Adrianople-for the outer ring which
the besiegers have been facing since
the war began is connected with and
supported by other circles OF defense
just as strong-look for a prolonged
defence by the besieged garrison.
which comprises many Of the best
Turkish regular troops
BELIEF EXISTS THERE.
This decision apparently prevails
ssithln AdrianepIe itseH uEEeffsises
the foreign consuls there woul dhaye
considered 1t necessary to ask their
ambassadors to secure an escort for
sr-
desire to pass through the lines or
protection for those who remain within
the gates.
shukri Pasha, the Turkish COM
mander who Is defending Adrianople
is one OF the most determined officers
of the Ottoman army. He has de-
elared that he will not surrender the
fortress until the last Of his soldiers
has been killed.
While there have been some deser-
tions from the ranks CT the garrison
these have been chiefly Christian SOL
diers serving with Turkish regiments.
Shakri Pasha still have some 10000
men, number Of which is considered
quite sufficient to man the forts and
hold at bay the much greater besieg-
ing force
MANY 5ULGARlANs FIGHTING.
The Bulgarians are said to have
$4,000 men in the province Of Thrace
with $4,000 Servian soldiers and per-
haps a few divisions of Greeks as
sisting them. The greater part of this
force however is compelled to remain
in front Of Tchatalja and at Callipoli
in order to hold the Turkish armies
concentrated at those places.
It is possible that the allies may at
tack one or both of these positions If
they could clear Callipoli of Turkish
troops and attack the Dardanelies,
this would give free passage to the
Greek fleet, whichi would then be able
TO render some assistance at TchatalJa.
On the other hand the winter season
is so unfavorable for offensive opera
tions. that the allies may decide to let
the Turks make the first move from
Tchatalja.
The Ottoman army at Tchatalja has
greatly improved during the armistice
The soldiers are better armed than
they were sickness among them has
diminished. supplies have been brought
up In great quantities and fresh
troops now man the string of powerful
forts. All was quiet along the Tchat-
ala lines up to a late hour this morn
ing. The great drawbacks to the sue
cess of the Turks are the political
uuarrels among the Ottoman officers
which must tend to undermine the eff
ticiency of the army.
On the other side OF the Balkan
peninsula, Scutari. where the Monte
negrins are besieging the fortress, Is
reported through the correspondent OF
. Dutch newspaper 10 have fallen
CONTINUED on Page Sevenl