The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-27
Snowstorms Are Frequent and
Roads i'll Deplorablc
Condition.
OPERATIONS IMPOSSIBLE
Five Armies in Balkan Field
Are Practicallyat
Standstill.

. London. February 26.-Thc opera
lions of the five armies engaged III the
Balkan war have been brought prac-
tically 10 a standstil by the wintry
weather. Snowstorms arc frequent, and
the roads are in a deplorablo state
The daily official dispatches, upon
which the world is now compelled TO
rely for news from the theatre OF war,
repeat tho stereotyped statement.
nothing of Importance has occurred"
4 dispatch from Constantinople to-
day goes little further. recording
that there has been skirmishing on
the front OF the Tchatalja lines by
Turkish volunteers. who claim TO have
met with some successes. They must
have been Of Il minor nature, as the
Bulgarlans earlier in the week were
said TO have withdrawn further to the
westward. Roads in that neighbour
hood are so bad that the transport col
umns found it difficult to keep the
troops at the front supplied with pro-
visions and ammunition.
The news from the nciGhborhood OF
Adrianoplc is conflicting. The Bui-
garian war department says only dcsut-
tory lighting has been in progress. but
dispatch from French correspon-
dent inside the city says that since
February the Bulgarians have been
delivering desperate but ineffective as
saults on the fortress. and are bonn
harding 1t cruelty and fruitlessly. Tho
correspondent confirms the report sent
to the Turkish war office by Shukri
Pasha the military commander OF
Adrianoplc. that he has succeeded in
getting n fresh supply of provisions.
Even less has occurred in the vicinity
OF Bulair in the Gallipoli Peninsula
than at the Tchatalja lines Here the
Bulgarian and Turkish armies are en-
trenchcd patiently awaiting break
in the weather
The only heavy lighting, except at
Adrianoplc, since the war was resumed,
has taken place around Scutari. where
the Montenegrin army, now assisted
by Servian troops, has again failed in
trying TO take the fortress.
Austrian military experts say the
Montenegrin siege guns are placed too
far away to do serioas damage to the
Turkish works. and that King Nicholas,
of Montenegro. will not permit them to
be moved forward, as he fears Il sortie
by the Turkish garrison. He is now
awaiting the arrival OF big Servian
siege guns, which have been shipped
from Snloniki.
The Montenegrins are most anxious
10 capture the lOTlTcSS, as RUSSIA mas
agreed to the Austrian demand that it
should be included in the future Al
bantam state. With the town once in
his possession. King Nicholas believes
that his brother Slavs would insist on
its retention by Montenegro
Tho Greek army seems to be just as
idle at Janina as are the Bulgarians at
Bulair. An occasional report comes
through of movement of Turkish
troops in Macedonia, showing they arc
not entirely disposed of there. while
the failure OF the Greeks to take Jan
ina, which is their objective, is regard
cd as another indication that there is
a lot OF fight left in the Ottomans in
that part of the country.
The Greek feet now has extended its
blockade of the Albanian coast as far
as Durazzo to stop revictualling OF the
Turks in Scutari and Macedonia. This
action may give rise TO objections by
Italy and Austria. on the ground that
the blockade is ineffective.