The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-05
bOMBARDMENTSOF
! ADR|ANOP[E FORTS
! CONTINUE TERRIFIC
Even the Residential POr-
tion of the City Is
Not Spared
TURKS REMAIN ON
THE DEFENSIVE
Diplomacy Has Made No Move Since
Resumption of Hostilities--Nego-
tiations Likely to Remain
at Standstill


London. February 4-The Turks re-
main on the defensive at Tchatalja
and Adrianople. The Adrianople fort
ress replies only feebly TO the Bulgar-
ian bombardment and apparently no
attempt has been made in the way of
g. sortie
The Turkish newspaper Tanin asserts
that Adrianople has sufficient provi-
sions for four months and other Tur-
kish reports declare that the fortress
certainly will be able to hold out for
several weeks
Official quarters in constantiople
breathe a spirit of great confidence
in the new regime and declare the
condition of the country and the win
try weather precludes serious opera
tions along the Tchatalja lines for
the present.
Meanwhile diplomacy has made no
step forward since the resumption of
hostilities, and the porte has made
no further communication either to the
powers or the allies. Should it turn out
that Adrfanople can resist for any
considerable time, diplomatic negotia-
tions are likely to remain at a stand
still, although in the European capitals
a settlement by diplomacy rather than
by arms is still hoped for.
There is no confirmation of the re-
ported occupation of Scutari by the
Montenegrins.
Bombardments Continue
Terrific bombardments of the forts
around Adranople was begun last
evening by the 100, 600 Bulgarians ana
Servians surrounding the city. Almost
at the conclusion OF the armistice at I
o'clock siege guns and field guns from
various points of vantage command
ing the forts opened fire.
Not even the residential portion of
the city was spared There is consid-
cradle differences OF opinion as to how
long the fortress win be able to hold
out
One dispatch from Mustapha Pasha
today which reported that the heavy
cannonading continued throughout
the night, concluded with the prophecy
made by the Bulgarian staff that two
weeks would suffice for the besiegers
to force the Turks to capitulate. Mill
thing about the several lines of forts
which form the defences of Adrianople,
for the outer ring which the besiegers
have been facing since the war be-
gan, is connected with and supported
by other circles of defense just as
strong, look for a prolonged defense
by the besieged garrison, which com
prises many of the best Turkish regu-
lar troops. This decision apparently
prevails within Adrianople itself. The
foreign consus there would have con-
sidered it necessary otherwise to ask
their ambassadors to secure an escort
for the foreign residents of the city
who desire to pass through the lines
or protection for those who remain
within the gates. Shukri Pasha. the
Turkish commander. who is defending
Adrianopie, Is one of the most deter
mined officers of the Ottoman army
He has declared that he will not sur
render the fortress until the last of
his soldiers has been killed.
Some Desertions Reported
While there have been some desertions
from the ranks of the garrison, these
have been chiefly Christian soldiers en-
listing with Turkish regiments Shukri
Pasha still has some 1000 men, a num-
Der OF which is considered quite suffi-
cient to man the forts, and hold at bay
the much greater besieging force.
The Bulgarians are said to have 500 900
men in the province of Thrace, with As eco
Servian soldiens, and perhaps few d.
visions of Greeks assisting.
The greater part of this force is COM
PEELED to remain in front of Tchatalja
and at Galipolis in order to hold the
Turkish armies concentrated at those
places. 1t is possible that the allies NAV
attack one or both of these positions.
If they could clear Gallipois Of Turkish
troops and attack the Dardanelles this
would give free passage to the Greex
fleet, which would then be able to render
some assistance at Tchataja. On the
other hand, the winter season Is so unfa-
vorable for offensive operations that the
allies may decide to let the Turks make
the first move from Tchatalia The OF
toman army at Tchatalja has greatly iri.-
proved during the armistice. The sol
diers are better armed than they were
previously. sicknes among them having
been minnized: supplies have been
brought up in quantities and fresh troops
now man the string of powerful forts.
All was quiet along the Tchatalja lines
up 10 late hour this morning The
great drawbacks 10 the success OF ths
Turks are the Political quarrels among