The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-28


finite who went into Scutart with ths
frst five thousand Mountaineering, teie-
graphs under date of April 2bth, iaa'
thees Ave thousand men VINO were
concentrated from various points
marched over the mountains IheE
we're without sleep. and had nothing
hut bread To eat. While they were
marching towards the town OF Seu-
tart on April gath, the fortress at
Tarakasch was being delivered 70 th~
xictors. The correspondent continues
1T was a memorable and dramatic
scene and even the most calieus spec
tator was touched. It was noon, ana
fhe men had remained in the trenches
uutil the last moment, as If they Tear
ed treachery. There was a hfi4i'Aht
sun and cloudess sky The horrors
of the recent war were everyw here VS.
tb}e Here were men who were Kill
d In tn last assault on III mou ntain
fortress dying in the sun. 1erFfbIe
odors Mortified the scene
Tarakastch YVES practically I'm
pregnahie II Essad Fasha had been
furnished with food and ammunition
II might have heen defended inden-
niteiy The fortress is nothing hut a
deem, circular cavity, followed sh"ef
into rock ami surrounded by babed
wire fences. The fortress was hedged
around with tangled bareed wire
Surrender In Pathetic.
"A Turkish officer marched out with
six NIxams Irregular soldiers OF the.
Turkish ARMY He wore a mourn
ing band around his hsadgear The
Nontanegrins drew near Then came
a solemn moment. as the officer sur
rendered the guns one by one. " hen
ne had delivered the last gun he bent
down and kissed il, remaining with his
arms outstretched in an embrace OF
she weapon. Each Nt1afn kissed inc
gun also. Thus Il farewell was taken
wit hhard set lips. and sorrowful eyes
Every one Of the men had served these
guns during the tempestuo4ts months
OF the seige.
THE Montenegrins iokeod on silent
lv, not daring to cheer At this emu.
tional moment. an old and bearded
Turkish corporal placed tarpaulins
over the guns, the Montenegro nag
was hoisted over the fortress, and the
war was over.
yictosS March In.
The correspondent then goes on 10
describe the entry Of the Aontene-
grins into the town Of Scutari. which.
at the request Of Essad Pasha. had
been policed by the vjctors little ear
Ter because the Bashi Bazouks had
started to loot the stores Generals
Martinovitch and Nokotitch rode be-
fore the troops. which marched into
the city in the afternoon. They cresS-
ed the bridge at two thirty General
Martinovitch. on bay mountain pony
and General Nok otitCh on white
pony, rode together. The Montene-
grin band led the troops into the
town playing the song "Onamo, ona-
mo" composed by King Nicholas
They marched well. with the swing
ing stride of mountaineers. Their
bayonets were fixed, but 1t WAS no
glittering entry of conqnering legions,
but rather that of an army or tired
soldiers walking home In clothes
stained and patched and their leather
sandals wor nto waters
In Dreadful Plight.
The population of the place sa-
luted the Montenegrin flag as the
troops passed by The children threw
flowers which were trodden under foot
as the troops went along. Finally the
Montenegrins arrived at the wide bar
rack square where the notahles OF
Scutari were assembled. Here General
Martinovitch made an address TO the
citizens. He told them that food was
coming, and promised that they should
have greater liberty than they had
ever known under Turkish rule. He
ordered twenty thousand rations of
bread TO be distributed and sacks
of -four given to the bakers.
THE siege was horrible in its eff
fects," says the correspondent. The
faces of the children haunt me. They
were starved and withered. Old men
sat In the dust watching the con-
querors with uncomprehending eyes
The bazaar was like place of the
dead The shops were full at the be-
ginning OF the siege. but were gradual
~ depleted until January, when the
government commanded everything
for the soldiers. The shops had been
shut since February. The privations
were terrible during the last weeks or
the siege.
People Were Starving.
THE people were starving. but pur-
chased whatever they could at famine
prices. Bread at 81 rs pound. which
was made of sawdust and straw. WAS
eaten toward the end.
The plight of the very poor peo-
pie WIS fearful. Some of them ate
grass, and any filthy rubbish. in or
der to fill their stomachs. Almost
three hundred died OF starvation
There were 1000 men sick and wound
ed in the garrison. and just one days
food was left before the surrender"
The correspondent goes on TO say
that much damage was done in the
town by the shells of the beseigers
especially in the Christian quarter.
The Christian population revolted on
March 18th. and desired that the place
be surrendered. Essad Pasha was
obdurate however, and imprisoned
twelve OF the ring-leaders.