Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-27
.TCHATAEA TAKEN
IN bULGAR ADVANCE
Turks Driven Out of Their Po-
SitionS in a General
Assault.
ADRIAN0PLE MAGAZINES
AND BARRACKS BLOWN UP
Shukri nasha Carries Out His Threat
to Destroy the An
cient Capital.


in possession of the town of Tchatalja,
just outside Of the Tchatalja lines
A Sofia dispatch to the Times, dated
We're undertaking general advance on
Icha.ai1a and had occupied a number
of villages
Constantinople dispatch to the Times
says severe fighting took place along the
Ichatalja front Monday night and Tues
DAY At least two Bulgarian divisions
with artillery were engaged. The Turk
ish advanced guard had considera BILE
number wounded. These have been sent
to Constantinople. Further fighting at
long range continued Wednesday.
AdHanople Found in Flames.
LONDON, March ga Sofia dispatch
to the Daily Mail says: 'The first Bull
garian troops entered Adrianople at 9
o'clock in the morning. They found the
city in flames and the Inhabitants fleeing
in terror In all directions.
"Shukri Pasha not only blew up all the
powder magazines and the barracks, but
also set fire to- every large, building in
the city.
The Bulgarian triumph followed a gen
eral assault on the trenches a,f .he<TArk-
ish infantry, which, werefcieared by the
positions defeated large Turkish force
which sessayed an attack, and--drove the
Turks back TO the Tchatalia lines. Thus
the Turkish attefnpt to take esoffensive
failed completely. 'f's
A Constantinople dispatch te-the Chron-
icle says revolutionary plans OF the Mill
tary League are ready for execution
There is fear that the city is on the eve
of another crisis and. adds the corre-
spondent, 1t would not be surprising If an
attempt were made In a few hours to
overthrow the government -
Official Account of Capture
SOFIA. March 27-An official account
OF the operations N the capture of
AdriaHople' says: ). 49, -
THE commander Of the second army
received orders March 3 to attack and
carry the outlying positions of the Turks
In the east section. The following day at
o'clock fire was opened ALI sections
by the field Batteries, the Turks replying
with siege guns. The duel lasted until s
o clock in the evening.
s.Toward $50 o'clock next morning the
Bulgarian infantry advanced on the
kumdere, which they crossed at Ais. At
the same time the siege guns opened on
the Turkish positions. The enemy re-
piled with violent infantry and artillery
fire on. the advancing columns. which,
break at the point of the bayonet carried
3oO1he1i were captured.;f e'ys - = !
simultaneously the troops in the
southern section captured Pamukryrty.
Ouktabir and DudJ .swhifef the, servian
infantry occupied the hill to the north
west OF Kadikeuf and another Servian d.
vision captured Ekmektchikeui. The
Danube Servian division attacked Papas-
tepe.
Work Of the Siege Guns.
THE siege artillery tried all day to
master the Turkish guns and destroy
the forts -Under cover of this the troops
OF the eastern division continued to adj
vance. and at 10, o'clock reached within
300 yards OF a fort where 1000 men and
twenty-one guns were captured These
sRns were at once brought into action
against the enemy and other forts were
taken.
During the night the Infantry destroy
ed series Of artificial obstacles and at
daybreak carried at the point OF the bay
onet the whole line fforts. The Turks
began to destroy their stores. the bar
racks. hospitals and other buildings, and
the city is aflre at several points"
In the advance on Adrianople herds of
cattle were driven forward, In order that
the danger Of mined trenches might be
avoided. Soldiers clad In cuirasses and
provided with shields cut and divided
wire entanglements surrounding the forts
and Fashioned walls, which were carried
at the point of the bayonet.
The MIR says: THE Servians in the
-
valiantly. although 1t was not their lot
to capture the forts
Shukri Pasha Fires City.
shukri Pasha. the defender OF Adrian
ople, handed his sword this afternoon to
Gen. Savof. the Bulgarian generalissimo
mot, however. before carrying out his
threat to destroy the town rather than
let It fall into the hands OF the Bull
gartans.
From all accounts the arsenals, stores
and much OF the town are in flames II
was also reported that Shukri Pasha had
taken his own life, but this proved un-
true, rs, after deciding resistance was nc
longer possible he sent word to Gen. Sa-
volt that he was burning the city.
Gen. Savoff has appointed comman-
dant Of the city. to maintain order. The
Bulgarian and Servian cavalry will be
utilized for this purpose.
Gen. Ivanoff, who commanded the forts
around Adrianople, will enter tomorrow
while King Ferdinand will follow shortly
The battle which preceded the surren-
der commenced Sunday night with a
three-hour bombardment. Later the be-
sieging troops in the last advanced a.
double under the glare of searchlights to
attack the advanced works at Maslak
After q fierce defense. lasting through
out Monday. the Turks retired from the
forward forts.
After moving forward toward the chief
fortress the Bulgarians rested. 1t was
then observed that. although great prog
ress had been made in the east in other
sections enormous losses had resulted TO
the Bulgarians, with small gain.
Nevertheless. the attack was renewed
and Tuesday and Wednesday the impor-
tant inner forts were taken after hard
fighting.
The garrison. which was estimated al
from 10000 to coco, will probably be
found to have been considerably reduced
The people of the town are said to b.
panic-stricken and even Europe from
the history Of previous wars fears the
occupation may be accompanied by in
| discriminate slaughter.
Europe's Criticism.
Europe continues to crticise the actor
of the allies In carrying the siege to the
| end when II was known that the captur.
| Of Adrianople was not necessary to enc
the war or secure anything not alread,
| theirs.
Now that the lighting is over. the cor
| resndndents and attaches have been givel
permission to go to the front.