The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-04-04
TAKE ADRANOPlE ALIENS DIE IN ELECTRIC CHAR
AFTER ONE OF THE MOST STUB
BORN DEFENSES IN HISTORY
OF WARFARE.
Turkish Commander Carried Out
Threat to Burn Town, AS Fires
Are Burning in Every Direction.

London-Adrianopl has fallen after
one of the most stubborn defenses in
the history of warfare, and Tchatalja,
according to news received by the
Bulgarian legation at London Wednes-
day, has suffered like fate.
The information regarding Tchatalja
may refer to the town of that name
and not the Notifications, although it
is possible the Bulgarians carried all
before them.
Shukri Pasha. the defender of
Adrianople, handed his sword to Gen
eral Savoff, the Bulgarian generals
simo, not, however, before carrying
out his threat to destroy the town
rather than let it fall into the hands
of the Bulgarians.
From all accounts, the arsenals,
stores and much of the town are in
flames. 1t was also reported that
Shukri had taken his own life, but
this proved untrue, as after deciding
resistance was no longer possible, he
sent word to General Savoff that he
was burning the city.
General Savoff has appointed a com.
mandant of the city to maintain order.
The Bulgarian and Servian cavalry
will be utilized for this purpose. Cen
eral Savoff, who commanded the forts
around Adrianople, entered the city.
The battle which preceded the sur
render commenced Sunday night with
three hours bombardment, later the
besieging troops in the east advancing
at double quick under the glare of
searchlights to attack the advance
works at Maslak. After a fierce de-
tense lasting throughout 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 progress had been made in the
east, in other sections enormous
losses had resulted to the Bulgarians,
| VINO maze small gains.
History of AdrianopIe.
Adrianople, the former Turkish CAPT
tai, withstood the siege of great
Bulgarian army for over five months,
the first gun having been fired at the
fortress October 5. Shukri Pasha, the
commander in chief, had under him
within. the encircling forts what was
considered the flower of the Turkish
regular army The main portion OF
the garrison consisted of the Fourth
army corps, to which had been added
many regiments and batteries which
had been drawn in before the advanc.
ing Bulgarian army.
The Notifications, which have been
subjected to almost continuous BON
bardment by hundreds of field and
siege guns for about 100 days, were
very strong. They consisted of forty
modern forts, composing semi-circle
around the northern half of the city
from east to west, with minor works
between On the south of the city
there also was series of forts, but
much dependence was placed on the
character of the ground there, which
was formed of treacherous marshes.
The city contains about $4,000 in
habitants, half of whom are Turks anG
the others Armenians, Israelites an(
Greeks.
The. city has had varied histor!
since it's foundation in the second cen
fury by the Roman emperor Hannibal
A great victory was won there by tn
Goths in 37S and another by the Ava
Huns in $50. Twice the Russians hav
occupied the city, first in 1929, whel
they forced Turkey to give independ
!, ence. to Greece, and again in 1875
!, when they occupied it without resist
ance.
The present siege, however. with al
army believed to be composed of NOR
than 100000 Bulgarians and 10000 Sci
vians, constantly bombarding the city
forms one of the brightest spots in 1t
, history. The Turkish garrison .ha