The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-02-05
PORTION OF CITY
IS IN FLAMES
Allies Continue Assault on
! AdrionOple.
BESIEGERS NUMBER 100000

Military Men of the Opinion That the
Forty Thousand Defenders VIII Be
Able to Hold Out for a Considerable
Time.
Sofia, Bulgaria, Feb. 5.-Some quar-.
ters OF Adrianople are in flames as
the result of the bombardment by the
Bulgarians and Servians. which was
resumed with even more intensity, &C.
cording to advices received here from
the front.
London, Feb. 5.-A terrific bom-
bardment of the forts around Adrian.
ople was begun by the Bulgarians
and Servians surrounding the city to
the number of over 100000. Almost
at the moment of the conclusion of
the armistice siege guns and field
guns from various points command.
ing the forts opened fire. Not even
the residential portion of the city was
spared.
There Is considerable difference OF
opinion as to how long the fortress
will be able to hold out One dispatch
from Mustapha Pasha, which report
ed that the cannonade 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.
Look for Prolonged Defense.
Military men, however, who know
something about the several lines of
forts which form the defenses of
Adrianople-for the outer ring, which
the besiegers have been facing since
the war began is connected with and
supported by other circles OF forts
just as stronghold for a prolonged
defense by the besieged garrison,
which comprises many of the best of
the Turkish regular troops.
This opinion apparently prevails
within Adrianople itself. Otherwise
the foreign consuls there would not
have considered it necessary 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 com
mander who is defending Adrianople,
has declared that he will not surren-
der the fortress until the last OF his
soldiers has been killed.
While there have been some deser-
tions from the ranks of the garrison
these have been chiefly Christian sol
diers serving with Turkish regiments.
Shukri Pasha still has some 10000
men, number which, is considered quite
sufficient to man the forts and hold at
bay the much greater besieging force.
$1,000 BuIgarians in Thrace.
The Bulgarians are said to have
$4,000 men in the province of Thrace,
with $4,000 Servian soldiers and per-
haps few divisions of Greeks assist
ing them. The greater part OF this
force, however, is compelled to remain
in front of Tchatalja and at Gallipoli
in order to hold the Turkish armies
concentrated at those places.
1t is possible that the allies may at
tack one or both of these positions. IL
they could clear Gallipoli of Turkish
troops and attack the Dardanelles
straits this would give free passage to
the Greek fleet, which would then be
able to render some assistance at
Tchatalja.
On the other hand the winter sea-
son Is so unfavorable for offensive op-
erations that the allies may decide to
let the Turks make the first move
from Tchatalja.
The Ottoman army at Tchatalja has
greatly improved during the armistice
The soldiers are better armed than
they were, sickness among them has
diminished, supplies have been brought
up in great quantities and fresh troops
now man the string of powerful forts.
The great drawbacks to the success
Of the Turks are the political quarrels
among the Ottoman officers, which
must tend to undermine the efficiency
Of the army.