The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-03-29

TURKS YIELD ADR|ANOpLE.
ANCIENT CAPITAL OF OTTOMNNS
CAPTURED BY ALLIES.
1akcn by Assault After Siege of Five
MOnthS-TIIrkish Commander set
f1rG To City Before Surrender
FaH of Tchatalja Also Reported.

London, March 26.-Adrianople
mas FALLEN after one of the most stub
born defenSeS in the history of war
1are and Tchatalja, according to a
telegram received by the Bulgarian lie
CATION at London tonight, has suffer-
ed like fate.
The information regarding Tchatal-
ia may refer to the town of that
name and not the fortifications, al
though it is possible the Bulgarians
carried all before them.
Shukri PaSha, the defender of
Adrianople, handed his sword this af-
ternoOn to Gen. SaVoff, the Bulgarian
generalisSmO, 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 arsenal
stores and much Of the town are in
flames. 1t was also reported that
Shukrl Pasha had taken his own life,
out this proved untrue, as, after de-
cldlng resistance was no longer pos
sible, he sent word to Gen. Savoff that
he was burning the city.
Gen. Savof has appointed a COM
mandant OF the city to maintain or
der. Gen. Ivanoff, who commanded
the forts around Adrianople, will en-
ter tomorrow, while King Ferdinand
Will follow shortly.
The battle which preceded the sur
render commenced Sunday night with
three hours bOmbardment. Later
the besieging troops in the east ad-
Vanced at double quick under the
glare of searchlights to attack the
ADVANCE works at MaSlak. After a
nerce defense lasting throughout Mon
day the Turks retired from the for
ward forts.
After moving forward toward the
chlef fortress the Bulgarians rested.
The attack was renewed Tuesday.
ana Wednesday the important inner
forts were taken after hard fighting.
Accounts of the battle which come
from Bulgarian sources make no men
ton of the Servians. There seems to
nave been great deal of jealousy.
The Servians, who have only issued
brief report of the capture, divide
credit with their allies According to
a dispatch received at Belgrade from
Mustapaha Pasha, the sacrifices were
very heavy. The Servian Thirteenth
ana bulgarian Eighteenth regiments
were blown up by mines, and other
regiments sustained great losses.
In Adrianople itself there is also
much work for doctors ana nurses.
The garrison, which was estimated
at from 10000 to $1,000, will prob
ably be found to have been consider
ably reduced.
The people Of the tow. are said to
De panic stricken and even Europe,
trou1 the history of previous vars,
fears the occupation may be accom-
panied by indiscrminate slaughter.
The capture of AdriaGople has
caused rejoicing at all the Slav capi-
tails. At st. Petersburg the news was
received while the duma was in ses-
sion, with DIR. Daneff, head OF the
bulgarian peace delegation in Lon
don, and the Bulgarian minister, Nj.
Bobthcheff, as guests.
The deputies rose and cheered DR..
Daneif and his companion were car
rled shoulder high to Catherine hall.
where the Russian and Bulgarian
anthems were sung.
No news has been received from
ConStantinople but it is feared that
when the capture Of Adrianople be-
comes known another revolution may
occur. If Tchatalja has fallen there is
likely to be n dangerous inflow of de-
featcd troops.
Adrianople, the former Turkish
capital, wthstood the siege of a 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 Hover Of the Turk
ish regular army. The main portion
of the garrison consisted Of the fourth
army corps, which had added many
regiments and batteries who had been
drawn in before the advancing Bull
garian army.
The fOrtitications which had been
subjected to almost continuous bonn
hardment by hundreds of field and
siege guns for about 100 days were
very strong. They consisted of 40
modern forts composing n semi-cir-
Gle around the northern half of the
city from east to west with minor
works between. ON the south of the
city there was also a series Of forts
put much dependence was placed ON
the character of the ground there
which was formed of treacherOus
marshes.
The city contains about so, 600 in
habltants, half of whom are Turks
anu the others Armenians, ISraclites
and Greeks.