“OH, THE WILD CHARGE THEY MADE!”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3665, 29 October 1912, Page 5

“OH, THE WILD CHARGE THEY MADE!”

TAKING OF KIRK KILISSE A MIRACLE. GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK. (Received Oct. 28, 11.20 ]>.m.) LONDON, Oct. 28. Tlie “Daily. Telegraph’s” Sofia correspondent reports that- the armament at Kirk Kilisse comprised Gin. and ,llin guns. Altogether there were a hundred pieces mounted in the fortress, which was reputed to be impregnable, except bv mining. * It was surrounded by redoubts and entrenchments.

The Bulgarians did not possess a single siege gun, and their victory is something miraculous. General Dimitichf’s four divisions formed an immense flying column provided with four days’ rations, and an extra supply of -ammunition. Assault followed assault, and the Turkish gunnery failed to dislodge any of the attackers from their positions. Bayonet attacks were made at night time," tlie Bulgarians stealthily advancing on the redoubts. They sacrificed every tiling to rapidity. Ladders swayed and tottered until placed in aposition enabling the attackers to scale the walls of tlie forts. Hand grenades were used to cover tho attack. The forts were without searchlights and rain and the darkless facilitated the approach of tlie Bulgarians. . An aviator in the day-time perceived a Turkish division hurrying from Adrianople and subsequently, on his report, the Turks were ambushed and decimated. They dispersed and abandoned their artillery. .The garrison of Kirk Kilisse consisted of 40,000 men. Two hours before tlie crowning bayonet charge two regiments of Kurdisn cavalry made a sortie towards the Bulgarian lino with a view to opening tho road for the infantry to protect a withdrawal from the fort.

The Bulgarian cavalry caught them "on the flank, this loading to an inextricable sanguinary cnlacemcnt of horses and men.

The Kurds fled and the Bulgarians immediately annihilated a regiment of infantry in the vicinity. The Turks wore then seized with panic and fled. Reuter’s Sofia correspondent reports that tlie Turks left five hundred dead at Kirk Kilisse.