BATTLEFIELD LITTERED WITH CORPSES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3666, 30 October 1912, Page 7

BATTLEFIELD LITTERED WITH CORPSES.

COMBATANTS HACKING AT EACH OTHER WITH DAGGERS AND BAYONETS.

GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE

FIGHT.

HOW THE SERVIANS OPENED THE ROAD TO USKUB.

THIRTEEN REGIMENTS AT THE CHARGE.

TURKS PRESSED BACK TO THE

HILLS

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT]

(Received October 29, 10.20 p.m.) BELGRADE, Oct. 29.

During the pursuit after the taking of Kumanovo the Servians captured an enormous amount of railway rolling stock and bridge material. The panic-stricken Turkish i-cops, in their mad flight, fought each other and several were killed in frantic struggles for seats in trains cr ]-ossession of any sort of vehicle. A large section of the fugitives were overtaken on the Ovtchepolye plain towards Kuprili, and were again defeated with heavy loss. Uicola (midway between Ovtchepolyo and Ishtib) was next occupied. The inhabitants of Ishtib rose against the Turks and seized all their arms. _ Twenty-five Servians were killed- and six wounded at Feridovitch, while a thousand Arnauts (Albanians) were taken prisoners. Wounded officers described the Kumanovo fight as the most sanguinary and stubborn, the battlefield eventually becoming a shambles, the combatants hacking at each other until the battlefield was littered with corpses still clutching daggers and bayonets. Three divisions of Turkish regulars and numerous irregulars began the attack on Wednesday night in clear moonlight. The Servians, with machine guns, waited until the Turks wete at close range and then opened a withering fire which, with the infantry fire, mowed down the Turks in rows as thev advanced in dense masses. They essayed a bayonet charge, but their numbers were so thinned that tlio effect was negligible. The Servians scarcely suffered under the Turkish fire.

Then the Servians, charging with fixed bayonets into the valley along tlio wooded hillsides, repelled the attack with ghastly losses to the Turks. Thirteen Servian regiments, forming the first line, charged with magnificent courage, and swept everything before them. The Turks pressed back into the hills.

At daylight the Servian artillery joined in the battle and with great skill decimated the Turks, who arc now retreating into the narrow vall'OVS.

The Turkish artillery attempted to protect the infantry, but their guns were badly served and the range was bad. while many shells did not explode. The battle lasted throughout Thursday. '

The Servian cavalry made a long flank march, and came round the Turks' right rear, compelling their evacuation of their strong position. The road to Uskub was thus opened.