“THE BULGARIANS ARE COMING!”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3670, 4 November 1912, Page 5

“THE BULGARIANS ARE COMING!”

PANIC-STRICKEN TOWNSPEOPLE AND SOLDIERS.

PANDEMONIUM LET LOOSE

(Received November 3, 5.5 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 3. Details of the terror at Kirk Ivilisse are to hand.

Hilmi Bey, commanding 20,000 men, advanced and encountered three divisions, whereof tlie central one was the most important. These Hilmi Bey attacked simultaneously, sending a flanking column against each wing. The fight with the central division continued from noon until night, hut the flanking columns failed to come into contact with the enemy.

A Turkish division, coming into action, without informing Hilmi Bey, advanced and stationed itself behind Hilmi Bey’s two detached columns. Tlie latter were then between Bulgarian and Turkish fire, thus leading to a panic. , A Turkish officer subsequently remarked : ,_“W© had been starving for a week. I was scarcely able to obtain a small roll.”

A -number of the horses were dying teach day. It was impossible for the soldiers, worn out and starving as they were, to fight upwards of 10,000 men.

Ragged and starving Kirk Kilisse refugees, including many women and children, are camping in the courtyards of the Stamb-oul Alosqties. Tlie Porte, with a view to preserving order and preventing outbreaks, strenuously keeps tlie public in'- ignorance of events at tlie front and has also sent a division to stop all fugitives and soldiers between Tchatalja and-Stamboul.

It is reported that the shooting of Abdul Aziz is officially denied. Sofia reports that tlie inhabitants of Kirk Kilisse were unaware of the Turkish disaster until two in the afternoon, when the cry, “The Bulgarians are coming”-arose. In ia twinkling pandemonium was let loose.

The-population flocked to the railway station.

Soldiers stormed the train? and compelled tlie drivers, at the point of tlie revolver, to steam out. Others trudged afoot towards Lu7e Burgas. Al] tlie villages between Adrianople and Lule Burgas are burning, the Aloslems setting fire to their own villages,before quitting them. The Bulgarians invited the civilians to quit Adrianople and the Commandant replied that lie was willing to leave with the garrison if the Bulgarians would likewise guarantee a free passage. The Bulgarians refused