Cordon Around Scutari.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 31, 1912:
    RIEKA, Montenegro, Oct. 30.—The Montenegrins have captured an important position on Mount Bardigniol, thus completing a. cordon around Scutari.
    The centre column of Montenegrin troops, commanded by Crown Prince Danilo, to-day effected a junction with the Southern Montenegrin army under Gen. Martinovitch to the east of Scutari.
    A vigorous bombardment is being maintained dally against Tarabosch, but no decisive progress has been made.
    Floods last Friday carried away a bridge across the river near Scutari, cutting off from the town 4,000 Turkish troops.
    King Nicholas, in reply to a question, "How long will Scutari hold out?" said to-day:
    "We should have been in possession of it days ago if I were not obliged always to have regard for the valuable lives of my soldiers. My Montenegrins are brave and full of self-sacrifice, but their numbers are inconsiderable. My sacred duty is to spare their lives so that Montenegro may be able to win more battles. We have sufficient time, for, even without our assistance, the common cause of the Balkan kingdoms has already been crowned with success."