Turks Bombard Bulgarian Port.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 20, 1912:
Varna and Burgas, on the Black Sea, Are Blockaded by the Sultan's Warships.
MUSTAPHA PASHA TAKEN
Turkish Forces Yield Border Town to King Ferdinand's Advancing Host.
BATTLE LINE 200 MILES LONG
Forces of the Allies Are Pouring Through the Passes — Macedonian Chief Joins Their Cause.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Sunday, Oct. 20.— An unexpected naval move by Turkey stands out in relief from the numerous reports from the Balkans yesterday of the movements of huge armies and of scattered successes on each side.
    In sending ships to blockade the Bulgarian ports, Varna and Burgas, as reported through the Turkish Embassy, the Ottoman Government has taken action which the military experts regarded as only a bare possibility. The general idea was that Turkey would employ its fleet to keep the way open for reinforcements by the Black Sea or the Aegean.
    As Bulgaria has only four gunboats and six torpedo boats, the difficulties likely to be encountered by Turkey in the Black Sea, are small, but so long as the Greek Fleet remains in the Aegean Sea there is serious danger for Turkey there. Not only could communications be cut, but a combined naval and military raid on the Gulf of Enos might have important results, for the Salonika Railway, running along the right bank of the Maritza, is temptingly accessible to an attack from the sea.
    What advantage the blockade of the Bulgarian ports can bring to Turkey in comparison with the disadvantages of leaving the Aegean open to the Greek Navy is difficult to see, and there is much speculation as to the exact significance of the report.

Armies Nearing a Clash.
    Meanwhile the armies along a battle front of 200 miles in the Balkans are coming in closer contact.
    Much more importance has been attached to the news of the Bulgarian occupation of Mustapha Pasha than it really deserves. Mustapha Pasha is far from being one of the keys to Adrianople, as it is described. It is true that it is only seventeen miles from Adrianople, but it is an unfortified frontier town, and outside the works built for the defense of Adrianople. From Sofia come reports of the victorious advance of the Bulgars, but these are counterbalanced by Constantinople reports that the Bulgarian forces are retiring and that the Turkish force is advancing upon Sofia.
    The general feeling in military circles here is that no very important news is likely to come from the scene of war for at least a week. Before battle can be joined in a modern war much time is required, owing to the extent of the ground to be covered and the huge number of troops to be moved into position.
    Thus the battle, or battles, round Adrianople, which will be the first great clash of arms in the war, may not be fully developed for another week or decided for another fortnight.
    The fate of Adrianople may decide the issue of the whole war. That city is, in fact, the Key to Constantinople. Upon it are now converging the invading Bulgarian Army in two main bodies, one by way of Mustapha Pasha, the other by way of Kirk Kilisseh, thirty miles to the east.

Must Fight Every Inch.
    Just south of Mustapha Pasha, now in the hands of the Bulgarians, the road crosses a bridge to the left bank of the river. The railway continues on the right bank. Both road and railway are strongly defended, and it is taken for granted that the Bulgars will have to fight every inch of the seventeen miles between Mustapha Pasha and Adrianople.
    Another road by which the Bulgarian advance is being made runs due south down the valley of the Tunja, one of the affluents of the Maritza, which it joins at Adrianople.
    A third approach to Adrianople is possible by a road from the northeast, but after the main Bulgarian Army has advanced by the Maritza Valley through Mustapha, undoubtedly the most important strategic disposition for King Ferdinand's forces is to advance on Kirk Kilisseh. Here half a dozen roads meet, and from Kirk Kilisseh a great flank attack on the army defending Adrianople is possible.
    The indications thus far received, therefore, point to a line of battle extending for fifty miles.
    Some military experts are inclined to believe that upon the encounter between the Ottoman right wing and a Bulgarian force in the neighborhood of Kirk Killisseh will chiefly depend the struggle for the possession of Adrianople.