Where Is The Turkish Army?

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 29, 1912:
    LONDON, Tuesday, Oct. 29.— An interesting question at the present moment is the whereabouts of the Turkish army, of which nothing definite is known. The news that Baba-Eski has been taken by the Bulgarian cavalry, apparently without resistance, shows that Nazim Pasha's army is not where it was supposed to be — on the line between Kulell Burgas to Lule Burgas. It may be further west, in the direction of Demotica, but it is generally supposed that it has retired from the line of the railway and intrenched itself on the long line from Demotica to Tchorlu.
    Constantinople dispatches continue to speak of the readiness of the Turkish army to take the offensive. In any case, a few days must see something decisive.
    Unless the Turks are able to take the offensive vigorously, the present indication is that they will be driven out of Europe altogether, failing interference by the powers at the present stage to end the war, as they did in the Russian campaigns against Turkey in 1828 and 1878, when Russia had captured Adrianople and was at the gates of Constantinople.
    There have been renewed activities with regard to European intervention in the past few days and great diplomatic activity in London.
    The Turkish Ambassador had a two hours' conference on Sunday at the French Embassy, and an important conference was held to-day at the British Foreign Office between Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary; Winston Spencer Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, and Col. Seely, the Secretary for War. Then the Turkish, French, Russian, and Italian Ambassadors visited the Foreign Secretary, who afterward had an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace.
    The news from other parts of the theatre of operations shows that the Turks everywhere are retiring before the victorious allies. The Turkish army, defeated at Kumanova, appears to be demoralized, and has evacuated Kuprili (or Veles, as it is also known) and is retiring to Monastir.
    The victorious Bulgarian army is still advancing. It has occupied Bunar-Hissar and is marching toward Kuleli Burgas. It is reported that the Bulgarians have blown up a bridge over the Tchorlu River, showing that the turning movement is making rapid progress
    In view of the big events in the Eastern region of the theatre of war, the achievements of the Servian army have been somewhat lost sight of. The Servians, from whom Europe did not expect much, are now in possession of virtually the whole of Old Servia and, in conjunction with the Montenegrins, hold the best part of the district of Novi-Bazar.
    The Servian columns obtained possession of the Turkish railroad from Mitrovitza. its Northern terminus, down to Uskub, and followed the defeated Turkish army to Veles.
    The Servian legation announces that a hundred Arnaut villages in the vicinity of Uskub have surrendered. Great festivities are being held throughout the conquered country.
    The Bulgarian column co-operating with the Servian army, in the Western part of the peninsula has occupied Istib and threatens to cut off the retreat of the Turks to the South.

More Greek Successes.

    The Greek army, too, is making steady headway. Its capture of Pentepigedia is considered of the utmost importance, for with Pentepigedia in Greek hands the whole country to the North is easily accessible to the advance of the Greek army and the way is also left open to Janina, the Turkish base in the far Western region.
    The Greek plan is clearly to effect a junction of the Greek Armies and then to march on Salonika. The Greek Crown Prince's army is now within striking distance of that fortress.
    In the first place, of course, the Greeks must sever communications between Monastir and Salonika, and they may send a force against the former place.
    The Montenegrins, hampered by rain and the stubborn resistance of the Turks, are still hammering away at Tarakosch and Scutari.
    All the invaders of Turkish territory are establishing civil administrations in the towns captured by them, which is taken as further evidence that they have no intention of giving up any of the conquered territory without a struggle.
    The Greeks, who have been left out of some calculations in regard to the future, now put forward a claim that that portion of Turkey in which the Greek Crown Prince's' army is operating must fall to them. In a semi-official statement the Greeks point out that the country mentioned, and that to the north, has a purely Greek population, who naturally expect that under no circumstances will they be placed under anything but Hellenic rule. It is explained, however, that the Greeks' aspirations depend upon the success of their military operations, for it is the question of armed possession of territory that will decide the frontiers of the future States. This must be consistent always with the agreements made by the Balkan allies before the conclusion of their alliance.
    It is still impossible for any correspondents or military attachés to get near the fighting line on the Turkish side. Those correspondents who entrained for Kirk-Kilisseh last Wednesday were stopped at Seidler on the fall of the former place. They are now being taken back to Tchorlu, and, with the cutting of the line by the Bulgarians, doubtless will be kept there.
    A dispatch from Constantinople reports that Mahmud Shefket Pasha has been appointed Chief of the Commissariat Department of the War Office. The acceptance of this appointment is considered to show a spirit of remarkable self-abnegation on the part of a distinguished officer, as the post, though important, scarcely corresponds to his high rank and previous services. It appears to confirm, however. the current reports of the deplorable condition of the Turkish Commissariat service.