Sultan Ready To Flee.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 7, 1912:
Turks Do Not Think They Can Save Capital — Fears for Nazim Pasha.
    CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 6.— It is reported that preparations have been made for the Sultan to proceed to Brusa, Asia Minor, if the Bulgarians capture the Tchatalja lines.
    A persistent rumor is current that the Turkish Commander, Nazim Pasha, is missing, and it is feared that he has been killed or made a prisoner.
    It is reported that the Cabinet has decided to prosecute the war after making a change in a number of important commands in the Eastern Army, Gen. Mahmud Mukhtar, who arrived from army headquarters to-day, told Kiamil Pasha, the Grand Vizier, that the Porte's request for mediation had produced the worst possible effect in the army.
    The blockade of the Bulgarian coast will be abandoned, as the ships are needed for the defense of Constantinople.
    The threat of the Turks to abandon Constantinople entirely, which was made by the Ottoman Foreign Minister to an Ambassador yesterday, is believed to have been intended to stimulate the action of the powers in the matter of intervention between the belligerents.
    In the opinion of close observers, the military position of the Turks does not warrant a belief in their ability to stop the Bulgarian advance toward the capital if King Ferdinand really aspires to the conquest of the city.
    The Turkish headquarters staff has decided to take up its position immediately behind the town of Tchatalja and to await there the coming fight with the Bulgarian troops.
    The left wing and centre of the retreating Turkish Army are said to have made their retirement in good order, but the troops forming the right wing were in a state of panic and demoralization. They achieved considerable success in the fighting, but, finding themselves without food, fled to the south, abandoning everything.
    The medical authorities of the city have been notified to prepare to receive 20,000 wounded from Lule-Burgas and Visa. It is officially stated that these are in addition to the 15,000 wounded men already in the city. All the hospitals, including those of the foreign colonies, are crowded, and most of the schools and university buildings in Stambul have been converted into hospitals.
    The installations, however, are imperfect. Beds, blankets, and linen are lacking, and the sanitary arrangements are inadequate.
    It is hoped by the Turkish staff that the flight of the fugitives will be stopped at Tchatalja, to which place many trainloads of bread have been dispatched since Sunday. Should the fleeing troops be allowed to reach Constantinople the consequences, it is thought, would be disastrous, as they might spread the panic among the troops who have thus far remained steady.
    The Turkish soldiers place much of the blame for their non-success on the use of searchlights by the Bulgarians, who were thus enabled to carry out night attacks. The soldiers learned during the fighting to dread the rays of the searchlight.
    Five transports conveying Turkish troops which were sent to Midia last week were unable to land, owing to the rough sea. They returned here yesterday, and the men were disembarked and sent to the Tchatalja forts.
    Move troops have been sent to guard all the approaches to Constantinople, so as to prevent the ingress of fugitives.
    Notwithstanding these measures and the arrival of the foreign war vessels, the public is still unsettled, and numerous families continue to leave here for abroad, while many of those residing in the suburbs are coming into the inner city.
    The public are astonished and dumfounded at the repeated Turkish reverses. It is now recognized on all sides that the end has come.
    The Mussulman population of the towns along the Dardanelles, although depressed, maintains calm. Some anti-Greek incidents of small importance are reported to have occurred in outlying villages.
    The Government appears at present to be able to control the local situation. Vigorous measures for the preservation of order have been taken by the authorities. The patrols in the streets have been strengthened by the arrival of a large number of military police from the cities of Ismid and Brusa, Asia Minor, about fifty miles from the capital. These are helping to keep the people in check.
    A meeting of Kurds was held yesterday at St. Sophia, at which various questions connected with the war were discussed. It was suggested that a brigade of volunteers should be formed. After the meeting the Military Governor of Constantinople summoned the leaders of the Kurds and warned them that they would be held responsible if any of their followers were in any way concerned in starting trouble in the capital.