How The War Was Fought.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 31, 1913:
Turks' Power Crushed at Kirk Kilisseh, Salonika, and Adrianople.
    The Balkan war was expected by those who studied European affairs closely as soon as the Turco-Italian war began, but it was not till Sept. 30 last year that it was learned that the forces of Bulgaria, Servia, Montenegro, and Greece were actually mobilizing.
    It was the occurrence of a series of massacres in Macedonia and Thessaly, almost on the frontiers of the Balkan States, which gave the final impetus to the alliance between them, which had for so long been regarded as an impossibility. At Otchana in August the Turks had massacred a number of Bulgarians, and at Philipopolis the people held large gatherings to demand the liberation of Macedonia. The Montenegrins were stirred by the news of other atrocities at Berane, and a mutiny occurred at Monastir.
    The great powers, which always watch the Balkans with the keenest anxiety, and were conscious that their own subjects might force them to observe the responsibilities they had assumed for decent government in European Turkey, became seriously alarmed and addressed many exhortations to the Balkan States on the danger and folly of upsetting the status quo.
    Mr. Venizelos, the Premier of Greece, however, was at work, and through his ability Bulgaria, Greece, Servia, and Montenegro agreed to forget their mutual hatreds and to advance together against the common foe. On Oct. 13 Bulgaria, Servia, and Greece sent Turkey a note demanding an autonomous Macedonia, and four days later Turkey handed the Balkan Ministers at Constantinople their passports.
    Considering the interior position, which Turkey occupied, the military strength of that empire and of the allies was not unequally matched. Turkey could muster, it was estimated, 500,000 men, Bulgaria 300,000, Servia 200,000, Greece 80,000, and Montenegro 50,000. Montenegro struck the first blow and carried on independent operations which led her to Scutari, but the decisive operations of the war were conducted by Bulgaria, with Servia acting as an invaluable ally on her right.
    The Servians were making for Durazzo, which they actually reached on Nov. 28, and the Greeks were pressing forward to both Janina and Salonika. These operations hampered the Turks by distracting their attention, but the mistake which cost them their European dominions was committed in not appreciating the strategy of Bulgaria. The army of this kingdom, as expected, moved at once upon Adrianople and invested it; but instead of stopping there it threw forward one army corps on the left, and in rapid succession drove the Turks back from the Kirk Kilisseh and Lule Burgas positions in disastrous retreat upon Constantinople.
    The Bulgarians had, however, outrun their strength and supplies, and seem also to have been infected to some extent by the cholera, which had appeared in the Turkish ranks. So, when they reached the lines of Tchatalja, they were unable to force them, and on Dec. 3 an armistice was signed between the Turks and the Allies.
    Though operations were still carried on by the Greeks, the negotiations for peace were undertaken in London. Nothing was accomplished, as the demand of the Allies for a large indemnity was refused by the Turks. The result was that the war was renewed on Feb. 4. and on March 27 Adrianople at last fell before the Bulgarians and Servians. Still the Allies were held back by the lines of Tchatalja, and the result was a second armistice.
    On the western frontier of the Turkish Empire, however. King Nicholas of Montenegro, fearing for his throne, refused to lay down his arms, and on April 24 in spite of the protest of the Great Powers and the presence of their fleets in demonstration against him, conquered Scutari. A few days later, however, he was forced to evacuate it in the face of the enormous diplomatic pressure put upon him.