Bulgars Take 2 Outer Forts At Adrianople.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 24, 1912:
Turks Are Beaten Back and a Bombardment of the City Is Begun.
KIRK-KILISSEH IS BESIEGED
Another Bulgarian Army Captures Tirnova and Is Moving to Flank Turkish Position.
GREEKS ROUT SULTAN'S ARMY
Town of Servia Is in Their Hands and the Retreat of the Turks Cut Off.
SERVIANS ENTER NOVI-BAZAR
Desperate Fighting Marks the Successes of Allies All Along the Line.
TURKS' INACTION MYSTIFIES
London Observer Thinks Abdullah Pasha Has Not Yet Brought Main Army into the Field.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Thursday, Oct. 24.— What may prove to be one of the decisive battles in the history of the world is undoubtedly being fought by the Bulgarians and Turks around Adrianople, but the news, which is thus far available as to its progress, is of the scantiest.
    The official bulletins from each side are not definite and give no trustworthy indication as to the ultimate result of the struggle.
    The Bulgarians appear to have met with the greater success thus far, and are reported to have captured two of the outer forts of Adrianople and to be pouring shells into the besieged city. But it must be remembered that they are the attacking force, and if their first movements were not crowned with some success, their chances would be poor indeed.
    While some of the experts are criticising the Turks for alleged inaction and are urging that if the Ottoman field army does not speedily come to the aid of the Adrianople garrison that city's position will be grave, it is possible that the Turkish plan of defense has not yet been developed.
    The Bulgarian capture of two outer forts may not be so serious as it looks, for the experience of Port Arthur showed that the loss of one or two forts in the girdle of works, protecting the town, was not fatal to the defense.
    The most significant fact in the Sofia reports of this Bulgarian success is that the forts taken lie to the southwest of Adrianople on the banks of the River Arda. The Bulgarian advance on Adrianople from the southwest must have been made without serious opposition, and the consequent deduction is made that the Turkish Army is concentrated in positions well to the south of Adrianople. In that case the fighting, which began on Tuesday morning, has been merely with the covering forces of the Turkish line of resistance.
    The Bulgarian advance came in contact with the Turks on the latter's extreme right at Kirk-Kilisseh on Tuesday morning, and heavy fighting has probably continued there ever since with such indefinite result that neither side can yet claim the victory, though both sides claim successes.
    Of the importance of this encounter it will not be possible to judge until information comes to show whether it was part of the main Turkish Army or only covering forces that were engaged.

Thinks Turks Massing Behind.
    The military expert of The Times thinks it probable that the line in question between Adrianople and Kirk-Kilisseh is held by a strong covering force, perhaps amounting to 70,000 men, and that the main Turkish Army on Tuesday was two or three marches to the southward, echeloned along the railway.
    The mission of the advanced Turkish line, he thinks, was probably that of delaying the Bulgarian advance, causing loss and gaining time for fresh troops to join Abdullah Pasha, who now has concentrated in Thrace an army of possibly 230,000 men.
    If this assumption is correct, the Turkish covering force, which must have been greatly inferior in numbers to the Bulgarians, appears to have rendered good account of itself, particularly as the gradual fall of ground in the Kirk-Kilisseh district from north to south, gives all the advantage to the Bulgarian artillery in an attack.
    As The Times military correspondent points out. the question now remains, What course did Abdullah Pasha take when he learned on Tuesday that his advanced line had been attacked? If he decided to advance he might be in position to support his covering force by to-day when his counter-offense would profit by the exhaustion of the Bulgarians during the two previous days of fighting. He might, of course, attempt to withdraw his advanced line, but this would be a difficult operation, now that it is so deeply committed.
    On the whole, an advance, if sufficient mobility is assured, is most probable. In this case, provided the covering force was not overwhelmed in yesterday's fighting, and provided, also, that Adrianople holds off the Bulgarian First Army, there is a good opening for the Turks.
    The question really hinges upon the degree of readiness for the field of the Nizam and Redif troops, and whether arrangements for supply and transport will enable this probably unwieldy army of 160,000 men to march and fight at three or four days' distance from the railway. On this point no certain information is forthcoming.
    In other theatres of war the advantage thus far is altogether with the allies. In Macedonia the Servians have gained a number of successes, including the capture of Novi-Bazar, but so long as Uskub and Kumanova remain in Turkish hands, their operations cannot be called decisive.
    The reports telegraphed from Belgrade yesterday that Kumanova had been captured were later declared premature, a Servian official account admitting that a desperate fight was proceeding.
    The report published yesterday that Sir John French of the British Army had been recalled from Colorado in connection with the Balkan war is officially declared to be unfounded.