Servians Take Kotchana.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 23, 1912:
    BELGRADE, Oct. 22.— The first column of the Second Servian Army captured the town of Kotchana, forty-five miles to the east of Uskub.
    One report is that before retiring the Turks massacred many of the Christian inhabitants.
    The First Servian Army began an attack to-day on Kumanova, ten miles north of Uskub, and expects to capture it without great difficulty. The outlying positions have been captured.
    There are four Servian armies advancing into Turkish territory and meeting with stubborn resistance from the Turkish troops.
    The Servian army approaching Prishtina, along the River Ibar, had a serious engagement yesterday with a strong force of Turkish troops and Arnaut irregulars, who were estimated by the Servian commander to number 40,000 men, with ten companies of Turkish reserves and four batteries of artillery. The fight took place in the Herestidel Pass, in the vicinity of the Servian town of Rashka.
    The Servians took the offensive yesterday morning and captured the entrance to the pass after some very severe fighting. The Turkish troops then retired, and the Servians were able to pass through on to the plains of Kossovo.
    The losses of the Servian troops were considerable, while those of the Turks are believed to have been very heavy.
    The Servian Army was unable to advance further by reason of darkness, but the weather generally is excellent for military operations.
    Another Servian Army, operating in the northern part of Novi-Bazar, has captured all the Turkish blockhouses and advanced positions around the town of Sienitza.