Draw Lines Tight At Adrianople.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 14, 1912:
Turks, Like Snarling Dogs, Try to Break Out, but Are Driven Back Constantly.
BESIEGERS COOL UNDER FIRE
Their Full Strength Not Brought Out by Any Attacks — Balloons and Airships Used.
By BENNET BURLEIGH.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
By arrangement with The London Dally Telegraph.
    MUSTAFA PASHA, Saturday, Nov. 9, (Delayed.)— This has been one of the heaviest days of the bombardment of Adrianople, and the Bulgarians still have not unmasked half of their guns. The Turks have been firing furiously, late and early, both with their fortress cannon and their field guns. I have noted that they use much ordinary black powder for bursting their fifteen centimeter Krupp percussion shells. These missiles spouted great volcanoes of mud and smoke as they struck the flat lands toward Marash and west of the Tchatalja Port.
    Evidently the Turks resistance here has vexed the Bulgarians, They have pushed in their trenches and other works further toward Haidersk on the west until the Mosque of Selim I., with its four lofty minarets, is plainly visible to the troops. The Bulgarians are doing their best to avoid shelling the city, or, indeed, touching any structure except the Turkish forts and camps and barracks.

Observation Balloons Used.
    Two observation balloons were used to-day to mark down the enemy's works and strength upon the west and south of the city. The Turks tried in vain for hours to bring these airships to grief, but the big shells— though fired in groups of four simultaneously, rending our ears with their din and fury — missed and missed again.
    A few of the missiles, however, wounded some of the fearless men of the balloon company, who towed a captive aerostat about so that the observers aboard it might search and note the nature of the Turkish work covering the tower to the west of the city, where the Maritza winds near Adrianople. Field guns were used here and shrapnel was hurled upon the captive balloon as it was hauled from point to point.
    As I said: Alas! several of those splendid fellows were bowled over. But there was no lack of volunteers to fill their places. What a tribute to the national quality of the Bulgar!
    It is perhaps not easy to convey a correct impression of all that is happening at the same time around the big perimeter of Adrianople. Upon the north the Bulgarians have seized the hills and are gaining ground on the nearer ridges that overlook the city. Much the same thing has occurred on the south, southeast, and west.
    The Bulgarians, moreover, have captured and hold all the low ground down to and even across the point where the rivers Arda and Maritza unite their waters near Adrianople, This is like driving a wedge between the Turks' defenses.

Desperate Sallies of Turks.
    The enemy has tried with desperate persistence to recover that lost position. Yesterday they lost Papes Tepe and then led a wild rally to recover the lost work. Their recovery was partially and temporarily successful, but the Bulgarians, breaking all their own records of dauntless intrepidity, ran fiercely forward to the rescue and pitchforked the Turks out of Papes Tepe.
    Now to-day, like mad dogs, the Turks have been turning and twisting, barking and snarling. With teeth bared they have striven with guns, big and small, to sally out upon west and south, but have signally failed to as much as get the Bulgar to develop his strength and power of hand in that direction.
    Following that a whole division and more of Turks, with field guns, burst out upon the south and east, but they were very promptly met by the Bulgarians from the surrounding camps and a stiff battle went on for hours. Bulgarians Calm Under Fire.
    The Turks scattered a prodigious number of shrapnel shells, and the infantry fired volleys, but none of these things seemed to materially discompose the Bulgars. In truth, the miles of transport wagons maintained their slow progress along the mountain roads and the low tracks to and from the camps; amid the bursting of screaming shells ploughmen, aiding the investing army, held on unwearied at furrows, and shepherd boys and men stolidly tended their flocks and herds. The only signs of trepidation to be seen were that ever and anon great flocks of birds rose and flew away from the noisy, murderous scene.
    As usual, when pressure was applied by the Bulgarians the Turks wilted and shifted their battling ground. A surprise had been prepared for the enemy, but as the Bulgars scrambled up the hills to fall upon his flanks he drew off to hills to the north and west, leaving a swath of dead and wounded Turks as they retired about dusk behind the Yaldiz and Kavkas Forts.
    For all their pains they sustained further losses, for the Bulgarian troops tightened their hold upon the river lands and advanced all their positions upon the east and north. Firing continued long after sunset and two Bulgarian aeroplanes went up and circled over Adrianople.
    I shall feel disappointed if between now and to-morrow the Bulgarian lines are not closed in another mile toward Haderlik and Selim's magnificent mosque.