Fall Of Adrianople Expected At Once.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 13, 1913:
Sofia Believes Allies Are About to Enter City — Shukri Admits Desperate Situation.
SEVERE BATTLE AT BULAIR
Turkish Cruiser Bombards Durazzo and San Giovanni di Medua — Servians Fear for Men on Transports.
    LONDON, Thursday. March 13.— It is expected in Sofia that, the Turkish fortress of Adrianople will be entered to-day by the Bulgarian and Servian besiegers.
    A private message from the Bulgarian capital states that after a severe engagement the Bulgarian troops yesterday captured Hertantarla, one of the forts surrounding the City of Adrianople, and took prisoners 400 Turkish soldiers and 20 of their officers. The Turks resisted stubbornly, and several times repulsed Bulgarian assaults before the fort was finally captured.
    Dispatches from Constantinople say it is believed there that the end of the present week will see either the capitulation of Adrianople or a desperate attempt by Shukri Pasha to break through the lines of the enemy.
    The allies' reply to the powers regarding mediation is again delayed, and will not be delivered before to-morrow, and there is little doubt that before European diplomacy can get to work en the problem Adrianople will be in the possession of the allies.
    The Turks, while seemingly preparing for another revolution, are utilizing their fleet in an attempt to prevent the Servian Army from assisting the Montenegrins in their attack on Scutari. It is reported that the entire Turkish fleet of eighteen units has been repaired and is concentrated at Naghara, on the Dardanelles.

    CONSTANTINOPLE, March 12.— A despairing cry of "I can hold out only for another week!" is alleged to have been uttered by Shukri Pasha, the commander of the fortress of Adrianople, which has held out for so many months against the terrible bombardment by hundreds of siege guns brought to bear by the Bulgarian and Servian troops surrounding the city.
    Shukri Pasha at the same time informed the Porte that Adrianople was nearing the end of its supplies of food and ammunition, while there was much sickness, especially scurvy and diarrhoea, which were ravaging the ranks of the defenders.
   The commander who has offered such a long and gallant defense urges that either the peace negotiations be hastened in order to save the fortress from the humiliation of capitulation or that an immediate attempt to relieve the city should be undertaken from the Tchatalja lines, thus enabling the besieged Turkish garrison to effect a sortie, which, even if it I were unsuccessful, would obviate unconditional surrender.
    The Turkish Ministry is divided in opinion on the matter, and has failed, so far, to reach a solution of the problem raised by the commander of the besieged fortress.
    Serious fighting has been in progress along the Bulair front since yesterday. The Turkish fleet is co-operating with the troops.
    The ferment aroused by the murder of Nazim Pasha continues to threaten internal trouble in Turkey. At a service held here in memory of the popular Commander in Chief of the Turkish Army the officiating Mussulman priest pronounced a malediction on his assassins, as well as on those who, he said, had deceived the Sultan, the head of the Mussulman faith.