THE LANDING IN GREECE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 5

THE LANDING IN GREECE

TROOPS HURRYING TOWARDS ' SERBIA ■ - BIG AUSTRO-GERMAN MENACE • : BULGAR SHUFFLING /' NEWS FROM - GALLfPOII, r , PROGRESS OF CHAMPAGNE ' BATTLE ' ■' ■ / ■ The situation in the Balkans, to. quote the words of one of the lata cablegrams, "still remains obscure." The big Austro-Germaa offensive, which is regarded with some anxiety by Britain/France, and Italy, has begun, and the enemy is stated to have crossed into Serbia • ' ■ at certain points. The Ending of the Allies' troops at Salonika appears . to liave been effected just in time to save the railways. from 1 being . torn up by the owners of'the two Teuton-owned lines, a proceeding which had already begun wlien the Greek authorities interfered. / The 'Allied troops are said to be merely using Greece, as a thoroughfare to Serbia, and,are already well on their way to There is cheering news from tho Russian tho atre, and from the West, • where . /further progress has been made.- D etails of the tactical battle which ' gave the French possession of the Butte de Taliure are' given to-day. After an'internal of silence the fog over the war theatres in the Dar- . 'danelles and Northern, Italy lias lifted. Slow progress is reported from Gallipoli, and the Italians have achieyed.au important success.' '-ALLIES' NEW WAR: IN THE BALKANS y TROOPS HURRYING FORWARD TO GHEVGOELI AUSTRO-GERMAN INVASION BEGINS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright- •_ . . . Athens, October 7. The 'Allies' detachments which lauded near Salonika encamped on the territory which was:ceded ■to' Serria after thel 1913 treaty. i ; This will be used asai : site for.wrtrlikb-stores'.:.;.:'.'.;? < •; The troops-will proceed as quickly as possible to Ghevheli. '. / ; • ... (''Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)., • . ■. London, October 7. !• • Theobald Wolff,, writing to the '.'Berliner Tageblatt," says he believes that the lauding force consists only of Dardanelles troops. The Allies' first objective will be to occupy the: railway line to TJskub. '[■ : ; , i The Zeitung" states thai.the tired of the Dar- ' danellcs campaign,''and are'selecting Salonika as a new'base of-operations. '■, ( : ~ S ' BULGARIANS THREATENING THE SALONIKA RAILWAY , ' . . ■ ■ i London, October 7. Bulgaria is concentrating at Strumnitza, and threatens 'the Salonika- railday.. . ■ ■ ■, . v DEDEAGATOH FORTIFIED BY THE BULGARIANS. ' • ' \ Athens, October 7. The Bulgarians have ordered all.the houses on the shore of Dedeagatch' to be evacuated, and are arming the forts with powerful guns, and laying a double row-of mines off, the port. . ' . ■; : ..' Dedeagatch is full of troops, stiffened with German officers and non-commis-sioned officers. It : is, stated that there are 5000 Gorman officers in the Bulgarian arrHy. '' it : .(Bulgarian mobilisation is actively, proceeding, THE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE LANDING , . ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.). (Rec. October 8, 5.5, p.m.) London, October 7. KOports from Athens state that the French Minister handed to M. Venizeios (the.Greek Premier) a letter previous to the landing,: stating: "By the order of my Government we have the honour to announce the arrival at Salo- : nika of first; detachment of French troops. We'declare that France and Britain'are the Allies of Serbia, and are sending these troops to, help that •country' and maintain tfcq communications. We rely. up.6n Greece, o'ur friend, not to-onposo us." . .' ■ (Rec. October 8, 5.5 p.m.)' , - London, October 7. Reports from Pans state that French officers were given full liberties to proparo for the landing of the Allies' troops at Salonika. ; LANDING A' BLUFF, SAYS THE VIENNA PRESS, ("Times" imdSydnoy "Sun" Services*); (Rco. Octobor 8, 5.5 p.m.J _ London, October 7. The Vienna Press asserts that the Frendhi landing at Salonika ; was ti small affair, and intended merely.'as a bluff. MERELY'AN ORDERLY TRANSIT THROUGH GREECE., (Rec. Octobor 8, 9 p.m.)' ! - ~ . Salonika, October 7. - The 'Allied troops, on landing, are departing rapidly towards Serbia; Tha whole of tho operations are merely an orderly transit, through ,Greece. RUSSIAN CRUISERS BOMBARDING VARNA ... , ~ ~ , . Berlin, October 8. Two Russian cruisers ars bombarding the Bulgarian port of .Varna, on tho Black Sea. , _____ 'BULGAR REVENUE CUTTERS CHASE GREEK VESSELS. ; ' ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)' ... London, October 7. 'Athens reports that Bulgarian revenue outters pursued and fired on three Greek sailing ebips, without doing any damage. * THE TEUTONIC INVASION OF SERBIA LARGE FORCES CROSS THE RIVERS , m • i York, October 7. Reuter reports the following German official statement: "Large Teutonic forces have crossed the Driua, tho Save, and tho Danube Rivers into Serbia." ' • ». ENEMY'S GUNS DRIVEN BACK.. Nisli, October 7. 'A Serbian communique states: "Our artillery drove back a. battery of the enemy's guns on the Save. Twenty aeroplanes flow over thf> Lower J.tpmva B!kJ Lava, and dropped thirty bombs' lit Piijai'avals a«d three at Gorltga. There uot.fiwwaltifis, 3Ya wwlsed w atfawt to pauu* Sam,"-

SERVIAN ARMY IN SPLENDID CONDITION, ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, October 7. 'American- Red Cross doctors from Servia declare that the army is in splendid physical condition. The typhus scourge has been stamped out. BULGARIA WILL WAIT TILL THE HUNS CRUSH SERBIA'!Athens, October 7. Germany has given a formal assurance tliafc Bulgaria would not attack Greece, and would not attack-Serbia, until Serbia lias been crushed by Germany, AUSTRO-GERMAN OFFENSIVE A SERIOUS BUSINESS . (Rec. October 8, 11.50 p.in.) London, October 8. The news of the Austro-German offensive has aroused anxiety in Britain, France, and Italy, but it is recognised that the Serbians are in a_ strong position on the lines where they inflicted a signal defeat on the Austriaus a year ago. Moreover the Valley of the Morava is flooded, and most of the roads are only practicable to light Balkan ox-carts, of which the Austriaus require twenty thousand torevictual their armies. STRENGTH OF THE INVADING FORCES.: ' <•' ( .("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.). (Reo. October 8, 5.5 p.m.) London) October 7. . The "Petit Parisieri's" Petrograd correspondent states, that only one hundred thousand Austro-Germans are in threatening Serbia. On- the. other hand the Serbian Legation insists that its military information show 6 the', number to be five hundred thousand.' Bucharest reports put the total at four hundred thousand. Bauat lias been divided into two zones, and a Military Administration has been established in one, civilians being ordered to evacuate that zone. BULGAR SUSPICION OF AUSTRIA'S GOOD FAITH, ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec., October 8, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 7. ■■ Advices which havo been received from a liigh Italian-authority state that the Bulgarian Government has decided not to collaborate -with the Austro-Ger-mans unless Macedonia-is menaced, owing to a fear that Austria would rotain Macedonia. , . ■ V ANOTHER VERSION OF THE BULGAR-GERMAN WAR PACT . (Rec. October 8, 9 p.m.)' Salonika, October 7. ' The pro-German Bulgarian newspaper "Kambana" states that Bulgaria has undertaken to place her railways at Germany's disposal, and also, to attack Serbia, .wliile 300,000 Germans attack Northern Serbia. The Germans have proraised, in the event of ■ Rumanian interference, to send another 300,000 against Rumania.' Bulgaria's reward will be the possession of Serbian Macedonia, with a free hand ultimately to settle accounts with-Greece. THE BULGARIAN REPLY TO THE ENTENTE POWERS DENIES EMPLOYMENT OF AUSTRO-GERMAN OFFICERS. ' . . Sofia,, October 7. A Bulgarian official communique.states: "Bulgaria, in replying to Russia's ultimatum and tho Notes.by the Entente, again explains the essence of her neutrality, and 'emphasises the possible dangers from fresh ■ encouragemeilt given the Serbians. 1 Bulgaria categorically rejects the accusation concerning the presence of. German and Austrian officers m the Bulgarian army, declaring that she cannot send away people who do not exist." BULGAR. ASSURANCES OF. FRIENDSHIP, TO ' GREECE AND ; • ■ "RUMANIA. - ; : . * London, Octoljor 7. ■ ; M. Radoslavoff has again assured the Rumanian and Greek Ministers of Bulgaria's friendship. BULGARIAN; MINISTER LEAVING ROME. :' f ' . r ' : : New York, October 7. , 'A Reuter message from Rome' states that the Bulgarian Minister has been landed his passports.' r" . ivr'i i' .' .- . ■ , ' INTERNAL DISTURBANCES IN BULGARIA. ' - : ' ; . London, October 7. Thero have been disturbances at Sofia,' Rustchuk, Tirnova, Varna, Philip- - popohs, and Burgas. .* . .. THE NEW GREEK CABINET * • Athens, October 7. The allotment of portfolios in the new Greek Coalition Government is' as follows: —Premier and Foreign Affairs, M. Zaimis; Minister for Internal Affairs,M. Gounaris (formerly Premier) ; War, M. Yanakitsas; Publio Instruction, M. Theotokis; Justice, M. Rallis. - . . ; GERMANS PUZZLED OVER THE GREEK CRISIS, ' Copenhagen, October 7. ' 1 -The Danish newspaper "Politaken" says that the Greek crisis has created' a, pleasant surprise throughout Germany, where it is thought that the Kaiser" interfered at the last moment. One section of . the newspapers proclaim it as 1 a. failure, for tho Allies' Balkan 1 policy, while others regard M. Venizelos's resignation as a. manoeuvre, and hint that King Const an tiue may-be playing a dangerous part. BULGARIAN SPIES IN RUMANIA, (Rec. October 8, 9 p.m.) ;■Bucharest, Ootober 7. Several Bulgarian officers; disguised as peasants,, have been arrested' in Rumania for making plans of the frontier fortifications^ LATEST NEWS FROM THE BALKANS SITUATION STILL OBSCURE, i' ■ . . (Rec. October 8, 11.50 p.m.) London, October 8. • The obsoiirity of the general situation in the Balkans continues. There is no indication of King Constantino's intention, though it is believed that he will still adopt an attitude of benevolent neutrality towards 1 Serbia, and does not desire to obstruct the 'Franco-British force., ■ British and French' officers arrived at Salonika on October 1 and disoussed the Allied landing with' the' commander of the Third Greek Army Corps. When tho matter was referred'to M. Venizelos he, conferred with the Ministers of the Entente with the result that the Premier registered a protest which was not intended to impede tho* passage of the Allies, but to defend Greek sovereignty, WHOLESALE ARRESTS OF BULGAR AGRARIAN LEADERS ■ ■ (Rec. October 9, 0.40 a.m.) London, October 8. ■ A report' from Budapest states that wholesale arrests of the leaders of the Agrarian Party in Bulgaria have commoijced. The Government announces that it is prepared to take the stornast measures to crush attempts to impair Bulgarian unity. '. ALLIES ARRIVED ONLY JUST IN TIME (Rec. October 9, 0.40 a.m.) ' • : , ~ 'Paris, October 8. >• The Paris "Journal" states that tho Allies landed just in time to prevent; tba Greco-Serbian railways being held up. Orders had been sent from Berlin directing that all rolling-stock and engines of the two Austrian-owned lines must be sent to Bulgaria. The;track had already been torn up at several points by the Austrian emissaries. The Greek Government sent M. Diamantides, Minister of Communication, to Salonika fully empowered to deal with the situatiott. He immediately ousted the foreign directors and installed tho Greeks. ______ •THE LANDING DESCRIBED. (Reo. Ootober B,' 11,50 p.m.) . London, Ootober 8. An eye-witness at Salonika describes the arrival of the great trans-Atlan-tic liners at 8 o'olock on Tuesday morning, followed by smaller transports, with' war material. Destroyers escorted them into the. harbour, while warships guarded the entrance. The landing began the western side of the harbour at 9 o'clock.' On the opposite quay were the Greeks transports with troops from tho Piraeus. Tho .landing proceeded swiftly The first gun was landed at 9.30 a.m., and the soldiers, header! by tho bands, marched to tho prepared camp through lines of curious and silent spectators, NEWS FROM THE DARDANELLES: PROGRESS OF THE: ALLIES IN GALLIPOLI. . . (Reo. October 8, 9 p.m.) , _ , London, October 7. Sir lan Hamilton reports that during the past month the fighting at Silvia Bay lias not been on a scale calling for special report. Every night there have Ijoeii natml tuitions, and bomb nttnfilis, t'eaiiltitic, iit mir Boiilltm on Uw went* a littla over tUi'eo tiuadred .vMs algua th? w.aqla centre of foui: miles of our front* —' .•' \ •

FURIOUS FIGHTING ON THE WESTERN FRONT i ■ .V ! VAIN EFFORTS BY THE ENEMY ' HEAVY COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED The High Commissioner reports■ London, October 7, 5.15 p.m. "There was a violent bombardment in the course of the night along the whole front. "North of La Scarpa, four successive counter-attacks asainst positions which were recently captured by the French were completely repulsed. "In Champagne the Germans at the end of a day of obstinate counterattacks against the positions they have just lost north of Tahure were everywhere repulsed, their losses being very lieavy. "At Les Eparges, the French exploded two mines, seriously 'damaging the enemy's works. "In Lorraine a strong_ reconnaissance force by the enemy tried to reach the French trenches.at Athienville, but was stopped by. wire entanglements and repulsed by a curtain of infantry fire."L'ondon, October 8, 1 a.m. Artillery activity in Belgium' and France is general. "Progress lias been mado soutlrof Tholus. "Counter-attacks on the farm at Navarin, in the Champagne, were W« pulsed with heavy losses to the enemy." "Our batteries caused violent explosions in the Aisne region, and fired the railway , station at Guigni Cour. "A German attack in the Valley of Sondemach, and south of Roye, wer® dispersed."THE FRENCH ADVANCE IN CHAMPAGNE WHAT THE CAPTURE OF THE BUTTE DE TAHURE ■ MEANS, (Rec. October 8, 8.55 p.m.) London, October 7. The "Daily Chronicle" says that the capture of Tahure and the hill immediately north—called the Butte of Tahure—is an important development. It is also istated that the Plateau of Massiges has been completely captured, and Souain aud Perthes cleared of the enemy. ' - On the west, the Germans still hold Auberive, hut have lost Matiques Farm, on the east, and presumably hold the hills soutii of the Dormoise Valley. : "The capture of Tahure threateus them on both sides. The French took the village with comparative ease before nightfall, and crossed the Dormoise. Men clambered up the sharp slope, despite a brisk fire, and finally established themselves on the summit, threo hundred feet high. "The Butte do Tahure commands the valleys and lower hills for some distance on either side. Whether the artillery commands- Bazancourt and tho Challerange railway, is not-clear, as; a wooded hillside lies between, but it.is certain that the railway is threatened, and three of the tunnels."FRENCH TACTICS WIN THE DAY DETAILS OF THE BATTLE. _ _ (Rec. October 8, .11.20 p.m.) r \ : _ Paris, October 8. 'A famous African battalion, known as the "Naughty Boys," which was composed of ex-prisoners, led the assault on the Butte de Tahure. They sprang forward a few seconds after the artillery ceased fire, and found the .barbed > entanglements broken down. They met with a cruel rifle and machine-gun fire, ' hut despite their losses never faltered, and when once they got to grips with .' the foe they-speedily finished off an entire German battalion. The "Naughty Boys" were mentioned in the Orders of the Day. Thousands of the enemy were buried in tho ruins of the village and the trenches. ..' The majority of the prisoners were in a state of abject temr. Many wept with relief when captured. Some were found chained to broken machine-guns in the galleries. The French pushed the infantry attacks on botli6idesof tho German position until it commanded the Taliuro and' the Butte do Taliuro.from three sides. The artille"y was thus able to prepare the way for the filial as-sault.'-'There is now only tho lower hill and some wooded country between, the Butte do Tahure and the coveted supply railway .\ . General von Heeririgen immediately realised the seriousness of tho disaster,, and initiated a series of furious onslaughts, carried out in massed formations. These broke before, tho withering French artillery and machine-gun fire, as did the furious German counter-attacks dn the.; Navarin Farm.. Tho' desporate struggle for the German second line proves that the Germans: cannot bo driven out of Franco by a single stroke. Nevertheless, though it is a slow business extracting the-Germans from their bomb-proof shelters —sometimes .thirty feet deep—tho very, perfection of these trenches often,' turns to the 'disadvantage of tho defenders. Many were caught like rats in a trap, as tho dash of the French infantry was so-impetuous that t the Germans had no time to g.et out of their dug-outs. Tho'publio is now realisihg_ that General Joffre does not intend a general assault, but, instead, is attacking at selected points, which will disorganise tho. enemy's line ajid finally result in a strategic piercing of his front. General Joffro brought up many batteries of now heavy artillery/ and accumulated , many millions. of shells. All transport was speeded up; in order to ensure a supply, of sufficient ammunition.; Finally,' the armies destined for the attackv lmd been cured of their trench staleness by leave and steady drilling. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE , Paris, October 7; . 'A French official communique states : "Four counter-attacks against- tho positions we'recently captured in the woods westward of the Souchez-Angres road were completely repulsed. _ ' • "The Germans in the evening resumed a furious offensive against the posi- .. tions they lost northward of Tahure. Tho attacks, failed everywhere, with very heavy, losses to the enemy."- ~ ■ OBSTINATE FIGHTING IN EASTERN ' : . THEATRE' "... • HUSSIONS SCORE SUCCESSES - ~ .. The High Commissioner report's: London, October 8. ' "Russia reports tlhat violent fighting started.in the region of the Great - Greenvold. Part of our trenches are in the hands of the enemy, and tho fight continues. "At the village of Bogdanev there is heavy fighting, with great strain ou both sides. ' ' \ "The Germans were dislodged from the trenches at Kosiany on October 7, and the town of Kosiany captured. We subsequent-ly'evacuated it, except part, of tho trenches. •"South of Stergani the enemy's positions were captured."- : RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE, (Reo. October 8, 11.45 p.m.)Petrograd, October 8. , A Russian official communique states: "There has been violent fighting; north-west of Dvinsk, in the region of the Great Greenvald, where the enemy seized part of our trenches. The battle is being continued; The heavy fighting" south of the Lake Bagoinskoje is imposing a heavy strain on both combatants. ; "We seized the village of Koziany, and by a night attack captured threb rows of trenches. Tho . Germans concentrated a oross-fire and subsequently compelled us to evaouate a part of the position."- . GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE, . Amsterdam, October 7. !A! German official communique states: "Before Dvinsk wo penetrated' the enemy's positions over a front of three miles. "South of Lake Diyswajaty our fire destroyed a Russian brigade. The Russians attempted to break through between Lake Bogoinskoje and Smorgon. It was a oostlv failure; 1300 men were taken prisoner. ' "Our land'batteries at the Bay of Eiga seriously damaged a Russian torpedo boat."- . . ; . e CHOLERA' 'ACTIVE IN GALICIA' 'AND BUKOWINA;("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.).' ■' (Rec. October 8, 5.5 p.m.)' . , " . London, Octob'or 7. Rumajuaa dootors state that cholera is virulent in Galieia and Bukowina'.a

THE MOUNTAIN WAR IMPORTANT ADVANCE BY THE ITALIANS By Telegraph—Press Association—CouyrlclU Rome, October 8. News of an important advance towards Rovercto, lias arrived.' The Italians had been' investing tho fortifications of Dass Di Sommeand Sommgalto for six .weeks, in-which tho methodical bombardment of the forts was continued uninterruptedly. Every fortification is now smashed, and the Italians can view ltovereto from tho summit of the new positions. They have commenced, the bombardment of the fortifications at Finonchio, which is tlw lust of tho Auatriau defences at Hoveroto, Tho Austrian* (ire j»njp,elUd Ml a steeain oi rein- 1

■ forcements to oppose the steady pressure* f THE KING'S SPUR", INCIDENT IN ITALIAN THEATRE. (Rec. Ootobor 8, 10.10 p.m.) Roma, October 7. • King Victor Emmanuel, whilo visiting the Isonzo front, left his motor-car to witness tho fight at close quartors ori horseback, though warned of the danger from tlio Austrian artillery. Suddenly a shell exploded and wounded the Kind's horse. ' King Emmanuel calmed the emotion of his. suite, and directed the horse to be seilt to the Blue Cross (sick horse) lines. Wheii recommended to retire, King Emma'iiuel quickly asked for another horse;iand Tode forward. The troops, later, shouting "Savoia!" charged and took the enemy's position, Tho epot, is now. called ".The King'g