BRITAIN AT WAR WITH BULGARIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2595, 18 October 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN AT WAR WITH BULGARIA

ANGLO-FRENCH FORCES TOTAL 150,000 THE BULGAR MENACE IN MACEDONIA By Telegraph—Press i 9aociation—Copyright London, 6ctober 15. •Britain has declared' war on Bulgaria. _ i . Rome, October 15. Twenty thousand Bulgarians under General Tosohef are ready to invade Macedonia and to engage the Anglo-French forces, which are estimated at 150,000. The Bulgarians are concentrated half on the Serbian and half on the Greek frontier. .

BLOCKADE OF BULGARIAN COAST. The High' Commissioner reports:— London) October 16, 7.40 p.m. "A blockado of the Bulgarian coast in the Aegean Sea was. declared today. Forty-eight hours': grace was allowed neutral vessels in which to dapart." BRITISH FLEET BLOCKADING. (Rec. October 17, 3.20 p.m.) London, October 16. 'A message from New York states that the Allied squadron is blockading the Aegean coast of Bulgaria. • RUSSIA'S INVASION OF BULGARIA .. . Paris, October 15. It is expccted that hostilities between Russia and Bulgaria will immediately follow a manifesto from the Tsar, denouncing King Ferdinand for siding with the Austro-Geraans, tho enemies of tho Slay races. ITALY TO CONCENTRATE ON AUSTRIA Rome, October 15. The "Giornale d'ltalia" says that Italy will' not send troops to the Balkans, but will continue her pressure on Austria, which is equally helpful. SERBIA OFFICIALLY AT WAR WITH BULGARIA GREECE WILL NOT HELP. AT PRESENT. New York, October 15. A Reuter message from London states officially that Serbia has declared war on Bulgaria. _. i In a Note to .Britain Greece announces her definite decision not 1 to intervene in Serbia at present. ('Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) London, October 15. The "Times" correspondent at Athens states that Serbia invited tho Greek Government to furnish 00-operation under the provisions of the treaty of 1913. The Government returned a negative reply. . M. Venizelos made no rejoinder to the Premier's expressed hope that the Government might receive the support of a majority. It is clear that Cabinet exists on sufferanoe by the tacit consent of the majority. ''INCREDIBLY STUBBORN RESISTANCE"- OF THE SERBIANS. (Rec, October 16, 3.30 p.m.) Zurich, October 16. The arrogant tone of the Austrian newspapers is changed to a sobor appreciation of tho fact that the Serbians aro making an incredibly stubborn resistance. TERRIBLE LOSSES INFLICTED ON THE INVADERS. (Rec. October 17, 3.40 p.m.) Paris, October 16. Tho "Tomps" Nish correspondent states that the Austro-Germans have already lost on tho Obrenovatz-Belgrade-Semendria-Gradisto front over twenty thousand in killed and fifty thousand in wounded. A German wireless message admits terrible losses and urges the Bulgarians to begin an immediate attack on the enemy. They were able to evaouate only Moravia Plains, where they gained ten miles. Thero aro ; some fears of tho Serbians being cut in two at Pozcrevatz, causing tho right wing to be thrown back on die Rumanian frontier. t GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. October 17. 3.40 p.m.) Amstardam, October 16. 'A' German official communique states: "General von Mackcnsen has driven the Serbians further back south of Belgrade and Semendria, taking prisoner 450 men and threo guns. "We stormed tho southern front of Pozarevatz, a fortified town, which was thus captured. ' "The Bulgarian First Army lias captured the mountain pasess between Belosradjik and Kujiucvac, nortlueaat of Wish,"

GERMAN PRESS, HINTS AT GRECO-BULGARIAN AGREEMENT (Rec. October 16, 3.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 16. The "Vossische Zoitung" states that King Constantino of Grecce has sent an envoy with ail autograph letter to King Ferdinand, containing, it,is believed, a draft Greco-Buhjiarini] agreement. PERFECT HARMONY: IN THE QUADRUPLE ENTENTE. v . . London, October 15. 'A' Paris official wireless message states: The French Press extends congratulations on the agreement existing between, the Quadruple Entente, and upon thuir action in tiio Balkans. THE PRICE OF WHEAT AS A WAR BAROMETER WILL THE ALLIES SUSPEND OPERATIONS IN THE DARDANELLES? Chicago, October 15. There has been a sharp advance in the price of wheat, duo to reports that the British and Froncli intended to leave tlio Dardanelles to operate elsewhere, leaving Russian wheat still without a market. s PRESS COMMENT ON THE BALKAN DIPLOMACY' ('.'Ernes" and Sydney. "Sun" Services.) (Rec. October 16, 5.5 p.m.) ' , , London, October 15. The ''Times," in a. leader, describes Sir Edward Grey's statement as "singularly jejune, and -utterly disappointing." There is universal dissatisfaction, says the "Times," with our diplomacy, strategy, and general conduct of tlie war. The true story of the Dardanelles is becomiiyr common, and tlio knowledge does nob redound to the credit of those responsible. (Rec. October 17, 3 p.m.) London, October 10. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" Rome correspondent (Dr. Dillon) says that the leanings of a large section of the Britisli people are towards tlie Bulgars; also, tho hopes that the Bulgarian army .and nation will suddenly disavow King Ferdinand as dangerous at the present juncttirc. Reports of riots and mutinies are mostly -unfounded. The Bulgarians and King Ferdinand are united regarding the political objects. The Cabinet and Ring Ferdinand alone are responsible for the means adopted, and will be' duly judged by the people, wlio, in the event of failure, will appeal to tlio Russians, their Slav brothers; otherwise, they will bo grateful to King Ferdinand. The "Manchester Guardian, on Sir Edward Grey's speech, says: "The Government should liavo known years ago tliat Turkey might bo a dangerous enemy, and all that time we have been deliberately keeping up the privilege of tlio Ottoman Empire. It is unfair to Russia, of advantage to Germany, and an expense to British naval power. Does not it show a strange lack of co-operation in our national policy and strategy? Regarding Bulgaria, the best of all answers to King Ferdinand surely would liave been to concentrate an averwheLming forco at tho Dardanelles, wliich would have carried ns through." The evening newspapers are commenting freely on the situation in the Dardanelles. Tho "Westminster Gazette'' considers that the Government should not, be pressed respecting tho situation. If the Houso of Commons refrains from pursuing a line of inquiry, it will show itself more prudent that the House of Lords. Tho "Westminster Gazette" suggests tho equipping of a new expedition to Salonika. The authorities must not- bo allowed to dissipate or weaken tho forces in the West, which is the decisive theatre of the war. The "Evening News" draws attention to the discrepancy between Mr. Churchill's and Lord Robert Cecil's optimistic statements regarding the Dardanelles, and the allusions in the Hpuse of Lords. Tlio "Evening Standard" refers to the Dardanelles as "this costly, and, wo fear wo mus£ add, unsuccessful experi-ment." FIGHTING IN THE CAUCASUS ' The High Commissioner reports:— London, October 16, 1.35 a.m. • "In the Causasus, the Turks advanced, and were caught by our crossfire, sustaining great losses." (Rec. October 17, 3.40 p.m.) Petrograd, October 16. A Russian communique states: ''In the Caucasus the Turks sustained heavy losses and fled towards Gopal. "The enemy was driven out of the Wastan Pass, solith of Lake Van."- N