THREE DAYS' FURIOUS BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2615, 10 November 1915, Page 5

THREE DAYS' FURIOUS BATTLE

SERB AND BULGAR AT GRIPS PITILESS SLAUGHTER GERMAN CRUISER TORPEDOED AN EXPLOIT I THE BALTIC RUSSIANS MARCHING WESTWARD ' FRESH ADVANCES . THE OCEAN INCENDIARIES

Owing to lino interruptions in Australia, caused by tho prevailing bush fires, the news from the seat of war to-day is scanty. Thero has been a ferocious battle between .the Serbians and the ' Bulgarians— three days of pitiless slaughter, with the slain lying in heaps. Tho Austro-Germans are using the Danube as a supply route to Bulgaria and Turkey, and when the section of country round about Nish has been cleared, they sayj the direct railway to Constantinople will be 111 the hands of tho Teutonic invaders. Lord Kitchener's tour, it is stated, includes visits to the Dardanelles, Serbia, and Serbian Macedonia, with a report to Paris and London at the end of it. In the Eastern theatre the Russians are now scoring every day, and the latest news relates an advance in the Dvirisk region. A heavy bombardment is in progress along-the Western front. The Italians report'a brilliant coup in . the snow-clad heights. A German cruiser has been torpedoed in the Baltic, but the identity of the attacking vessel is not disclosed. The enemy's submarines are activo in the Mediterranean, _ and have sunk a British steamer. Tho ocean incendiaries are suspected of causing tho fire on a French liner, which had a narrow escape, but eventually made the voyage. The war news censorship is the subject of a sharp debate in the House of Lords.

THREE DAYS' STUBBORN FIGHTING SERB AND BULGAR IN DEADLY COMBAT . GREECE AND KING- CONSTANTINE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. November 9, 11.55 p.m.) London, November 8. . News from the Near Bast report fiercest. actions on the front between the Serbians and the Bulgarians at Babona slaughtering each other pitilessly. The ground was covered with heajte of slain. The fight lasted for three days,' but the arrival of the French artillery demoralised the Bulgarians, while the British cavalry accentuated the panic. Officers have declared that though the Bulgarians obtained victories onethird of her army is liors-de-combat. There were great rejoicings in Sofia at the occupation of Nish and Krahevo, followed by a wave of depression owing to the great number of wounded brought in to Sofia. Wounded officers speak of the incredible ferocity of the fightin". The Serbians" defended with unprecedented stubbornness, and few were taken prisoners. Women and children fought in tho first lino. REPORTED CAPTURE OF KRUSHEVATZ. , , _ T , T , London, November 8. A Reuters message from Now York states that Berlin reports that the Teutons Have occupied Krushevatz. TWO-THIRDS OP SERBIA IN INVADERS' HANDS GERMANS CORRUPTING THE GREEK PRESS. (Rec. November 9, 11.40 p.m.) ' , , .London, November 9. The latest Athens messages show that two-thirds of Serbia have been occupied by the invaders. Rushka is now the capital. Tho Serbians blew up all the tunnels on the Belgrade-Nish railway. The Germans claim to have captured three thousand unwounded Serbians and ten suns at Krushevatz. They say tliey found fifteen hundred wounded in the hospital. Eleven out of sixteen daily newspapers in Athens have been won over to Germany by bribes and the influence of the Queen's entourage. Pro-German influences are pervading the Army.

FIERCE BATTLE RAGING FRANCO-BRITISH LINE PUSHING FORWARD. (Rec. November 10, 1.5 a.m.) Salonika, November 9. The French General Staff announces that fierce actions continue north-east of Strumnitza. _ Tho French are pushing northward, and the British are closely co-operating upon the riglit. An artillery duel is raging at Valandovo. The Serbians are also participating. The French guns are causing frightful devastation. The Serbians gainod an advantage at Varnia. Splendid weather favours the continued and considerable disembarkation of the Allies. Several Turkish divisions have crossed Bulgaria, going towards < the Danube. Tho troops travel by night, fearing a reaction on tho part of the population. Prisoners declaro that serious trouble will break out in Bulgaria the moment the Allies gain a military success; BULGARS MEET THE FRENCH "SEVENTY-FIVES" GRAPHIC STORY OF A "FORLORN HOPE." (Rec. November 9, 10.50 p.m.) Rome, November 9. Details of the opening fight between the French and tlie Bulgars on the east bank of the Vardar show that tho Terrain adjoining the Strumnitza. railway station was a stony hillside, divided by ravines, rain adding to the difficulties of tho fighting. Four Bulgarian regiments, preceded by bombthrowers and Macedonian irregulars, advanced to the attack in dense formation. The French reserved their firo till the enemy was a few hundred yards away, and then along tho entire front there burst a devastating luirricano of fire. - The attackers_ wavered. Tho French "seventy-fives" opened with shrapnel, and with machine-guns completely surprised the Bulgarians. Suddenly a forlorn hope of five hundred Bulgars, supported by Krupp "seventy-sevens," dashed forward with the bayonet, and in a haiid-to-hand struggle broke the French centre. General Bailloiid signalled the Chasseurs to advance, and the struggle was renewed in tho middle of the battle-field, tho artillery firing over the 'heads of tile combatants. Tho Bulgarian forlorn hope was wiped out. Of thirty prisoners, eighteeen were wounded. Tho whole French line then advanced, forcing tho Bulgarians to abandon their wounded and a quantity of munitions. This victory enabled the "'jrench left-wing to be extended to Negotin and Krivolak,

DANUBE AS SUPPLY-ROUTE FOR THE AUSTRO-GERMANS. (Rec. November 9. 10.50 p.m.) Bucharest, November 9. The Austro-Gennaiis are using the Danube Pass for sending through their supplies to Bulgaria and Turkey. The first convoy has readied Rustchuk, escorted by Austrian, monitors, with troops, munitions, and motorears for Von dor Goltz's army. The other convoy is passing down tho Danube to other Bulgarian ports. The Germans are within thirty miles of Nisli, and when this section has been captured the direct railway 'to Constantinople will have been cleared.

AN AUSTRIAN DESCENT ON MONTENEGRO,

(Rec. November 9, 5.50 p.m.)

Rome, November 8. The "Idea Nazionalo" states that the 'Austrians are preparing an army of 120,000 men for an invasion of Montenegro. The new army is concentrated in Herzegovina.

ENEMY'S SUBMARINES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN,

London, November 8. Official.—Two on Friday last, in the East Mediterranean, sank tho British armed boarding steamer Tara (6332 tons, British India Steam Naviagtion Company). Thirty-four of the crew are missing.

GREEK POLITICS AND THE WAR

SITUATION DOMINATED BY KING OONSTANTINE,

("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)

London, November 8. Reports from Copenhagen state that the political developments in Greece have not disturbed the German Press, which is convinced that King Constantino dominates the situation. The "Times' " Rome corres]>ondent declares that many Italians consider the Entente to be in a better position without Greece, whose adhesion would complicate various problems.

A LOAN FROM FRANCE TO GREECE.

(Rec. November 0, 11.40 p.m.)

Athens, November 9. The Greek newspaper "Hestia" says that France is lending Greece £1,600,000 sterling, besides twenty thousand tons of flour.

OUR DIPLOMATIC SHORTCOMINGS

DR. DILLON ON THE OUTLOOK IN GREECE,

(Reo. November 9,10.10 p.m.)

London, November 8. Dr. Dilon (tho "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent in the Near East), writing from Rome, says:— "King Constantino's nomination of General .Ya-nakitsas as War Minister constitutes a bold challenge to M. Venizelos and a. largo section of the nation. This shows the lengths to which ho is prepared to go as defender of German interests, and in carrying out his solemn resolve of July, 1914 —loyalty to the Kaiser. Tlie Allies make a mistako in assuming that King Constantino is a mere figurehead, and that M. Venizelos s virtual master of the situation. "Another mist-alee was the systematic attempt to encourage a brotherly union between Bulgaria a-nd Greece, each of which intensely hates tho other. Whichever wo propitiated—with .promises of captured inevitably drove the other into the enemies' arms. When we held out alluring prospects of Serbian extension along the Adriatic, we unwittingly threw fuel on tlie ilames of Bulgaria's hatred. I cannot ascertain the truth of a report that King Constantine' has sent an autograph letter to King Ferdinand, in response to the Kaiser's exhortations, but it is curious that a military mission arrived at Athens a few days before tha political crisis. The mission consisted.pf the German Military Attaches at Sola, Bucharest, and Athens, and also a'son of Prince Bulow, who, on arriving at Salonika, hesitated to make a sea journey, fearing tho Anglo-French warships, and finished the journey to Athens in a motor-car. "The Entente must understand that King Constantine is Greece."

KITCHENER'S MISSION TO THE EAST

WILL VISIT THE.DARDANELLES, EGYPT, MACEDONIA, AND GREECE.

(Rec. November 9, 5.50 p.m.)

Paris, November 8.

The "Petit Parisieu" states that Lord Kitchener is proceeding to the Dardanelles, Egypt, Macedonia, and Greece, and will report on the result of his visit in Paris and London.

("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)

(Rec. November 9, 5.50 p.m.)

London, November 8. The "Times," in a leader on Lord Kitchener's-mission, says: J'lt is a good omen, but we wish to be satisfied that tlw direction of the war is being properly reconstituted at Home. Mr. Asquith's tenure at the War Office cannot'be more than a temporary expedient, and affairs in the Near East may easily prolong Lord Kitchener's visit. Meanwhile necessary reforms cannot he delayed, and we hope that Parliament will insist on this essential point."

THE WAR IN THE EASTERN THEATRE

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE DEVELOPING The High Commissioner reports:— London, November 9, 3.35 a.m. "The Russians are advancing along tho left bank of tho Aa and south of Lake Babit. In moving southward wo took the Zalav-Olay line, and westward took the village of Dabe." "Tho enemy's first line of trenches were captured on tho western shore at Sventen, and the German positions at Guta Lissovkaia, taking prisoner 400 men." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright - (Rec. November 9, 5.50 p.m.) Amsterdam, November 8. A German official communique states: — _ "General von Hindenburg repulsed Russian attacks at several points on the Dviusk front, -with heavy enemy losses. "Russian attacks north-west of Churtorysk were unsuccessful."

THE WAR NEWS CENSORSHIP

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS By Telegraph—Press Association—CoDyrijjhl (Rec. November 9, 11.5 p.m.) London, November 9. During the course of debate in the House of , Lords, Lord Loreburn said that unless the collective common-sense of the nations prevailed, Europe might become a wilderness peopled only by old men, women and children. The idea of a small Cabinet reporting to a full Cabinet was unsatisfactory, and would merely secure the maximum of clelay with the minimum of efficiency. Lord Milner declared that tne war news which had been sent to this country had been seriously misused, and constantly:., doctored. in the optimistic sense. If we had been prepared against contingencies whioli looked likely for months it would have been possible to have given Serbia, six weeks ago such 'assistance as would have enabled her to resist a combined attack bv tlio Central Powers and Bulgaria, with reasonable nrospccts of complete success, and at the same time have .carried Greece with us. , < . Lord Curzon (Lord Privy Seal) condemned the cruel and slanderous attacks on Ministers, espeoially ou Mr. Asquith and Sir Edward Grey. He paid a tribute to the latter's ability and integrity but because two kings in the Balkans had disappointed our expectations the public had bespattered him. Referring to the suspension of the ''Globe newspaper, ho said that this naner ha'd untruly stated that Lord Kitchener had resigned, and had assigned a false and malicious reason. _ The offence was tho worse because the statements wero made during a crisis m international affairs, when Serbia, in otronv was appealing for help, and the whole of the East was watching for letio'n bv England. The "Globe had even oared to repeat the statements nn Rntnrdav declaring that the Government s denial was untrue. Tho Government. accordingly, had authorised th° suspension of the paper. rOwing to telegraph line interruptions in Australia only a few fragments of the above debate have reached'us, and of these, two extracts which gave no indications of the speaker, have been held, pending the arrival of the remainder.]

THE KING'S HEALTH A CHEERING "BULLETIN" By Telegraph—l'rcss Association-Copyright (Reo. November 9, 11.40 p.m.) London, November 9. Ths King luia Irnd u better night's .test* and has. wade .very, good progress. _

FEDERAL WAR CENSUS 775,419 FIT FOR SERVICE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright r Melbourne, November 9. Tho latest war census returns show that there are 317,869 fit, unmarried men, of which number 226.448 are without deponents, The total fit of mill_tarx aga is 775 4 419,