FORCES TO ATTACK SALONIKA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2654, 28 December 1915, Page 5

FORCES TO ATTACK SALONIKA

MOSTLY BULGARIAN -BULGARIA WILL NOT P AUSE HALF WAY -- By Telegraph—Pr<ss Association—Copyright • • . ('limes and Sydney Sun Services.) . ... London, December 26. , Mr. Calvert, writing from Salonika', states that great atcivity and important movements of fresh troops are observable in the Bulgarian lines at Doiran and Ghevgheli. The enemy is fortifying strong positions..- In view of the great Austrian and German losses in the Serbian and Montenegrin campaigns, and , the diminution of strength entailed by garrisoning the Balkans, it is°believtjd that the army being launched against Salonika is almost entirely Buigarian, with, perhaps, some Turkish auxiliaries. The Bulgarians are so elated by their triumphs in Serbia, and their' seeming victories against tho Allies, which they liave magnified into a. rout, that oven Germans may be unable to restrain their martiaj ardour. The Bulgarian programme includes the annexation of the-whole of Southern Macedonia. ' . The Sofia Press truculently states that other nations . may pause half-' way ; not so Bulgaria. PURSUIT LEFT TO AUSTRO-GERMAN TIIOOPS. , (Times and Sydney. Sun Services.) ' Athens, December 23. . The "Nieuwe Freie Presse" says tliat the Bulgars are leaving the pursuit to the Austro-Gennan troops. ' . BULGARS BELIEVE THAT THE. SALONIKA QUESTION WILL RE SOLVED .SHORTLY.' ... ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)' r' ' . . London, December 26. The "Lokal Anzeiger" gives the text of an alleged semi-official comniunieation issued at Sofia: Greece is unwilling to fight, and, what is more, has no reason to go against the Central Powers. She would gladly permit their armies to destroy the; British and French troops on Greek soil, as they are unwilling to evacuate it voluntarily. The Sofia authorities are convinced that _ the Salonika question will be solved,in a.few days,.and the Bulgarians will greet their southern neighbours as sincere friends. The "Frankfurter Zeituug" mysteriously hints that negotiations are afoot in order.to give Greece certain guarantees. CONFLICTING REPORTS FROM THE BALKANS/ , (Rec. December' 27, 10.5 p'.m.) f ' ; ' Athens, December 27, Some newspapers anticipate that the German Bulgarian advance will be delayed for a fortnight. It is possible that the delay indicates an abandonment of the advance in favour of digging in and prosecuting the Egyptian campaign. .<* , Other reports state that Bulgaria has lost 120,000 out of <180,000 mobilised, and refuses to attack Greece now unless Germany assures Bulgaria of the possession of all territory occupied, otherwise her troops will dig in on tho Greek frontier, and continue on the dofensive. Forty carloads of German uniforms'have arrived in southern Bulgaria,"and it is believed they are intended'to disguise Bulgarian contingents that are to be used on the advance on Salonika. It is more probable, howtovcr, that tho reports are merely German bluff. It is also stated that tlie Austro-Germans from Monastir, the Turks from Nevokop, and tho Bulgars from Lake Doiran are preparing a simultanepus attack. . ;•