FROM GENERAL MAURICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1918, Page 3

FROM GENERAL MAURICE.

ON BULGAR SURRENDFR. i a r*iwi«AMJ»N'* N.z. ca ui.fi association; p (Received This Day at 11.10 a.m.) t< LONDON, Sept. 30. cl General Maurice comments that Gen- t ei-al Despercy’s refusal of an armistice, o which might merely be intended to gam c time in order to extricate the Bulgarian j rio-bt wing, which was in danger of be- t ing cut off, and enable Austro-Germans c | to arrive in time to save Uskub, as it i ! Bulgaria was sincerely desirous of ( peace, • she can proceed with negotia - i ions while military operations continue. Bulgaria’s application for an armistice, : together with Berlin’s prompt repudiation of the proposals, not only means j ,l, a t the Bulgarian Army has dcterior--1 a ted. but that the morale of its people and Government is broken. It is maivellous that an Army with a great nilntarv reputation, entrenched in positions lof extraordinary strength should so quickly be reduced to such straits It ! Bulgaria left the Central Powers, Turkov would probably follow suit and GerI many’s Asiatic ambitions would then i h 0 unrealisablo. The Dardanelles and I Black Sea could be opened, providing a ■ ’ new road for help against the Germans 1 in Russia, securing the Allies corn and ; oil from South Russia and Caucasus, and release a great portion of the British armies in Palestine and Mesopotamia. relieve the strain on the Navy i and Mercantile Marine, and enable us to assist Roumania where rumours ot > an anti-German rising are reported. This will give Austria a now frontier tb defend. It is small wonder that Berlin ’ is frightened.