THE BULGARIAN COLLAPSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1885, 3 October 1918, Page 3

THE BULGARIAN COLLAPSE.

TERMS OF THE SURRENDER

London, Septem. 30.

The Central News Agency states that the armistice provides for immediate demobilisation, the surrender of all means of transport, including vessels and railways, the passage of the Entente's troops, and the control of the navigation of the Danube,

A Sofia message states that King Ferdinand has pardoned all politicians who were imprisoned at the time of Bulgaria’s entry into the war, restoring them their civil and political rights.

TRUST IN MERCY OF THE

ALLIES

Stockholm, Octob. 1

A well-informed authority gives a striking description of the succession of efforts Germany made to keep Bulgaria in the Avar. Berlin Avas aware for two months that Malinoff’, with the tacit support of the army and the people, Avas determined to secure peace before the Avinter, regardless of the interests of (he Austrians and Germans. King Ferdinand, though overtly pro-Ger-man, did not resist the peace move, fearing a revolution and knoAving Malinoff’s strength. Malinoff’ contemplated an unconditional surrender provided that only British troops Avcrc alloAved to occupy Sofia. He trusted to the Allies’ mercy and Aviilingness to settle the Balkans question in accordance with the principles of justice and self-determina-tion.

STORY OF THE VICTORY IN SERBIA.

London, October 1

A French Eastern communique stales; The Allies continued to pursue the enemy rearguards towards Kichevo. We advanced north of Ochrida, and reached the El Bassan Road, west of Lake Ochrida. French cavalry have entered l T sknb, The Serbians, supported by the French and Greeks, continued to advance on Kunmnovo, Egri Palanka, and Jumia. English and Greek divisions advanced in the direction of Penchevo stud Petrich.

Reviewing the fortnight’s victorir.ns operations, the emnnmnhine points out that an armistice was signed at Salonika at 11 p.m. on the ‘2Ol h. The offensive Avas begun on the 15th, Avilh only two French and one Serbian division, against the mountain barrier from Vetrenik to Sokol. Through this breach, Avhich Avas gradually enlarged, the Serbian armies, supported by French and Greek detachments, poured unceasingly, in spite of exceptional difficulties of ground and desperate assistance, towards the principal objectives in the region of Knvadar and Demirkapn, Avbich was reached on the 22nd, cutting simultaneously the line of communications of the tirst Bulgarian army operating on the Vardar and the second Ger-mano-Bulgarian army north of Monastir.

In (Ids operation, all the Allied forces rivalled each oilier in endurance, courage, and self-sacritice. The British and Greek divisions, after a desperate .struggle on the 18(li, carried (lie enemy positions at Doiran, holding up big enemy forces in Ibis region from the 21st omvards. The Italians, Greeks, and French of (he Monastir army took part in (ho operations on the 22nd. The general pursuit began, and was carried out with the utmost ardour and splendid vigour. On the 23rd the Serbians crossed the Vardar near Krivolak; next day the French cavalry entered Prilep; on the 25th Ishtip Avas carried, and the Belashifza Mountains Avere Avon.

The English forced the road to Strninmtza, and entered the town on the 2(ith, on which date the Serbians readied Kotchana and Voles, and the French and Italians marched on Kitchevo.

On the 2h'th the Bulgarians asked for an armistice, and announced the despatch of plenipotentiaries. _ In the course of these operations, which the hasty despatch of Herman reinforcements was unable to hamper, the Allies captured a large number of prisoners and immense booty. The Allied aviators took an active and successful part in the lighting, giving information of the movements of the enemy to the Staff, bombing and machine-gun-ning the enemy troops and convoys, and causing confusion which prevented the enemy escaping our clutches.