MARCHING ON SOFIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 50, 4 July 1913, Page 5

MARCHING ON SOFIA.

BERVIA AND GREECE DEFEAT BULGARIA. FIGHTING FOR BAYS, Roumania Mobilising The Porte's Request. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press [Association.]

Belgrade, July 3. It is officially stated that the Bulgarians began the attack on Monday night with their whole artillery—upwards of ‘250 guns—and drove back the first Servian lines, and readied the Servian position at Ovtchepolye. Servian reinforcements arrived, and a battle raged for three days, and is still continuing.

The Bulgarians were driven hack to the line of demarcation, namely, the rivers of Zletovski and Bregalnitza. it is semi-offieially stated that a hundred Bulgarian battalions took the offensive on the Retkihukivi-Ishtih Hue, with great vigor, hut were repulsed, the Servians delivering a dashing counter-attack, and pursuing the Bulgarians towards, Kochana and Tshtnh. The whole Servian force engaged did not exceed forty battalions and eighty guns. The Bulgarians were driven through Tshtib with big losses towards Ovtchepolye.

Servia and Bulgaria have addressed the Powers from their respective standpoints. The Powers strongly urge all three to avoid bloodshed and resort to arbitration. A GREEK TRIUMPH. Salonika, July 3. After a four hours’ artillery duel at Langhaza yesterday the Greeks silenced the Bulgarian guns. Tin Greek infantry occupied the heights, then, fixing bayonets, pierced the Bulgarian lines. The Bulgarians attempted to occupy the heights at Kilkish, but the Greek artillery scattered them, gaining possession of the whole plain of Kilkish. The Greeks also occupied Avremhissar.

LOSSES AT RETIKIBUKIVI. (Received 8 a.m.) Belgrade, July 3. The Bulgarian casualties at Retkibukivi were 300 killed and 1000 wounded. The Servians captured an important position dominating Retiki bukivi. The Bulgarians retreated in disorder towards Kochana. Bulgaria still holds Guevgseli. KING CONSTANTINE AT THE FRONT. Athens, July 3. • King Constantine has proceeded tc the front in order to take the offensive. The Greeks attacked the Bulgarians on the river Vardar successfully at the outset, but the Bulgarians are now gaining the advantage. There were heavy casualties on both sides. The Daily Telegraph’s, Vienna cor respondent reports that, Bulgaria agrees to the Roumanian occupation of the Turtukiabaltjschik line. CONTRADICTORY REPORTS. Bulgaria and Servia claim that theii respective armies are acting ■stricth on the defensive. The Servian army has crossed tin Bulgarian frontier and is marching on Sofia via Tzarigirod. BULGARIANS ORDERED TO WITHDRAW SPEEDILY. Constantinople, July 3. The Porte, through Russia, has call ed the attention of Bulgaria to tin fact that Rodosto and other points on the Turkish side of'the Enos Media frontier is still occupied by Bulgarians, and request a speedy withdrawal. the great possibilities. (Received 9.20 a.m.) Bucharest, July 3. A general mobilisation of the Rou manian forces has been ordered. Constantinople, July 3. The Porte has notified the Power! that it reserves the liberty of action in the event of a new war in Macedonia.

Servian reinforcements met the Bulgarians at Dernak Petrishino, behind Koch ana, where a great light ensued, the Bulgarians suffering heavily. The Servians captured Retkibukivi, an important hill. abuse of the white flag. The Bulgarians hoisted the white flag, hoping thereby to gain time, which was used in some instances to make bayonet charges. BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY. * The fight at Ovtchepolye was desperate. New artillery decimated the Bulgarians. Over four thousand surrendered. Their losses are enormous. The Servian casualties were 2000. The Bulgarians forded the Zletovska and Bergalnitza, and-assumed the defensive. The Crown Prince Alexander fought in the Chumadia division, which captured ten cannons, as the result of a bayonet" charge, while a whole company rtf infantry;;were taken prisoners.' .1 . : ' ANOTHER BULGARIAN RUSE. The newspapers state that the Bulgarians on Saturday secretly concealed thirty guns near the Br'galni tx i bridge at Ishtib. Their commander on Sunday induced the Servian Commander, to come, to the other end oi the J bridge to b'e. photographed togetheil)d. declaring'-fjhab peace was assured hut on Monday they suddenly opened fire with t!iirty-six guns, compelling the Servians to abandon men entrenchments and occupy exposed positions. An unsanguinary combat ensued until reinforcements enabled them to repel the aggressors. Meanwhile Colonel Vasitch was killed, while with a detachment near the bridge. All the officers and non-commissioned officers were wounded. It is reported that the Servians retreated at the outset and left their wounded in tents under the safeguard of the Geneva Convention, but the Bulgarians finished them off with the bayonet.

TREACHERY AND MASSACRE. London, July 3. King Constantine, in a message to the' Daily Mail, says that the Bulgarian commander at Salonika on Sunday intimated that he was leaving. This indicated the intentions of the Bulgarian staff, which had designed to keep inactive at Salonika as long as possible an entire division of the Greek army. The Bulgarians, moreover, clearly showed their intention to disregard solemn engagements, and create, by cons entire and unexpected strokes, a situation enabling thorn to paralyse the Greek and Servian armies and intimidate and override the Allies. Since the first Bulgarian attack on T’anghaion, in May, upwards of fifteen thousand refugees had poured into the Chalcidean Peninsula and Salonika. The Bulgarian army respected neithei the property, honor or life of the Greek population. After the flight of forty thousand Mussulmans from the Bulgarian horrors, which the Greeks maintained for six months at Salonika it is now the turn of flic Greek population to escape the Bulgarians’ inhuman tyranny. King Constantine adds tha 1 the story of the fight at Guovgheli contains terrifying details of the illtreatment of the Servian prisoners and population. The Bulgarians burned the villageof Stogarovo, Gnven/.a and Berovo, and massacred old men, women and children.

The Turkish press rejoices over the Balkan complications, and hopes Tur key will profit by the situation. Tin Tanin hints at co-operation with Ser via and Greece against Bulgaria. NEWS FROM THE WOUNDED. Belgrade, July 3. Excited crowds greeted the arrival of the men wounded in the encounter! with the Bulgarians. The officers allege that the latter attacked in an overwhelming force on Monday anc 1 compelled them to retreat until reinforcements came up by forced marches, and then they turned the tables. The Foreign Consuls who have visited Ghevgeli report that the allegations of Bulgarian brutalities on the wounded Greek and Servian soldiers are true. ANOTHER SIDE OF THE TALE, Sofia, July 3. The Servian successes are authoritatively denied by the Bulgarian officials. It is asserted that the Greek losses it Kilkish were considerable. BULGARIANS ADVANCE IX TWO FORCES. (Received 10.30 a.m.) Vienna, July 3. Sofia telegrams state that the Buirarians crossed the river Vardar north F Krivolak. The main hndv of Bulgarians is directed against Egripalanka •uni another force is advancing on Salonika.

1 An order was given to the Greek ' armv to-day to advance and make the ; position safe. This is merely a neoesj sary measure of defence, safeguarding I th(> higher interests of tlie nation and I humanity. j Greece’s Note to the Powers ac--1 mmed the Bulgarians of attacking and 1 securing possession of disunited tcr--1 ritories pending the Czar’s settlement lof (he differences. It adds that i Greece’s troops will advance until tho seized lerritaries are vacated.