In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 41, 18 October 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

GREECE’S POSITION. i, ' L; ‘ 1 ' —'-l 1 V' I 1 i ' ■■ • . ■ c ' IS SHE FRIEND OR ENEMY? ' [United Press association.] (Received- 9.30 a.m.) Loudon, October 17. Tito Morning Post says; The simple position is that Greece pledged herself to defend Sonia if attacked by Bulgaria. That position having now arisen. Greece has to make good or break her word. In the latter case, no one henceforth would make it Treaty with Greece. These are desperate times, and it *is absolutely necessary to know t 'who are our friends or our enemies. If Greece refuses to fight on our side, the navies of the Entente must treat it as an enemy. The blockade of the Greek eba'st 1 and the seizure of Greek shipping at all the Greek islands is the logical reply to the refusal to assist Serbia.

DISTRUST OF GREECE. THE TIMES ASKS FOR DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. (Received 11.25 a.m.) London. October 17. A strong feeling of distrust in Greece is developing, especially since the refusal of the Premier. M. Zaimis, to Servia’s appeal under the treaty to resist Bulgaria. The Times says: Time passes in the Balkans, yet the Allies are without clear and definite intentions of Greece. It is imperative to learn without delay if Greece is with or against us. It'is impossible for the Allies to acquiesce in AI. Zuimis’ disingenuous interpretation of a perfectly plain obligation. ■ Greece must announce her decision now in no uncertain voice, and remember that the decision is irrevocable.

M. VENIZELOS’S FAITH.

ALLIES WILL FINALLY TRIUMPH. (Received, 11 .25 a.in.) Paris, October 17. Le .Matin’s Athens/ correspondent states that M. Venezelos’ in an interview, said; “Nobody desires more than I the Allies’ early and complete success. Nobody is more firmly convinced of their final triumph.” THE CRISIS APPROACHING. ALLIED MINISTERS PREPARING TO LEAVE GREECE. (Received fMo a.in.) * Copenhagen, October 10. Tin; Cologne Gazette's Athens correspondent states that the Russian and Italian Ministers are preparing to leave Greece. Their families will proceed in a warship to Italy. A REPORT DENIED. DIPLOMATISTS NOT LEAVING ATHENS. (Received It a.in.) Loudon, October 17. Renter's Athens correspondent denies the impending departure of diplomatists,

i BRITAIN v. BULGARIA.

i Loudon' October 16. ■ Great i Britain ' has declared war on Bulgaria. ! r . ] Paris, October 16. i A message from New York states that an Allied jsquadion is blockading the Aegean Sea Coast of Bulgaria. Wellington’, October 1 < • The High Commissioner reports, dated London, October 16, < .40 p.rn. : A blockade was declared to-day of the Bulgarian coast in the Aegean Sea. and forty-eight hours’ grace is allowed neutral vessels to depart •

SERVIANS HOLD THEIR GROUND. London, October } 7. The Serbians tiavejip to the present maintained the positions to which they retired, when .the Bulgarians’ attack necessitated a rp-arraugqment of defence. , , The Serbians on Friday night repulsed two Bulgarian attacks on the Tinok front, with heavy losses. Fierce fighting on the Doiran also resulted in a Bulgar setback. Le Temps’ 1 correspondent at X T isn states that the Serbians threw hack the German army which was attempting to turn their wing at Semendria. The enemy was driven from Godomine and Martlies. on the right bank of the Danube, and a Bavarian battalion was hurled into the river. Great movements of troops are reported from Turkey, The forces which were defending Smyrna are being sent to Thrace; and the troops quartered in Constantinople, and which have been supplying Gallipoli, are being despatched to defend Varna, Burgas, and Dedeagatch under German officers.

The splendid fight that the Ser- , loans are putting up against tremendous odds is arousing anxiety in Britain and France ns to whether the Allies’ assistance will arrive in time. It is rumoured in well-informed circles in Paris that Italy is sending 150,000 troops to assist Serbia in arranging for intervention at a spot where there may lie a decisive result to the campaign. The Allies are leaving Salonika on Sunday, and are going to Gnev-, gueli. Xish and other towns are preparing a great reception for the AngloFrench troops. Fveryone is convinced that the arrival of a few regiments will so raise the spirits of the Serbians that they will prove invincible. Official reports from Xish. received on Saturday evening, state that the lighting is of the most terrible clmracI ter along the whole of the AustroGerman and Bulgar fronts.

ROUMANIAN NEUTRALITY. I ASSISTANCE FOR THE ALLIES STILL POSSIBLE. (Received 9 a.in.) London, October 17. Roimiania’s decision to remain neutral is not confirmed. THE KING WARNED. CAMPAIGN FAVORING ALtIES. DANCER OF REVOLUTION. (Received 11.dU a.in.) London October 17. The Chronicle’s Rome correspoiident states: The campaign in Bucharest in Favour of armed intervention on the side of the Quadruple Alliance, is assuming grave almost antidynastic proportions. Independent newspapers warn the Kino; ol the > danger of a revolution it he hesitates much longer. The Roumanian public view with alarm Bulgaria’s cooperation in the attack on Servia. NO VIOLATION BY RUSSIA. (Received; 9.90 a.m.) • Petrograd. October 17. An official statement denies the Wolff Agency’s report that it is the Russian intention to violate Ronmania’s neutrality in order to attack Bulgaria. HER STRICT NEUTRALITY. (Received 9.90 a.m.) Bucharest, October 17. The Council of Ministers decided to continue strict neutrality, taking all necessary military measures on the frontiers. BULGARIAN RESERVES. FRENCHMEN AND SERBS PUSH BULCARS BACK. COUNTER-OFFENSIVE ON THE SAVE. (Received 9 a.m.) Paris. October 17. Le Matin’s Athens correspondent states that the Serbians, with the assistance of French troops, obliged the Bulgarians to retire. The Serbians further north advanced towards the Strmnuitza. and, moreover, assumed ,a counter-offensive on the Save and threw hack- the enemy detachments towards the river;; annihilatjhg ahem. 1 FEEBLE CONCENTRATION. BULGARIAN FORCES BETWEEN PiROT AND SOFIA. (Received 9 a.m) Athens, October 17. The Austrian Prince Windiscligraet/. and staff have arrived at Sofia. The Bulgarians have concentrated feeble forces at Rirpt. and are holding three complete divisions between Pirot and Sofia. Strong artillery are stationed at intervals along the railway.

Pi rot is a town on the Sofia-Xish railway. It is 05 miles from Sofia, and 15 miles front the Bulgar-Servian honndary. The .\ishava river runs up the valley iu which the Bulgarians advanced. but were repulsed. Dorian is in Greece Macedonia, 40 miles north of Salonika. Ihe object of the attack is apparently to cut the railway from Greece, to Turkey and prevent the despatch of the allied troops to Servia. There is the likelihood of participation of these troops in tliis fighting. Lisnna is about ten miles west of the border in Servia. The river Timok is a tributary of the Danube (lowing down the east portion of Servia. Zaitchar, mentioned to-day is on the western hank of the Timok, and is 85 miles south-east of the present scene of the fighting: around Semendria. Xegotiu is 20 miles north-east of Zaitchar. and about 85 miles from Semendria. A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. - (Received 0.55 a.m.) Amsterdam, October 17.

General von Mackensen is further advancing. We stormed, southward of Semendria, the Varnova hill, eastward of Pn/.arenvntz, also the village of Smoljina. Th e Bulgarians forced a crossing of the frontier ridges between X ego tin and Strnmica. and captured the eastern forts at Sewitchar. 50,000 BULCARS ATTACK SERBIA. (Received !)..‘i() a.m.) Rome, October 17. The Secolo stales that fifty thousand Bulgarians attacked the Serbians on Wednesday in the region of Doiran. Obstinate fighting continues. ALBANIAN ACTION. ARREST OF BULGARIAN EMISSARIES. (Received 0.15 a.m.) Rome, October 17. Fssad Pasha arrested many Bulgarian emissaries at Dura/./.n who .wine conducting a propaganda against the Quadruple Fattente. FRANCE DECLARES WAR. ANOTHER NAIL IN FERDINAND'S COFFIN, ( Received !) a.m.) Paris. October 17. France has declared war on Bulgu ria.

FERDINAND’S MANIFESTO. SERVIA HAS ATTACKED US. “OUR DEAR NATIONAL IDEALS.” United Press Association. (Received 9.2 U a.m.) Solia. October 17. King Ferdinand's manifesto Inis been issued. He says: ‘‘l and tbe Government have striven through neutrality to realise the Nation’s ideals. Both groups of the belligerent great Powers recognised that a great injustice had been done to ns by the division of .Macedonia. Both agreed that the Bulk ought to belong to Bulgaria. 'Our treacherous neighbor, Servia. alone remained inflexible in face of tbe-advice of her friends, the Allies. Servia, in her animosity and cupidity, has attacked our territory and forced our brave troops to fight in defence of their own soil. In 1912 onr dear national ideals alone compelled me to call the valiant army to a struggle wherein we unfurled the banners of liberty and broke the chains of servitude. Onr Servian Allies were the principal cause of. onr losing Macedonia. Kxhausted and fatigued, but uueonquered, we were compelled to fold up onr banners and await better days. They have arrived much quicker than could be expected. The F.uropean war is neating its close, and the Central Empires’ victorious armies in Servia are - fidvancitig rapidly. 1 call on the Bulgarian Nation and army to the defehcci ■ Of their country, which is sullied by a felonious neighbour, and for the deliverance of onr enslaved brethren from the Servian yoke. Onn’canse is a just and sacred one. I, therefore, command my valiant army to driyg the enemy from the limits of our kingdom. The felon neighbor must "be crushed.”

THE ALLSED FORCES, OFF TO THE SERBO-BULCARIAN FRONTIER, (Received 9 a.in.) London, October 17. The Allies’ forces loft Salonika on Saturday for the Serho-Bulgarian frontier. LARGE BRITISH FORCES AT SALONIKA. <* "'("Received 9.30 aj.nu) • Paris] October ,17. • Le ,M at'i'n .reports that large ,iminhers of Britisli have heen landing at Salonika' since) Friday. ... , SERVIA’S RESISTANCE. DEPRESSING EFFECT ON CER- * MAN GENERAL., ■ (Received 9.30 a.m.) London. October 17. Le Matin’s Nish correspondent says that General von Mackensen is greatly depressed at Servia’s unexpected resistance. which upset the calculations and necessitated Bulgaria’s attack earliei: than intended. SERVIANS RETAKE POSITIONS FROM BULCARS. t ( (Received 9.30. a.m.) Paris, October 17. T),e Kcho de Paris states that the Servians have retaken the positions at Lisana and Bonkva, : whichi the Bulgarians captured on Tuesday.

GENERAL SUBRAIL. (Received 9.30 a.m.) Pa ris, October 10. General Smrail lias taken over the command of the Allies in the Balkans. The British and Italian military attaches and various British generals participated in the discussions. miscellaneous items. Zurich, October Id, The arragantT tone, of the Austrian newspapers has changed to'a sober appreciation of the fact that the Serbians are making an incredibly stubborn resistance. : Paris, October Id. It, i s expected that Russo-Bulgarian hostilities will immediately follow a manifesto from the Czar, denouncing King Ferdinand’s siding with the Anstro-Germans. who are the enemies of the Slav races. Amsterdam, October Id. The Vossicbe Zeitung states that King Constantine has sent an envoy with an autograph letter to King J'erdinand. ’The letter is believed to eontain the drat of a Graeco-Bulgarian agreement. Rome, October ild. Twenty thousand Bulgarians, under General Toschef, are ready to invade Macedonia and engage the AngloFrench forces. It is estimated that 1 dO.COO Bulgarians are concentrated, hall on the Serbian position and halt on the G reek front ier. The Giornale d’ltalia says that Italy will not send troops to the Balkans, hut will continue the pressure on Austria, which will he equally helpful. () London, October 10. The Daily Telegraph 4 s Home correspondent, Dr. Dillon, says the leanings of a large section oi British people towards the Bnlgars. and also the hopes that the Bulgarian army and nation will suddenly disavow King Ferdinand, are dangerous at the present juncture. The reports ol riots and mutinies are mostly unfounded. The Bulgarians and King Ferdinand are united regarding the political objects of the Cabinet, and King Ferdinand is alone responsible lor the means adopted. The people, in the event ol lailnre. will appeal to the [Russians, their Slav brothers, hut in the event of success they "ill he ' grateful to King Ferdinand,

HEARTENING THE TURKS. WINTER To BE SPENT IN EGYPT! (Received 9.A0 a.m.) Paris. October 17. Croat preparations are being made to receive the Germans at Constantinople. An immense triumphal arch is being built at San Stela-no. Enver Pasha, in his order lor the day. promises that the Turkish soldiers will spend the winter in the warm climate ol I'-gypt. ALLEGED GERMAN SHORTAGE OF MEN. (Received 9 a.m.) Pa ris. October 1i . An official communication referring to the Balkans emphasises the signilicance of tbe Germans’ attempt to secure Turkish soldiers to till the places of Germans, indicating a shortness in men.