In the Balkans
TO-DAY’S NEWS. The news from the Balkans becomes, every day more and more confusing, and, consequently, more and more alarming. The position, as explained by the Marquis of Lansdowne, in the north front of Serbia is that the Germans are at Pojarevatz, forty miles south-east of Belgrade, and that the Bulgarians have captured Negotin, and, therefore, the two enemy forces are about to junction. Briefly, the position is the*' same as that some short time ago, when the enemy were at Pojarevatz and the Bulgarians had captured the Negotin railway. The events following the position then brought about a change, and the enemy were driven out of Pojarevatz and the Negotin railway was secured by the Serbs and the threatened junction of the enemy in the Timok valley was prevented. The question now is, whether the Serbs can again prevent the junction that will completely outflank then}. The distance from Pojarevatz to Negotin is nearly eighty -miles. The Germans had hard fighting to get forty miles from Belgrade with their communication near j at hand. It will take as hard fighting to get over the remaining eighty miles to Negotin,
The necessity for this junctibning rather shows , that the Bulgarians are in this locality unable to make a strong attack, and badly want to bo with their Allies. As was stated above, the question is, can the Serbians repeat their performance and prevent the Germans from getting further south-east than they did before? Their forces are as before divided by the Bulgarian thrust in their rear, and therefore the strength of their northern army is as before, less casualties. But the enemy have lost as heavily and moreover, the further the German big guns get into the difficult badly-roaded country, the more does their fighting power decrease. When the Germans opened the campaign in the north the Bulgarians in the south were not being opposed by the French troops, who are pushing an offensive in me Vardar Valley, south of Uskub and the Serbs had to meet them alone. The Serbs now are able to send more troops to the north, because the French (the numbers of whose troops is not given) are gradually relieving them in the south, and more are following. On the whole, despite what is said to the contrary, the Serbs are not in such a had position as careless reading of the cables tends to show.
The 'Bulgarians have apparently been pushing their victory at TJskub as hard as possible and have gone on to Prisrend, right across Serbia, al most to the Albanian frontier. The object in going that far is not apparent, but the fact remains that if the French continue their success in the Vardar, the Bulgarians who have gone to Prisrend run a serious risk of never returning. Pefhaps the object is merely a spectacular one. In any case, it is an exceedingly dangerous one. No further mention is made of the French at the time of writing.
That the Russians are in great heart is told hy Stanley Washburn, who, at the Russian headquarters, says that the armies of General Ivanoff have recuperated, and have now the positions to strike viciously when occasion presents itself. Mr Washburn states that the crisis at Dviusk and the other points on the Dwiua is subsiding, and the enemy
attacks are becoming weaker and the artillery more on an equality. This is very pleasant news, and although the Germans may yet gain slight successes, the tide is just on the turn, and the Czar’s legions will once again return to the offensive, of which the failure of her Allies to supply munitions through Archangel and to take the long expected offensive in the West in May last, robbed them. RELIABLE INFORMATION. United Press Association. London, October 2G. The Times’ correspondent at Salonika, in a letter dated October 9, says that daily since October successive fleets of transports have discharged troops, stores, artillery and ammunition. No figures must be given, but it can be said that our host is mustering. Several tens of thousands are encamped in the vicinity of Salonika. In addition to thousands of British of fine physique there is a multitude of Frenchmen in the pink of condition, who are sunburnt and war-stained, and already veterans. That such a number can he spared from her own frontiers is a cheering revelation. No troops could bo in better fettle or better equipped. . ASSISTANCE WANTED. London, October 27. M. Paitch (the Premier), has cabled begging the friends of Serbia to hasten the sending of troops to save the country. He adds: “For twenty days’ the enemy has tried to annihilate us, and we cannot hope to maintain resistance indefinitely.”
JUNCTION REPORTED IMMINENT Bucharest, October 27. A junction between the Bulgarians and the German forces is imminent. ‘ / London, October 2G. i. . > Lord Lansclowne, m a statement m the House of Lords, said it was highly improbable that the Serbian army would be able to withstand the Aus-tro-German-Bulgarian attack for any length of time. I had been shown to the public that the situation in the Balkans was most serious. Few details of the fighting had been received, but all cablegrams indicated that a crisis had been reached. The Austro-Germau-Bulgarian ring had been drawn closer even than was rumoured. The Bulgars had occupied Pri/.erend, the former capital of Serbia, and the Austro-Germans were now at forty miles southeast of Belgrade while the cavalry had entered Valjevo. London, October 27. Athens telegrams state that after the second son of King Ferdinand headed the Bulgars’ triumphant entry into Uskub the Serbians retired in good order and entrenched in a mountainous line at Perlipe, twentyfive miles from the Greek frontier, in the hope of preventing the capture of Serbian Macedonia before the Allied reinforcements arrive. The Bulgars claim to have captured Negotin, thus making a junction with the AustroGermans imminent, and enabling them to forward big guns and munitions to Turkey without traversing Ronmania.
BRITISH FORBES LINKED UP WITH THE FRENCH. / (Received 12.50 p.m.) London, October 27. In the House of Commons Mr Tennant announced that the British forces in Greece were already co-operat-ing with the French on the GreeoSerbian frontier. MUTINOUS SPIRIT AMONG BULGARIANS. (Received 12.35 p.m.) Sofia, October 27. Reports state that Bulgarian troops killed two of their own generals. There are numerous eases of Bulgars refusing to obey German officers. NO QUARTER GIVEN. MURDEROUS STREET FIGHTING AT USKUB. (Received 10.15 a.m.) London, October 27, Official Bulgarian reports states ■that murderous street-fighting preceded the capture of Uskub. The Serbs defended every inch with heroic fniv, and no quarter was given by either side. AN OUTSPOKEN ROUMANIAN. London, October 27. Bucharest telegrams indicate that M. Filipescu is heading a popular demonstration to force the Government to use the army to prevent a ,functioning which would endanger Roumania’s existence. M. Filipescu, in a violent speech from a window at the Political Club, ended by saying: “We will overthrow Father Bratiano and will also overthrow his son.”
STATEMENT BY BULGARIAN PREMIER. / New York, October 27. M. Radoslavoff, interviewed by the Associated Press, says that Bulgaria’s future military actions will depend upon the Entente’s course towards Bulgaria. He said: “Our work of occupying Macedonia is already half completed, and we are pledged to undertake further operations on behalf of the Austro-Ger-mans.” He denied the existence of a specific agreement with Hoiimania and Greece. f SENSATION IN CREEK PARLIAMENT. London, October 27. Athens reports that a striking incident took place in the Chamber of Deputies during a debate on the Greco-Tiirkish agreement, relating to properties confiscated in the Balkan war. M. Tenizelos disputed the accuracy of the Ministerial explanation, and there was much interruption from the Government benches. M. Yenizelos reminded the Ministerialists that the life of the Government depended on him and his party. Tumult ensued, and the sitting was suspended for an hour. CabineF met in the interval, and when the Chamber resumed M. Dragoumis. made a conciliatory sppech. M. Yenizelos accepted the explanation and a crisis was averted.
A GERMAN REPORT. London, October 26. A Berlin communique states: The Germans east of Visegrade reached the heights of Suhagoro Ponos, and General von Katsvi’s and General Goilwitz’s armies are progressing. We captured the northern slopes of Rama Valley, which is south of Planka, and also captured Markovavitk. Further east we captured 960 Serbians in three days. (Rama Valley is on the hanks of the Danube, about 40 miles cast of Belgrade).
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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 56, 4 November 1915, Page 5
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1,414In the Balkans Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 56, 4 November 1915, Page 5
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