In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 28, 31 August 1916, Page 5

In the Balkans

CRISIS IN BULGARIA. CRAVE EVENTS PORTENDED. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Rome, August 30. Bucharest messages state tha't King Ferdinand of Bulgaria has left Sofia for A'ienna. Prince Boris has become Russophile, and M' Rado.slavaff is also prepared to become a convert. Grave events are portended in Sofia, and a Russophile Ministry is possible. The Daily Telegraph publishes a message from Dr." Dillon, in Rome, who states that the Bulgarian plan of action was decided directly the catas* trophe became inevitable. The Russophile party will make overtures to the Entente and withdraw from tho German alliance, depose King Ferdinand and proclaim Prince Boris as King, on condition that Serbian Macedonia and the Enos-Midia frontier accorded to Bulgaria. Bucharest messages state that great consignments of munitions from England and Franco has arrived. Ronmania is now abundantly supplied for eight months' warfare ROUMANIAN OFFENSIVE IN THE TRANSYLVANIAN ALPS. Press Association—Copyright, Austra. lian and N.Z. Cable Association. Bucharest, August 30. When general mobilisation was proclaimed in tho streets there were many scenes of enthusiasm, also on the declarations of war against Germany, i Declarations against Turkey and Bulgaria have not yet been issued. The initial Roumanian offensive has begun in the Transylvanian Alps, tho Roumanians moving through the Roterturm Pass and in the direction of tho Hermannstadt aiVl Morsburg Passes, the hitter being 3500 feet high. Here the Roumanian objective is Brnsso. The Roterturm Pass is only 1000 feet high and very narrow, but-is the easiest route to Austrian territory.

Long after the Roumanians have readied Transylvania they will be fighting in a tangle of forest-clad bills, and consequently rapid progress. is impossible. The Hungarians also expect an invasion through the Verciorova Pass, where Italian prisoners are preparing hasty defences. The Roumanians here are aiming at the Banat of Timesvar, one of ' the dearest objects of Roumanian ambition. • Brasso is a royal free town, situated at the foe of the Transylvania Alps. Hungary. ."> miles east by south Of Hermannstadt, and is strongly fortified. The population of Brasso in 1910 was 66,624. It has manufactures of cloth., leather, cement, and candles, also petroleum refineries.)

THE EFFECT UPON GERMANY, WHAT THE MORROW MAY BRING FORTH. Press Association— Copyright. United •Service. i Received 9.25 a.m.) London, August .'JO. Dr. Dillon, in the Daily Telegraph, sL-l.cs that the Italians believe that owing to Roumania's ttctioiij Gsrnianv's eastern couimunieaiinn liavc been cut olf cll'ectively, and as the ! Western operations are causing a : tightened blockade, a speedy Gorman collapse or political developments may force Germany to anticipate the position and sue for peace. RUSSIAN OPERATIONS. London, August .'SO. The Russians are throwing pontoons across the Danube at Reni, I where the Roumanians have erected miles of landing stages, suggesting a I powerful Russian invasion through I the Dohruja. (Reni is a Russian town in Bessarabia, on the Danube, 140 miles southwest of Odessa.) AUSTRIANS RETIRE FROM PASSES. Vienna, August 80. A communique reports: Our troops are fighting at all the passes on the Roumanian frontier. The enemy sustained heavy losses, especially in the region of Roterturm Pass, the heights southwards of Brasso and G/.dbyc mountains. A repetition of the attacks by strong Roumanian forces compelled our advanced forces to retire.

THE SALONIKA CENTRE. ARTILLERY ACTIVE AT DOIRAN. I London, August 29. A French official communique from Salonika reports: There is great activity hi the Lake Doiran region, and on the banks of the Vardar, where we . destroyed an aviation establishment at Mencence. Westward of the lake we progressed towards Djumenica. The Serbians pursued their advance towards Vetrenik, and repelled strong Bulgarian attacks north-west of Lake Ostrovo and further southward. ALLIES' PROGRESS REPORT. GOOD WORK OF THE SERBIANS. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11-20 a.m.) Paris, August 30. ' A communique states: We bombarded Struma front at Lake Doiran.,,. Wo progressed westward of the Vardar. There has been violent artillery action at Vontrenik .and Ostrovo, and tho Serbians repulsed the Bulgars westward of Ostrovo with heavy losses. , ROUMANIAN ULTIMATUM TO BULGARIA. IMPORTANT CHANCES PENDING. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.20 a.m.) London, August 30. It is reported that Roumania is sending an ultimatum to Bulgaria, demanding tho immediate evacuation of Serbian territory, and the re-estab-lishing of the boundaries in accordance with the Bucharest Treaty. It is anticipated that events are immediately ponding, the result of which will lie an important change in the Balkan situation, and which will mark the opening of a vitally important stage of the war.