THE BALKANS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 25 October 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS

DESPERATE STRUGGLE PROCEEDING austro-cermans advance SERVIANS METHODICAL RETREAT ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES INFLICTED RGUMAKIA AND GREECE CONDITIONS OF INTERVENTION VARNA AND BURGAS BOMBARDED

THE BALKANS.

INVASION OF SERViA.

GERMANS CLAIM PROGRESS

KUMAjNORO OCCUPIED

ALLIES DRIVEN BACK

LONDON. October 24

The Germans claim that Yon Kov■ess has reached the Arnajeivo-Slatina Trout and that Von Gahwitz nas ad-

vanced to Savanovac

General Bojadoetf further advanced northwards of Kniasnevatz and other Bulgarians have occupied Kumanovo, ■captured Veles and driven the enemy across the Vardar southward of Strumuitsa.

BIG BATTLE AT YELES,

Salonika reports that the Bulgarians after occupying Pirot are advancing in the direction of Nish. A big battle is in progress between the Serbians and 'Bulgarians at Yeles, Turkish cavalry •participating. The Bulgarians are fortifying the Ekodope mountains.

60,000 GERMAN CASUALTIES

ATHENS, October 23

M. Pash Itch’s despatches stages that the Austro-Gen*an casualties in the "battles at Semendria, Shabatz and ObTenovatz totalled sixty thousand. Some "battalions lost nine-tenths of their ■strength in twenty minutes in traversing marshes at Semendria. British and French military attaches -at Nish confirm the above and add that the Bulgarians do not occupy Strania (Vranja?) but attempted a cavalry raid which was thrown back. "The attaches say that the Serbian troops have advanced into Bulgaria. The enemy’s successes have hitherto been due to heavy artillery.

THE BLOODIEST STRUGGLE

FEARS OF SERB ISOLATION,

AN IMPORTANT FRENCH SUCCESS. DELAYS BULGARS’ MAIN ATTACK. PARR?, October 24. The “Petit Parisien's” Athens correspondent states that the Serbians’ success in the North is confirmed. The Austro-Gormans were unable to junction with the Bulgarians, and they assumed the defensive pending reinforcements. 1 The “Journal’s” Athens correspondent says the most furious battle, the bloodiest, and the most serious in the Balkans triennium is progressing near "Veles. The Austro-German defeat in North Serbia has now forced Ferdinand to strike a heavy blow in the South. . Mackensen has given up the idea for the time being of joining his armies in the Timok \ alley. Picked Bulgarians are attempting a surprise attack in the Ishtib-Veles sector success of which means isolation of the Serbian army, while failure spells collapse of the concerted German and Bulgarian plans. Bulgarian ammunition is running short. from Salonika confirm the French success from Krivolak, \\ Inch will arrest the Bulgarian attacks at Veles.

FRENCH JOIN WITH SERBIANS.

The High Commissioner reoo-M: LONDON. October 24. Paris reports that French troons from Salonika have joined with the Servians in Servia.

BULGAKS CUT UP.

LONDON, October 23

The Daily Mail’s correspondent at Salonika says that after their occupation of Ishtip, the Bulgarians advanced to Kuprili, on, the' main railway, .50 miles south of Vrania. Serbian reinforcements arrived and repulsed the Bulgarians with enormous losses. The French, at Krivolak, crossed the Vardar River —which runs parallel with the railway—with the object of cutting off the Bulgarians’ retreat. The Bulgarian attacks on Kumanovo, on the railway, 30 miles north of Kuprili. were repulsed. The Bulgarian forces which cut the railway near Vrania were exterminated.

FIERCE RESISTANCE BY SERBS,

MUNICH, October 23

The German newspaper Neuestc Nachrichten states that the Serbians are offering a most determined resistance. Position after position !n the Morava Valley was only gained after the fiercest fighting by the rearguards. The paper says that it must be admitted that the Serbians are magnificent soldiers, despite their rough appearance, while their armament is irreproachable. Numerous sharpshooters are concealed in the rugged mountains, and they cause the Germans considerable losses. The Serbian artillery is not particularly good, despite the guns given the English. “Unlike the Russians,” says the paper, “the Serbians do not burn or destroy everything, and we thus obtain targe supplies of grain and cattle. The weather continues wretched, and the roads are miserable, greatly impeding

our progress.”

SERBS OUTNUMBERED.

BY TWO TO ONE

LONDON, October 23

Colonel Eepington, the Times’ military correspondent, says that it is beyond doubt that the Serbian Army is opposed by superior forces. The Aus-tro-Germans probably number 16 divisions. Serbia has lost 150,000 men already. in the present war, and another 50,000 by disease. Now she probably has .100,000. The enemy’s superiority is, therefore, two to one, and is greater if the Turks are helping.

The correspondent says that the situation will not be desperate unless the main Serbian army is defeated, hut it is serious. The Serbans are defending at the greatest disadvantage, and the crisis cannot be long delayed. The best course for the Franco-British forces to follow would be to hold up tlih Bulgarian columns at Ishtip and Strumnitza, in the south-east corner of Serbia, and take the pressure off the Serbians. This assumes that the whole allied force can be delivered at Ghevgeli, on the Serbian frontier, properly equipped for fighting in dfficult country-—points on which information is not available.

ROUMANIAN MISSION TO PETROGRAD.

LONDON, October 23. The Daily Mail’s Rome correspondent reports that a mission from the Roumanian Government passed Odessa en route to Petrograd.

RISINGS IN BULGARIA.

LONDON. October 24. The “Daily Mail’s” Salonika correspondent says that the Bulgarians are rising in various parts as a protest against their" Turkish Allies. A number of suspected officers have been relieved of their commands.

SERVIA’S METHODICAL RETREAT,

MACKENSEN’S CAPTURES NIL.

NEW SERVIAN POSITION,

(Reed 10.50 a.m.)

AMSTERDAM, October 24

The “Lokal Anzeiger” states that the Servian retreat is most methodical. Mackensen’s booty is practically nil. The Serbians have strongly fortified their next defensive positions and Aus-tro-Germans will find them terribly expensive to conquer.

ALLIES' PROPOSALS DECLINED

GREECE WILL NOT INTERVENE

CYPRUS FAILS TO TEMPT HER

LONDON, October 22

Or*tee has declined for the present the proposals of the Allies, including the cession of Cyprus.

CREECH ON THE VERGE OF GREAT

EVENTS

T UP.LIC DEMANDS INTERVENTION

ARMY’S GROWING HATRED OIBULGARIA

ALLIES’ TERRITORIAL OFFERS INCREASED.

LONDON, October 22

In. addition to Cyprus, the Allies have offered to Greece an extension of territory dh the Aegean coast, the colonies in Asia Minor. These offers represent the Entente’s last word. The Greek Government has also been assured of military and" adequate financial siiijpcrt. • ' A. message from Athens says that the Entente Mnisters have had frequent interviews with the Premier, M. Zaimis, In a final effort to convince Greece that It is necessary to assist Serbia in return for Bulgaria’s exclusion from t,he Aegean Sea. Leading Greeks in London highly ap. prove of the proposed cession of Cyprus to Greece by Britain, and point out that the revenue of Cyprus shows a surplus of £50,000 annually. Cyprus gave 15,000 volunteers to Greece in the last Balkan war, and this number could be raised to 60,000. The Athens newspapers, comnienting on the offer of Cyprus, are unanimously of opinion that the hour has come fet Greece to make a decision. Telegrams from Athens show that public feeling throughout Greece is undergoing a rapid change, and it is thought that sensational developments may happen any moment. The Government is beginning to perceive that an international atmosphere is forming, which is fast becoming insupportable. The restlessness of the followers of M. Venizelos and the army’s hatred of Bulgaria, due to the Bulgarian atrocities, are increasing the tension. There is feverish activity at the Ministry for War. The army is insisting that the Greek contract with Serbia against Bulgaria must be maintained at all costs. The arrival of the first French and British wounded soldiers at Salonika is making a deep impression on the excitable Greeks. Dispatches from Rome indicate that the Anglo-French generosity towards Greece is causing heart-searchings in Italy. The newspaper “Nazione” demands tjliat Greece be no longer cajoled, but constrained. Greece, says the paper, ig in the hands of the quadruple alliance. If Italy’s thorough and whole-hearted co-operation is desired, vigorous and iio'M'U'i an Tcmm pHOipoqiotn against Greece.

600,000 ROUMANIANS TO TIGHT. •

320,000 IN CARPATHIANS,

LONDON, October 24,

The Novoe Vremya publishes an interview with the Roumanian envoy, a near relative of M. Bratiano, who has arrived in Betrograd on,ji special mission on behalf of the Roumanian Foreign Office. He states emphatically that the army and navy is wholly on the side of the Allies. All are convinced that Roumania will shortly abandon neutrality. The delby is due to the absence of an adequate supply of munitions. There is almost ready an army of 600,000, increasable to 1.100,000. The War Office has already concentrated 320,000 in the Carpathians.

ROUMANIA’S INTERVENTION". A REPORTED AGREEMENT. ■ 400,000 TO HELP IN BALKANS. BUCHAREST, October 24. It is reported that Roumania intervenes on condition that the Allies send 400,000 to the Balkans. England and France have accepted, and Roumania is preparing to attack Bulgaria.

BULGAKS CAPTURE VELES.

NISH, October 24. A communique admits the fall of Veles,

BULGAR COAST BOMBARDED

BY LARGE ALLIED FLEET

DEDEAGATCH SERIOUSLY DAM AGED.

The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, Oct. 23, 3.10 p.m

The Admiralty announces that a bombardment of the Bulgarian Coast was carried by a squadron composed of British, French and Russian ships, on Thursday afternoon. A number of military postions were shelled, and serious damage inflicted on harbour works, railway station and shipping at Dedeagatch. Great care was exercised by the Allied squadron to avoid firing at. points other than these known to be of military importance.

RUSSIA BOMBARDS BULGARIA

ON BLACK SEA COAST

(Reed 8.25 a.m.) PARIS, October 24

“Le Matin’s” Athens correspondent states that the Russians are bombarding Varna and Burgas.

VARNA AND BOURGVS

RUSSIAN BOMBARDMENT CON FIRMED.

(Reed 11.25 a.m.) LONDON. October 24. A French- communique confirms the bombardment of Varna and Burgas.

GREECE AND THE WAR.

300,000 ALLIES NEEDED

ROME, October fi t.

The Corrierc Delhi Sera’s Athens correspondent says all Greek parties agree that Greece cannot move unless the Allies have 300,000 in Macedonia. Once these are landed the Greeks rf their own accord will ask to join the Entente.

ANOTHER “SCRAP OF PAPER.”

GREECE IGNORES SERBIAN TREATY. .

ALLIES OFFER OF NO AVAIL,

LONDON, October 23

The British Government communicated the proposal to cede Cyprus to the Greek Government on Sunday. Part of the proposals had been under consideration for some time to induce Greece forthwith to fulfil her obligations under tihe Greeco-Serbian treaty. The British Note clearly informed Greece that the fulfilment of the treaty obligation entailed the cession of Cyprus without prejudice to other eventual advantages which the Allies migfht share with Greece.

CONSTANTINE THE STUMBLING BLOCK.

WORD PLIGHTED TO THE KAISER.

ROME, October 23

Dr Dillon say s there is a lively but friendly interchange of views proceeding in Athens between the Zaimis Cabinet and the foreign ministers. Nothing definite has resulted from this diplomatic tournament. Internal ferment is increasing'and has been intensified by the hatred of the Bulgars and the fear of their treachery. M. Zaimis contends that Greece is an independent State and is entitled to maintain armed neutrality and the Entente ought not to interfere. This isright, in view of Greece’s friendliness. The Allies contend they rebel on ’he Greeco-Serbian treaty as essential to Balkan equilibrium. Entente diplomats are prepared to guarantee that Allied armies will be interposed between the Austro-German invaders and the Greek army. The Entente ministers point out that the expeditionary forces are at the mercy of the Greek Cabinet which in the event of deciding not to fight Bulgaria and maintain friendly relations with the AustroGerman s and Turkey ought not to object to demobilise. Turcc-H :1 .avian and German ministers emphasise that the Bulgarians have not designs upon Greek territory. It is doubtful whether J spontaneous Greek co-operation can be longer hoped for in view of King Constantine’s plighted word to the Kaiser, but Greece may yet be constrained if the Entente nations in the desperate | struggles for their lives are ready to J employ more potent means than the jl argument of invasion. 1

GERMAN INFLUENCE TOO STRONG.

NO PROSPECT OF INTERVENTION LONDON, October 23. The correspondent of the “Chronicle” and “Daily Telegraph” in Rome assert that German influence in the Greek court remains the most serious obstacle to an understanding with the Entente. The King strongly opposes intervention, especially the idea of Greek troops fighting the Germans. He foresees no eventuality sufficient to justify the abandonment of neutrality.

* ITALY WILLING TO HELP.

ROME, October 23

The Daily Telegraph’s Milan correspondent says the newspapers are actively discussing Italy’s aid. There are widely divergent views, hut undoubtedly generosity is net lacking. In the event of the Allies asking for more, Italy will willingly make a sacrifice. Troops are easily available if required to strengthen the Allies’ expedition to Servia.

IRON CROSS FOR FERDINAND,

(Rec. 12.20 a.m.)

A German wireless message states that the Kaiser has given King Ferdinand an Iron Cross.

WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

IN THE CHAMPAGNE

SCENE OF FRENCH ADVANCE,

PARIS. October 22,

A correspondent who \isited Ihe Champagne district for three . days states tliat on the ground recently won by the French as a result of their fire a large area is absolutely swept of vegetation. Over three •million shells were dropped in a small district in three days, excavating pits five to 70 feet deep, and some 150 feet wide. The whole countryside)is covered with white powder, the result of the explosions. Many German prisoners are Insane. The French have been engaged for days clearing up the battlefield. The excavations showed the Germans’ war stores, in which were revealed (load Germans, sometimes a hundred together, as if a now Pompeii had been unearthed. The Germans had woven the whole place with barbed wire.

The French spent two months nreparing the attack. Some of their trenches were wide enough for two horses. The French advance was made with comparatively small losses.

THE FIGHT AT LOOS

(Eec. 12.20 a.m.)

AMSTERDAM, October 23

The Berliner Tageblatt, describing the fight at Loos, says that the British bombardment was terrific. Our excel lent trenches were blown into holes and the entanglements shredded. The gas bags crept towards us in sueecssve waves. Suddenly, behind the fourth cloud, the British emerged in thick Jines. The storming columns seemed to arise from the earth. They wortmasks, resembling devils, not soldiers. For a long time thereafter no news was received from the divisional headquarters. the wires being destroyed. An adjoining division reported a gasattack, and that their first line had been stormed. Finally the news was received that the British had succeeded in storming our division’s first trenches.

ITALIAN OFFENSIVE,

AX IMPORTANT ADVANCE

(Rec. 12.45 a.m.') ROME, October 24

A communique states: —

We carried by assault Mount Notic, westward of Lake Garda, completing the command of the Ledro vallev.

We progressed on the upper and middle Isonzo and repulsed two violent counter-attacks.

We progressed after sanguinary fighting on the whole front of the Carso, particularly towards San Martino del Carso, and captured 3.000 prisoners, including 60 officers, and a great quantity of munitions.

THE DARDANELLES,

ALLIES SAID TO BE RETIRING

(Rec. 12.20 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Oct. 23,

The Neuys Tanderdag’s Sofia correspondent says that in May it was considered certain that the Entente’s undertaking at the Dardanelles had failed.

It is stated that the Allied troops at Seddul-Bahr,, Ariburnu, and Anafarta are retreating bit by bit, because the bad weather makes is impossible to transport supplies and reserves, and the sea is so rough that the warships cannot assist the troops.

GERMAN EFFORTS FRUSTRATED

LONDON, October 23. Paris reports that yesterday evening enemy groups attempted to leave their trenches at Boisenhache, mar the small fort at Givenchy, but they were immediately and easily dlspeis—•] In the Champagne a stroig (>no ßl y reconnaissance, accompanied by weeping asphyxiating shells, attempted to gain a footing in French positions on the butte at Tahure. The'y were everywhere repulsed, and nearly destroyed by infantrv and machine gun fire. In Lorraine, a hand to hand combat took place where we captured trenches occupies by the enemy at Lelntres, Gordraxcn, and on the Amenonoourti Reillcn cross roads.

MORE GERMAN ' KULTLfR.

LONDON. October 24;

The French Embassy has issued th» text of a letter found on a German: body, which states that when they captured a French trench on September 14th, it was so crowded that it seemed full of fleas. We took no prisoners, one has got to finish off this vermin. It was a most bloody affair. A second letter, found on another body, confirmed the former outrage. Ist the same affair it says we bayonetted the lot. I showed no mercy to these filthy French who must be stamped? out. They must either sign peace or all be killed.

ULSTER SOLDIERS.

DIVISION LEAVES FOR FRONT-

MESSAGE FROM THE KING.

(Ree. 12.20 a.m.)

LONDON. October 2-1.

‘ The King, in a farewell message the Ulster Division before going to the front, said:—

“Your prompt and patriotic answer to the nation’s call to arms will neverbo forgotten. I am confident that yon will nobly uphold the traditions of thefino regiments whose names von bear.'”

ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

GERMAN LOSSES.

SEVERE CASUALTIES AT BCKAtT(Recd 10 a.m.) GENEVA, October 22. Gormans near Eckau lost thirty kilometres of trenches, and their casualties were 18,000. The Russians in Eastern Galicia are advancing rapidly. (Reed 10 a.m.) PETROGRAD, October 22. The Germans have informed the people of Mitau that unless Riga is captured they will raze all towns and villages in the line of their retreat.

GERMANS FALLING BACK.

BEFORE RUSSIANS IN COURLANDL

(Reed 11.25 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, Oct. 24. Russian expeditions in Courland is stronger than tiie"Germans imagined. They have pressed forward since Saturday morning; the Germans are falling back. It is believed that British submarines have scared off the German warships.

RUSSIANS CROSS SAN.

(Ree. 12.20 a.m.) PETROGRAD, October 23.

A communique states;—

The Russians crossed the Upper San south-east of Baranovitahi, taking 1,(500 prisoners.

“END IS NOT IN SIGHT.”’

THE KING’S MESSAGE.

LONDON. October 23.

’The King has addressed the following message:—“To my people: At this grave moment in the struggle between: my people and a highly organised enemy who transgressed the laws of nations and changed the ordinance that binds civilised Europe together, I appeal to you.

“I rejoice in my Empire’s efforts, and I feel pride in the voluntary response from my subjects aD over theworld, who sacrificed home, fortune, and life itself in order that another* may not inherit the free Empire whiek their ancestors and mine built. I ask you to make good these sacrifices. The end is not in sight.

“More men and yet more are wanted to keep my armies in the field an<l through them to secure victory and enduring peace. In ancient days the darkest moment ever produced in men of our race ,-the sternest resolve. I ask you men of all classes to come forward voluntarily and take your share in the fight. In freely responding to my appeal you will be giving support to our brothers who for k>ng monthsr have nobly upheld Britain's past traditions and the glory of her arms.’ 1