Blaze in the Balkans

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 130, 19 October 1912, Page 5

Blaze in the Balkans

GREECE DECLARES WAR HOSTILITIES SPREADING ON FRONTIER DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS CEASED The main feature of the war news to-day is the official declaration by Turkey of war upon Servia and Bulgaria, followed by a retaliatory declaration by Servia of war upon Turkey. ..■■,.." Later, this was followed' by an official announcement that Greece had joined in the general melee and declared a state of war against her old antagonist. , . Diplomatic relations have closed all round, the Servian, Bulgarian and Grecian Ministers having all been recalled, whilst the Turkish Minister has left Athens without asking for lis passport. The Montenegrins were thrice defeated at; Xarabosch, sustaining heaw losses, whilst guerilla fighting continues on the Servian frontier, "and the Turkish troops have invaded Bulgaria. Russia is attempting to arrange that the Dardanelles shall be kept open for neutrals. The Greeks celebrated their participation in the war by a daring and picturesque dash with two gunboats through a narrow channel in the Dardanelles, past the Turkish fortress ofPrevenza to the Culf of Arta, thereby gaining the key to the gulf. The prospects of peace are now remote, and a general pressure of hostilities is anticipated immediately. It is stated that Britain is casting envious eyes,„on ,Crete, whilst France is endeavoring lo placate Austria by the promise of a Franco-Russian agreement that Xovibazar will be ceded to her by Servia after the war if° she • does not, in the meantime, interfere with the Servian operations The Porte has issued an order calling" upon the Turkish army'to refrain from injuring non-combatants, women and children

| Vienna, October 18. I France is.endeavoring to induce Austria to accept a Franco-Russian guarantee that Servia will evacuate Novibazar after the war, and asks Austria to tolerate, if possible, Servian operations tkere. THE DARDANELLES. Received 18, 11.15 p.m. , St. Petersburg, October 18. The Government has made energetic representations to the Porte, and is also negotiating with the Powers to secure the free passage of the Dardanelles by neutrals. MONTENEGRINS DEFEATED. Received 19, I a.m. Constantinople, October 17. Turkish advices state that the Montenegrins were twice dcfeatecTat Tarabosch with heavy losses. SPREAD OF HOSTILITIES. Constantinople, October 17. Hostilities have begun on the Bulgarian and Servian frontiers. A SERVIAN VICTORY. Belgrade, October 17. The Servian artillery repulsed an attack by Arnauts at Pryepolyc, killing 200. The Servian loss is unknown. | The King has started for the headquarters at Nish.

FOOD .SUPPLIES FOUND. Podgoritza, October 17. The Montenegrins foundlwo months' supplies of food in the military depots at Berane. AEROPLANES ORDERED. Vienna, October 17. Bulgaria has ordered eight aeroplanes. GUNBOATS UNDER FIRE, London, October 17. Two Greek gunboats were subjected to a heavy fire from the fortress of Prevenza, but forced their passage into the Gulf of Arta.

A STEAMER DETAINED. Sofia, October 17. The Roumanian steamer Princessc has been detained at Varna. Roumania demands its release. King Ferdinand has started for the front. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS CLOSED. Constantinople, October 17. The Servian, Bulgarian and Grecian Ministers have received their passports. Athens, October 17. The Turkish Minister has left with out asking for a passport. AMBULANCE FOR MONTENEGRO. Athens, October 17. The Red Cross Socicety is sending an ambulance to Montenegro. Drs. Antony Bradford and F. Goldsmith, Australians, will accompany it. ARRIVALS OF DESTROYERS. Athens, October 17. The gunboats have arrived from Vonitza. They are the four recently purchased by Greece. The destroyers shipped crews at Algiers and proceeded to Greece.

BULGARIA DECLARES WAR.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 18, 10.15 p.m. Sofia, October 17. War has been declared. DECLARATIONS OF WAR. London, October 17. Turkey has declared war on Servj/i and Bulgaria, and Servia has declared war upon Turkey. Greece has declared war on Turkey. GREECE RUNS THE GAUNTLET. A MAGNIFICENT COUP. Received 18, 10.15 p.m. Athens, October 18. Gunboats passed the Turkish guns within 240 yards, in a narrow channel between the new fortress at Proveza and the coast batteries. They steamed with lights out and were not seen. They saw the troops at the Turkish fortresses completing the defences in the full blaze of electric lights. The feat has given the Greeks command of the Gulf of Arta, and ensures the supply of stores to the army at Epirus.

THE BATTLE AT KRANIA. HEAVY .MONTENEGRIN LOSSES. FIGHTING NEAR GUISINJE. Received 18, 10.30 p.m. Constantinople, October 18. The Turkish losses at Knmia were seventeen killed and fifty-four wounded. The Montenegrin casualties were five hundred. Fighting northward of Gusinjc continues. The Turks captured a gun and a quantity of ammunition. There were heavy losses. TURKISH GUNBOAT CONFINED. Received 18, 10.5 p.m. Athens, October 18. A Turkish gunboat and the destroyer Attala are confined to Prcveza, where they took refuge at the outset of the Turko-Italian war.

ENTHUSIASM IN SERVIA. Received 18, 10.30 p.m. Belgrade, October 18. The declaration of war evoked tremendous enthusiasm. At a special service the Archbishop invoked a blessing on the holy war on which the country was embarking. TURKISH FATALITIES. Received 18, 10.30 p.m. Belgrade, October 18. The Turkish casualties at Frepolatz (not Pryepolye) included six hundred wounded. Ten Servians were killed and forty-two wounded. PENETRATING BULGARIA. Received 18, 10.30 p.m. Constantinople, October 18. Pomaks; supported by regulars, penetrated into Bulgaria several miles, the Bulgarians retiring.

TURKISH FINANCE. Received 18, 10.15 p.m. Constantinople, October 17. The Porte lias demanded and secured three and a half millions sterling deposited in German bank?, during Abdul Hamid's reign, to be devoted to the war. BULGARIANS DESTROY BRIDGES. Received IS, 10.30 p.m. Constantinople, October ,18. The Bulgarians destroyed two important railway bridges southwards of Philipoplis. 'SIDE ISSUES FROM THE POWERS. Received 18. 11.15 p.m. Paris, October 18. Le Temps' Vienna correspondent forwards an unverified rumor that the British Ambassador is reported to have recently informed an Austrian official: "We want Crete."