SERBIANS HOLD POSITIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1915, Page 5

SERBIANS HOLD POSITIONS.

KEEPING THE GERMANS BACK. TURKEY HURRYING UP REINFORCEMENTS. Rceived Oct. 18, 12.10 a.m. London, Oct. 17. The Serbians have up to the present maintained the positions to which they retired when the Bulgarians' attack necessitated a rearrangement 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' correspondent at Nish states that the Serbians threw back the German army which was attempting to t turn their wing at Sernendria. The enemy was driven from Godomine and Marthes, on the right bank of the Danube, and a Bavarian battalion was hurled into the river, Great movements of troops are reported ironi 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. A GREAT STRUGGLE.

MOST SANGUINARY FIGHTING. ITALY JOINING IN. Received Oct. 18, 12.20 a.m. , London, Oct. IT. The splendjd fight that the Serbians are putting up against tremendous odds i 3 arousing anxiety in Britain and France as to whether the Allies' assistance will arrive in time. It is rumored in well-informed circles l in Paris that Italy is sending 150,000 troops to assist Serbia in arranging for intervention at a spot where there may be a decisive result to the campaign. The Allies are leaving Salonika on Sunday, and are going to GuevguelL Nish and other towns are preparing a great reception for the Anglo-Frtmch troops. Everyone 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 Nish, received on Saturday evening, state that the fighting is of the most terrible character along the whole of the Austro-German and Buigar fronts. ROAD TO CONSTANTINOPLE. The following extraordinarily outspoken article by Theodore Walff appears in the Berliner Tageblatt:— "The obtaining and securing of a road of communication to Constantinople is for us during the war, as well as in the future peace, so niuch a necessity that everything must be set upon the attainment of this object. In this place the standpoint has always been maintained, that we can do very well without Roumania, and that co-operation with friendly Bulgaria for restoring a free road is more necessary. The truth has now been understood also by diplomatists of,the Entente; but, fortunately, a little jate. Will it now be recognised in Bulgaria that the situation ie closely approaching its crisis while it is still negotiating with Turkey as to the most favorable alteration of the frontiers? The Balkan States have been urged for months not to let the right moment go by, and perhaps they have become a little apathetic about such warnings. But this time the moment is really approaching. Somehow or other, on some road -or other, to the right or to the left, with Peter or with Paul, a connection with the Turkish Empire must be obtained, which will secure for us a new possibility .of both military profit for all who join our side. German activity in this direction will find the long-promised and natural realisation of its success in world-politics."

THE ORIENT. / ——»—— THE DARDANELLES. DETAILS OF THE CASUALTIES. Received Oct. 17, 3.40 p.m. London, Oct. 16. In the House of Commons Mr. Tennant gave details of the casualties at the Dardanelles as follows: Killed, 1185 officers and 17,872 men; wounded, 2,032 officers and 60,220 men; missing, 383 officers and 8707 men. Of these the casualties to Australians and New Zealanders are:—Killed, 335 officers and 5004 men; wounded, 814 officers and 20,180 men; missing, 62 officers and 2076 men. The total casualties are f>6,&99,