BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1915, Page 5

BALKANS.

THE CAMPAIGN IN SERBIA. ALLIED TROOPS REACH NISH. London, Oct. 20. The Star announces that 30,000 AngloFrench troops have reached Nish. CAPTURE OF VRANJA. A BULGARIAN REPORT. Sofia, Oct .20. A communique states:—We, captured Vranja, cutting the railway from Uskub to Nish. The populace at Vranja hoisted the white flag, and welcomed the cavalry with cries of Later there came a hail of bullets from every house. The troops advancing from Egripalanka captured a Serbian battalion. MURDEROUS FIGHTING. WOMEN AND GIRLS SHOT DOWN. HEAVY BULGARIAN LOSSES. London, Oct. 20. The Daily Telegraph's Rome corres-' pondeirt reports that advices from German sources state 'that the campaign in Serbia is of a dreadful character. During desperate fighting in the vicinity of Mounts Branovo and Pasulich many women, girls, and boys were shot down by the invaders, as they were fighting side by side with the Serbian soldiers. Although the Bulgarians have occupied Vranja the town was little more than a mine field, and the struggle for its possession was most desperate. The Serbians defending it were killed almost to the last man. It is reported that 10,000 Bulgarians were killed in the attack on Vranja,

SERBIAN REPORTS. A REVERSE AND A SUCCESS. Nish, Oct. 20. A communique says that the Bulgarians between V'ranja and Ristovatx occupied positions commanding the railway and communication is interrupted. Bucharest, Oct. 20, Tile Serbians have capturred som. German positions near Pojarevatz :m••! are now attacking the Germans on ihflank. The battle continues. A WARNING TO GREECE. NO MORE EQUIVOCATION. London, Oct. 20. La Tribunal Athens correspondent states that the Allies advised M. Zaimis to relinquish his equivocal policy, which they were not prepared to tolerate. They also asked for a clear explanation of the mobilisation and invited M. Zaimis to say against whom he is mobilising. REPORT FROM MR. DONOHOE. BLOCKADE OF BULGARIAN PORTS. GENERAL REVOLT OF ARMY AND PEOPLE EXPECTED. IF RUSSIAN TROOPS ARRIVE. Received Oct. 21, 5.5 p.m. Rome, Oct. 20. Mr. Martin Donohoe says that the Russian Consul at Dede-Agatch, who has arrived at Bucharest, confirms the statement that the Allies are blockading the Bulgarian Aegean coast. The enemy are feverishly fortifying the littoral. The Consul considers that the appearance of Russian troops in Bulgaria will be the signal for a general revolt of the army and people against King Ferdinand. Bucharest, Oct. 20. Reports from Sofia state that the city has been put into a state of defence to resist a siege. The neighboring chain of hills is covered with a network of trenches and harbed-wire defences, constructed by German engineers. There is a rapid concentration of Bulgarians on the Black Sea Coast, dose to the Bulgarian frontlet

AW OFFER TO C2EECE. TO HELP THE ALLIES. beitaik muTarvE up citrus, Eewived Out. 21, 0.33 p.m. London, Oct. 20. |Bi|itain has offered to Greece the island of Cyprus, on condition that she joins in the war. Greece is considering the offer. NO REPLY YET. OFFER CREATES FAVORABLE ' IMPRESSION. Received Oct. 21, 10.15 p.m, London, Oct. 21. Greece's reply has not yet reached London. The Daily Telegraph's Athens, correspondent says the offer is creating a favorable impression, and is regarded as substantial proof of Britain's good•will in not taking the form of a. promise for the future, which the Germanophilcparty suggest that Britain could not carry but an actual and immediate concession in the event of the Greeks intervening in support of the AlLes. ENEMY'S TBMPORARY SUCCESS. ALLIES ON THE MARCH. Received Oct. 21, 9 p.m. Athens, Oct. 20. There are reports that the Bulgarians have been thrown out of Vranja, and railway communication has been restored. Bucharest states that thirty thousand Anglo-French troops have reached Nish, and other contingents arc marching towards the Negotim-Prahovo line to assist the Serbians on the north-eastern front. BRIGHT FUTURE FOR BULGARIA. ACCORDING TO KAISER WILHELM Received Oct. 21, 72b p.m. Rome, Oct. 20. The Kaiser has issued a proclamation to the Bulgarian army. In it he exalts their courage and heroism, and adds that Bulgaria is destined to become the Mistress of the Balkans, and reign on the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Adriatic Sea. SERBIANS TURNvTHE TABLES. A TOWN RETAKEN. Received Oct 21, 9 pan. •Paris, Oct. 20. L'lntrassigeant states that the Serbians hav« retaken Semendria. A message from Salonika says that numerous detachments with strong artillery are marching along the GreekBulgarian frontier towards Serbia. UNDER SEALED ORDERS. riMßftN FIiBET SAILS. Received Oei 21, 1-I.SO pan. London, Oct 21. A Brindisi despatch states that an Italian squadron has departed under sealed orders. It is supposed that their objective is participation In the blockade of Bulgarian ports. GERMAN REPORT. OF BULGAR SUCCESSES. Received Oct. 21, 9 pjn. Amsterdam, Oct. 20. A German communique says that southward of Belgrade the Bulgarians in a quick action captured a hill southwestward of Egripalanka, and are advancing towards Kumanovo. They captured two thousand prisoners.