THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

ON THE BULGARIAN COAST-

RENEWED BOMBARDMENTS. Rome, Oct. 2S. The Russians have renewed the bombardment of Varna and Burgas. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Oct. 28.

Sofia reports that 2"> women and children were killed during the bombardment of Dedeagateh. Tin? greater part of the town was destroyed.

AT SALONIKA,

THE BRITISH COMMANDER. London, Oct. 28. Official.—Major-Gcneral Sir Bryan Mahon is commander of the British Serbian expedition. (General Mahon is 53 years of a»e. He saw service in the various Egyptian campaigns, and led the Mafeking Relief Column 4 (1900). He has commanded the Stli (Lucknow) Division in India since 1009).

BOMBARDMENT OF VARNA,

RUSSIAN FLEET'S SUCCESSFUL EFFORT. Received Oct. 29, 11.5 p.m. Petrograd, Oct. 29.

A fierce bombardment damaged the batteries and harbor works at Varna. Hydroplanes also dropped bombs in the harbor.

German submarines attacked our ships, but were driven off, and the fleet returned to Sebastopol undamaged.

IN NORTHERN SERBIA. DEFENDERS COMPELLED TO RETIRE. Received Oct. 29, 11.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. 29. A Serbian communique states that the Serbians on the right bank of the Morava were compelled to retire southward. They have also retired to the Tresibaba heights, twentv miles north-east of Nish.

Fighting continues on the Zaietchar front. The Serbians in the direction of Kouotchoul attacked and retook the mouth of the Kouotchol Pass.

FRENCH PROGRESSING,

THE POSITION AT USKUB. Received Oct. 29, S.oO p.m. London, Oct. 29. The report that the Allies have reoccupied Uskub is unconfirmed. If it ! s true, it is still possible to forward supplies for the northern Serbian army to the Mitrovitza railhead, and thence bv road.

A Salonika telegram states that the French have occupied the new Krivolak-Radovitza-Struranitza line and are advancing to tstib.

THE COMMANDERS IN MACEDONIA. TO CO-OPERATE. Received Oct. 29, 8.50 p.m. London, Oct. 20. General JJahon, who commands the British forces in Serbia, has orders to co-operate with General Sara.il. General MaJion i 9 Sir E. Carson's cousin, and has been in command of the 10th Irish Division of the new army.

WHERE ROUMANIA STANDS

THE CYPRUS OFFER. Received Oct. 29, 6.5 pjn. Rome. Oct. 28. 11 dia Nazionale declares that when the Bulgarian agreement with Germany was concluded on August 14 Roumani.i also entered iuto an agreement with Germany. A crisis or all Entente triumph only means the breaking of the existing understanding. Britain's oiler of Cyprus caused an unpleasant impression in Roumania, being regarded as an Entente confession of weakness.

GERMANS REPORT PROGRESS. Received Oct. 29, 8.50 p.m. London Oct. 2i). A Berlin official message states that 'Generals von Gallwitz and Roevess continue to progress in north Serbia. The Bulgarians crossed the Timok on a large front and captured Gazajecar and Kniashevatz.

MASSACRES AT VRANYA. TURKS TO DEFEND THE CREST. TURKS TO DEFEND THE COAST. Received Oct. 30, 12.40 a.m. London, Oct. 20. Bulgarian newspapers admit that most of the inhabitants of Vranya were massacred, on the ground of firing from windows and white flag treachery. Telegrams from Petrograd state that tlijree Turkish divisions in the Caucasus have teen transferred to Bulgaria to defend the coast.

PIROT OCCUPIED,

ANOTHER SERBIAN REVERSE. Received Oct. 30, 12.40 a.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 29. Sofia advices state that the Bulgarians captured Pirot after a long anil sanguinary fight. (Pirot is a town ot 12,000 inhabitants, 30 miles south-east of Nish. The Bulgarians defeated the Serbians in the same vicinity in the campaign of 1885!)

NEUTRALITY OF GREECE. A GERMAN INTIMATION. Amsterdam, Oct. 28. German newspapers state that Bulgaria has notified Greece that if the Bulgarians drive the Serbians into Greece, Greek neutrality will not be violated.

A GERMAN DISILLUSION,

NO HOPE OF KOUMANIA. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Oct. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 28. A telegram from Copenhagen asserts that the German press assumes that Roumania is joining the Allies. Tt has given up the idea of a reconstruction of the Bucharest Government in favor of Germany, and thinks that the Allies' influence is growing daily.