NOTES FROM THE TIMES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1915, Page 5

NOTES FROM THE TIMES.

ASSISTANCE FOR BULGARIA. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Nov. 30. The' Times' Bucharest correspondent reports that the Bulgars' heavy casualties are largely due to the frequency of bayonet charges, for which there is a strong predilection. Many officers of high rank have fallen, including the famous insurgent chief Tcherngpleff. The campaign was designed and carried out by General Bajadjefi', who lias won warm German encomiums. Berlin and Vienna have dispatched numerous sanitary missions, and liberal hospital trains, each with thirty cars, have arrived. Magnificent subscriptions have been sent to the Bulgarian Red Cross, and Germany has undertaken to pay Bulgaria's expenses in the campaign. The objects of the visit of 11. TontchelT, Minister of Finance, to Berlin and Vienna were, first, to obtain 230 million francs, and, second, the option of a loan of 500 million was also arranged, with the immediate payment of 250 million at Sofia.

It was agreed, apparently on instructions Germany, to waive the national claim to lvavalla and the Dobrudja, in order to secure the neutrality of Greece and Rouniania. It was suggested that Bulgaria should acquiesce in the transfer of Doiran and Ghcvgheli to Greece, and even Monastir, if King Constantino* joins the Centra] Powers.

M. Ratioslavolf said lie 'believed that it was agreed that the Government would be compelled to summon the Sobranje on December 27. SERBS FAIRLY INTACT. Received Dec. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 30. An authoritative statement is that the Serbians are not reduced to a scanty remnant. One section Is retreating in good order to the Albanian and Montenegrin frontiers, and the other in a south-westerly direction. Serbia has still available 250,000 first-class fighting- men, though she requires arms. It is positively known that the German losses are extremely heavy, and that her successes have been achieved at a terrible cost. The Serbs still retain their former 50/)00 Austrian prisoners.

BULGAR-TURKISH TENSION. The Times' special correspondent in Serbia reports that the Turco-Bulgar tension has increased. A popular agitation, which the German agents are endeavoring to soothe, prevails in Bulgaria. SEPARATE PEACE TALKED OF. The Rome paper Tribuna, in a remarkable unconfirmed statement, sa,vs that Austria is attempting to conclude n separate peace.

CABINET CHANGES. The Paris press states that important changes have been decided upon in the Austrian Cabinet. Le Petit Journal has a report from Bucharest that M. Bratiano is ill, and because he has failed to strengthen the Caibinet the situation is more and more strained. Some assert that a compact with Russia is definite. The AustroGermans are massing war materials on the frontier, and the Russian effort will need to be great. ARTIFICIAL FOOD. The Amsterdam press says that the General Staff has authorised the sale of chemical foods in large quantities to the troops, and companies advertise artificial butter and omelettes, chemical honey, and eggs. A Charlottenburg engineer has invented a powder, which is sold in packages, containing the food value of two eggs.