THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

BULGARIANS DOWN. SALONIKA .VOW IMPREGNABLE. London, Dec. 16. A British officer describes the slaughter inflicted on the Bulgarians as indescribable. The Bulgarians had evidently been forced to adopt German tactics. They attacKcd in seven dense waves over a "200 metre front. Tiie Allies on the first day lacked artillery, but on the second day tliey brought up a number of French 75mm. guns, and the Bulgarians were mowed down in wave after wave. Since then the Bulgarians have not attacked in close formation. During the first week the Allies retreated 22 kilometres (14 miles), carrying off all food and war material. Salonika is now transformed iflto an impregnable fortress under the protect'jn of the fleet. A SECOND CALAIS. GERMANY WILL NOT ALLOW IT. • Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Dec. 16. The Neue Frei Presse states that the Central Powers cannot suffer the Entente to create a second Calais at Salonika. The war must logically extend to Greek territory, and if Greece is too Weak to defend herself she will find true friends in the Central Powers. The Germans are concentrating at Ghevgeli. It is estimated that the Bulgarian casualties are 120,000. | WILL HOLD SALONfrvn. CIVILIAN POPULACE FLEEING. Received Dec. 17, 9.50 p.m. London, Dec .17. The Daily Chronicle's Salonika correspondent reports that there will not be any further retirement, and that we will not leave Salonika until peace is signed. Vessels are crowded with fleeing refugees, and the- British Consul has advised civilians and women and children to leave. ANOTHER SCRAP OF PAPER. BULGARS WILL INVADE GREECE. Received Dee. 17, 8.30 p.m. London, Dec. 10. Mr. Donohoe, from Athens, says it is reported that the Bulgarian Minister has declared that the Bulgarians will not respect Greek neutrality, neither now nor in future, and will cross the frontier. Bulgaria is raising a new army, estimated at 150,000 men.

ITEMS OF INTEREST. BULGARS NOT IN ALBANIA. Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m. Berne, Dec, 10. Austro-German corps continue to arrive at Constantinople, but in small numbers. Athens, Dec. 16. Eighteen thousand Austrian prisoners have arrived in Albania. Bulgaria has promised to cede Doiran and Ghevgeli to Greece. Salonika, Dec. 18. The Bulgarians furiously bombarded and finally charged with the bayonet the positions the Allies abandoned, after leaving dummy figures and dummy guns. There are three Serbian armies of 150,000 men between Scutari, Durazzo, and El Basson, and another 50,000 in southern Albania. The Bulgarians have not crossed the Albanian frontier, but have even retired for a distance of 3ome kilometres.

A NEUTRAL ZONE. BULGARIANS ON GREEK FRONTIER, Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. Ifi. A semi-official Sofia report states that at the Bulgarians' instance a neutral zone has been established on the Greek frontier, the Bulgarian and Greek troops withdrawing two kilometres from the frontier line. An official statement from Sofia, relating to operations on the 14th, says: We reached the frontier after provisionally relinquishing the pursuit of the enemy. We captured 1-234 men, fourteen guns, and sixty-two caissons. TURKS AND BULGARS DISAGREE,

Received Dec. 17, 5.5 p.m. Berne, Dec. 18. Advices from Bucharest state that there was fighting between Turkish and Bulgarian regiments at Istib on December 12, many being killed and wounded. ALLIED RETREAT CONTINUES. 'Paris, Dec. 16. The allied retreat from Krivolak and Gradetz is continuing. Rearguard actions were delivered north of Ghevgeli on the western bank of the Vardar and south of Bogdantzi. The Allies are now grouped in the Doiran-Killinger region, east of the Vardar.