BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1916, Page 5

BALKANS.

GREECE INVADED. BY BULGAR TROOPS. Athens, May 28. A thousand Bulgarians invaded Greect and occupied Demir Hissar. The Greek; retired. j | A LIVELY RESISTANCE. VVHV THE GREEK FORCES RETIRED Salonika, May 28. Twenty-five thousand Bulgarians crossed the frontier and occupied Rupe] pass and demanded the surrender of tin Greek fort and earthworks at the entrance of Struma 'gorge, near Demir Hissar, giving the garrison two hours tc retire. The Greek outposts made 8 lively resistance, but the forces finallj withdrew upon instructions from Athens The Bulgarians then occupied- the station and the bridgo of iJoniir Hissar, There is considerable enemy activity on the banks of the Meske, near Xanthia where pontoons are collecting. Everything points to an important movement of Greeks in Macedonia. Athens, May 28. The Premier and the War Office had an important conference and decided upon their course of action. They informed the Allies they were justified in the evacuation of Rupel, owing to the German and Bulgarian threat to occupy the place forcibly. A DETERMINED ENTRY. OTHER FORTS OCCUPIED. INVASION DENOUNCED. Received May 29, 8,45 p.m. Athens, May 28. The Bulgars crossed the frontier at three o'clock in the morning. The German and Bulgar superioi officers informed the Greek commander that they were obliged to seize Rupel fort in order to assure the Bulgarian left flank against an Allies' attack. They added that they would occupy all the forts in the Demir Hissar region which the Greeks recently constructed to protect the sector against a Bulgar invasion. Other forces of Bulgars have occupied Dervendu defile and invaded the plain west of the Struma, and are now marching on to Cavalla. Venizelist newspapers, in the strongest articles, are denouncing the invasion. ■Later reports state that the Bulgars have occupied four more forts, including fort Cragotine, and have also reached the Spatovo. There are considerable movements of Bulgars in the Oxilar sector. Engineers are bridging the Nestos. It is semi-officially stated that the Government has under consideration the concessions made to the Entente Allies, and desire the observance of strict neutrality. MORE GREEK WEAKNESS. The Government has consented to the occupation of the fortress of Rupel, adding that the Germans and Bulgars have signed an agreement to restore the fortress and guns and material when there is no longer any reason to justify its occupation. The Government is shortly issuing a communique, pointing out that no other course was possible, since the Germans threatened force and hostilities would inevitably have followed. It was analogous to the facilities already accorded to the Entente, and it would be incompatible with Greek neutrality to make a distinction -between the belligerents. GERMAN STRATEGY. Salonika reports that Rupel Pass is practically the key to the series. DemirHissar plain constitutes the neck of the bottle to Struma valley, and is also the most direct route to Sofia, i The commander of the Kula position, unable to bear the mortification of seeing the Bulgars invade Greece, disobeyed his local general's orders and opened fire on the Bulgarians, who returned the fire, tout did not advance. When categorical orders from Athens were received the Greeks evacuated Kula. Only a German division remains on the Salonika front, but the Bulgarians have -been stiffened by a proportion of German officers and non-coms. IN MACEDONIA. MUCH INDIGNATION AROUSES. Received May 20, 11.30 p.m. Athens, May 20. The Greek population in Macedonia are indignant at the Bulgar invasion, and adherents of the Government are joining the Venizelists in denouncing the policy of opening Macedonian nations -to their hereditary and implacable enemies. Venizelist newspapers are appearing with -black borders, and the Kyrix, a Venizelist journal, asks: "Why 'is the Greek army mobilised?"