The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1918. A NEW PHASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1918. A NEW PHASE.

Apparently Germany lias awakened to the extent of the danger which an Allied occupation of Bulgaria would mean to the Central Powers. When King Ferdinand made his somewhat dramatic appeal for help against the onrush of the Allies, the Austro-Germans had the opportunity to promptly despatch a sufficient force to stiffen the Bulgarian resistance, but they turned a deaf ear to the request. Ferdinand, therefore, had no alternative but to surrender unconditionally. This morning's cables indicate that the Central Powers have repented of their action, and have sent strong forces to Sofia to put an end to the Malinoff regime, restore the morale of I the Bulgarian troops, and save the situation. It would seem that Germany did not realise that Ferdinand would take the course of placing his destiny in the hands of the Allies, but when the fact became known, the collapse of Bulgaria was received with consternation in Berlin, and a conference at German headquarters took place between the Kaiser, the Crown Prince, Hindenburg, Ludendorff and von Hintze, relative to Bulgaria's action. It was, probably, at that conference that the decision was arrived at to try and pull Bulgaria out of the fire—not for Bulgaria's sake, but because of the dread that the Allies would reach the Danube. This view is confirmed by a later cable which states that certain military circles anticipate a new campaign in the Balkans against the Austro-Ger-mans, and it is emphasised that the enemy is unlikely to allow Entente troops to reach the Danube without resistance, and that already there is some concentration at Nish. It can readily be conceived that the Allies, by reachin; the Danube, would not only b within easy striking distance o Hungary, but would be enable to free Roumania, and ream from the enemy the large resourct of oil and produce which he hi seized there, besides being in a p sition to bring pressure to bear < the disorderly element in Kuss: It is quite clear that Germa: never credited the Allies with t ability to make such a rapid, v torious advance in Bulgaria. Or more she has underestimated 1 power of Britain and her alii and is now faced with a mena that she considered was an i possibility. Such mistakes these cost, very dear, and the n< situation that has arisen will pro a problem that the Austro-G< mans can only solve at the expen of the operations on the westei front._ How intensely grave tl situation is can be in some mea are estimated by the desperate e forts_ of the Kaiser and the Ge man-inspired press to stir up tl patriotism of the people. At la the Teutonic authorities are coi pelled to lift the veil that for long has hidden the truth. Pro ably the Kaiser has not the dre of revolution that obsessed Kii Ferdinand, and drove away 1 ; sleep, but that he is becoming pa icky seems more than probab Desperate men will adopt despi ate measures, even though the tii has passed when those measui might be of service. It will most interesting to note the dev opments of this latest Austro-G man move, especially as regai the attempt to counteract the B garian surrender. Military circ draw attention to the fact tIS the Entente forces have been wifl ly scattered in the Bulgarian offH sive, in order to deal with the S treat of the enemy, and they H sert that it will be necessary H concentrate and re-group JH forces, so as to be able to cope wH the new phase that has opened H At first sight it would seem! tlfl the Central Powers were too hfl in pouring in their reinforeemeiH but whether that is so or not tiHj will prove. It would be fatujH to suppose that Bulgarian policW now anything but greedy and idH cenary. All through the war H has been seeking to grasp matfH al benefits, but when her prop she could not stand alSie and surrendered. The probability is that, like all cowards, she would stab the Allies in the back if she had a safe chance, and could rely on Austro-Germany for protection. The Allies will take no chances; they know. Bulgarian treachery and greed, for she even tried to rob her friend Turkey. The question of the moment is what strength can the Central Powers spare at this crisis in their history for preventing the Allies from reaching the Danube and developing other offensives. A' glance at the operations on the west front suffices to show that Germany has no military forces to spare. Austria may be able to supply an appreciable force by jeopardising her campaign on the Italian front. The more closely the situation is ex 7 amined the greater appears to be the certainty that the ensuing month or so will see great changes in the war outlook. The Allies are wound up to concert pitch, and if Marshal Foch decides to push j ahead with the Balkans offensive

we may be confident of the resnlt. It would mean a curtailment of the period of the struggle, besides adding to the account which our enemies must be called upon to discharge. No reliance is to be placed on the Bulgarians—a treacherous, double-dealing, avaricious nation whose place on the map ought soon to be difficult to discover.