BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1918, Page 5

BALKANS.

AUSTRO-GERMANS AT SOFIA. LARGE .FORCES ARRIVE >' TO RE-ESTABLISH MORALE OP BULC-AR ARMY Amstot.him, Oct. 1Advices from Vienna state that Austrian troops have arrived at Sofia. — Renter. '' Received Oct. 2, 5.40 p.m. Paris. Oct. 1. Vienna messages state that large forces of Austro-German troops from Roumania have already arrived at Sofia, and 'hope to overthrow the Malinoff regime, re-establish the morale of the Bulgarian army and resist General d'Espcrey's advance. Reuter understands that according to reliable news 'received in London, Bulgaria, during the armistice discussions, indicated that she was not averse to attacking Turkey—Reuter. A NEW CAMPAIGN. AGAINST AUSTRO-GERMANS. Received Oct. 2, %.30 p.m. Lpndon, Oct. 1. Certain military circles anticipate a new campaign in the Balkans against the Austro-Germanß. They point out that the Entente forces are widely scattered in order to deal with the Bulgarian retreat, and must be concentrated and re-grouped before they meet the new enemy, which, before Bulgaria's capitulation, was estimated at 150,000, including the army of occupation. The enemy is unlikely to allow the Entente troops to reach the Danube without resistance. Already there are some concentrating at Nish.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assoe. RISINGS IN MONTENEGRO. RIOTING AT CONSTANTINOPLE. Received Oct. 2, 5.40 p.m. London, Oct. 1. News has been received in London of serious risings in Montenegro, in the rear of the Austrian armies in Albania and Montenegro. Thjere has also ibeen rioting at Constantinople.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. DETAILS OF THE ADVANCE. VIGOROUS 'PURSUIT OP ENEMY. . London, Oct. 1. A French Eastern communique states: The Allies continue t£ pursue the enemy rearguards towards Kicevo, advanced north of Oehrida, and reached the Elbassan Road, west of Lake Dohida. The French cavalry entered Uskub- The Serbians, supported by the FrancoGreeks, continued to advance on Kumanovo, Egripalanka, and Ojugia, eastwards. The Anglo-Greek divisions advanced in the direction of Penoheve and Petrie. Reviewing the fortnight's operations, the communique points out that the armistice was signed at Salonika at 11 p.m on September 30, and the offensive began on September 15 with only two French and one Serbian division against the mountain barrier from Vetrenik to Sokol. Through this breach, which was gradually enlarged, the Serbian armies, supported by Franco-Greek detachments, poured unceasingly, despite the exceptional difficulties of the ground and the desperate "resistance, towards the principal objectives in the region of Kavada and Bmirkapu, which were reached on September 22, cutting simultaneously the line of communications of the IstBulgarian Army, operating on the Vardar, and the 2nd German-Bulgarian Army, north of Monastir. In this operation all the Allied forces rivalled each other in endurance, ijurage, and nef-onci'ifice. tte Anglo-Greek divisions, after a ftfanoTate struggle, carried, on September JB, the positions at Doiran, holding up big enemy forces here from September 21 onwards. The Italian, Greek, and French Monastir Army participated in thp operations. On September 22 the general pursuit began, and was carried out with the utmost ardor and splendid vjgor. On the 23rd the Serbians crossed the Vardar near TCrivolak. On the 24th the French cavalry entered Prilep. On the 25th Tshtip was carried, and likewise the Belashitza Mountains. The English forced the road to Strumrytza, entering the town on the 26th, when the Serbians reached Konhana and Velea, and the Franco-Italians marched on Kiehevo. On the evening of the 26th the Bulgarians asked for an armi/itice, and announced the despatch of plenipotentiaries. Tn the course of these operations, whu-h the hasty despatch of German reinforcements was unable to hamper, the Allies captured a large number of prisoners and immense booty. Allied aviators took an active and successful part in the fighting, inform-, ing the Staff of the movements of the enemy, bombing and machine-gunning enemy troops and convoys,, and causing confusion and preventing the enemy from escaping from our clutches.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter, ANTI-GERMAN MOVEMENT IN ROUMANIA. Paris', Oct. 1. German reports state that the antiGerman movement in Moldavia has extended to Wallachia. The King of Roumania is outwardly reserved, but is waiting a favorable moment to head the movement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. t AUSTRIANS IN RETREATLondon, Oct. 1. An Austrian communique spates: Owing to the situation on the Bulgarian front, we evacuated, after local engagements, a strip of territory immediately west of Lake Ochridi—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoe, and Router.

| TURKISH PEACE PLEA. EXPECTED. I ■ ADVANCE ON CONSTANTINOPLE PROVABLE. Received Oct. 3, 12.30 a.m. New York, Oct. 1. The New York Timcs'a Washington correspondent says: A peace plea from Turkey is expected, as well as the restoration of Roumania through the occupation of Servia by the Allies. President Wilson and Mr. Lansing are kept in the closest touch with the situation, but they considered it unnecessary that the United (States should comment at the present time, as the United States ' had not declared war on Bulgaria. Balkan diplomats doubt the correctness of the intimation that the Allies will employ the Bulgarian Army against Turkey, they pointing out that Ferdinand's army is weak and demoralised. American and other military authorities point out that the Allies will have the immediate use of the Bulgarian railway facilities and ports, which will enable them to reach Adrianople, and approach the famous Itschataldja line. The early fall of Constantinople is a foregone conclusion unless Turkey sues for peace.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES. AUSTRIAN'S RESISTING ... VIGOROUSLY. Received Oct. 3, 1.30 a.m. London, Oct. 2. A French Eastern communique states: During September 30 the Allied armies continued to advance until noon, when, according to the armistice, hostilities were suspended. The Servians occupied Gradishte and the Plavitse heights, between Uskub and the Bulgarian frontier. The Allies entered Kicevo and captured Struga, in the region of the Lakes. Austrian troops west of Lake Ochrida are still resisting vigorously.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. ROUMANIANS ELATED. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. Received Oct. 3, 1.45 a.m. London, Oct. 1. Roumanian quarters are elated at the opportunity of liberating their country from German tyranny. Most interesting developments are expected. The Allied command is now occupying the necessary points of strategic import-, ance, as the armistice provided. The DobTudja province and the Constanza railway are receiving special attention. Northwards of Constanza the railway in the Dobrudja is under the condominium of Austro-Germans, Bulgars and Turks, but the territory south of the railway was ceded to Bulgaria by the Bucharest treaty, which the Allies do not recognise. —Reuter.