BULGARIA CRUSHED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 5

BULGARIA CRUSHED.

MAIN ARMY DEFEATED. DRIVEN FROM KRESNA FASS. BATTLE IN A FOG. (Br Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 28. In the great, battle between the Greeks and the Bulbars at Kresna Pass, the Greeks, after they had traversed 12 miles, found the Bulgarian artillery covering the mouth of the defile and preventing their development. BtTLGARS DISLODGED. Ihe Bulgarian right occupied a precipitous height at Roujen, fortified by four lines of entrenchments. Their line extended from Sementi to the heights of Porogosmahara, and was supported by a powerful artillery.

Marching in pouring rain and through a thick fog on Friday night, the Greeks on Saturday attacked the whole Bulgarian front, dislodging them from Roujen. The Greeks in the Ncvos Valley made a similar advance, everywhere with success. Three siege guns were captured, and the Bulgarians finally fled. KAVALA SAVED. The Bulgarians who retreated from Kavala, on the Aegean Sea, left a company with orders to burn and sack the town at daybreak. A Turkish boatman eluded the patrols at night, and with muffled oars rowed 18 miles to the Greek fleet. A destroyer was at once dispatched to Kavala. When a watchman, on a church tower, saw the destroyer in the harbour, he rang Mir bells and ran into the street shouting, "The Greek fleet has come." The Bulgarians at once fled. The populace gave an ovation to the Greek captain and the Turkish boatman. DEDEAGATCH CAPTURED. The Greek fleet has occupied Dedea gatch, on the Aegean. The Bulgarians, retreating from Dedcsijratch. destroyed the branch of the Ottoman Bank and a number of warehouses, and carried off 240 of the prominent people. General lmimiet telegraphs that the Bulgarians murdered 1200 Ottoman soldiers who were taken prisoners at Kizelyeridje. Russia has abandoned the idea of separate action against Turkey, and i= willing to make a naval demonstration. Roumania and the Powers apparently expect Bulgaria to expel the Turks herself KOTTaiANTA'S ADVARC3. IN TES SUEUEISS OF SOFIA. (Received 2 p.m.) BUCHAREST, July 28. The advance guard of the Roumanian army has halted in tlie eastern suburb* of Sofia.

It was reported last week thit Roumania had .agreed to halt forty miles from the Bulgarian capital, but, at the same time, the declared that ehe wouid forestall any attempt on the part of the Serbo-Greek alliance! to enter the capital of her neighbour, and peesibly the taking of Kresno Pa.=e ha* induced King Charles to enter Sofia forthwith. There is just a possibility now that Roumania may be defending Sofia against Bulgaria's former allies, i Roumania advanced a strong territorial claim when the Balkan League tumbled to pieces. She now demands the line Turtukai-Dcvbrich lialtehik. which will give her more than twice the area of the line SUifitria-Shablah Cape, aoee.pW at first, and it ie also a better military frontier. This line gives Roumania another port, Kavarna. Turtukaj is 35 miles higher up the Danube than Silietria, and in opposite the Roumanian town of OHinitza. The distance from Turtukai south-east to Baltchik is 75 miles. Considering the commanding position Rouraania now holds, the demand of King Charles ie moderate. A more serioue matter ie what Rouraania mny mean by the "'deciding voice' , which she claims in the partition of the territory conquered from Turkey. To use R.oamauia 03 the armed mandatory or Europe, as hae been suggested, may be convenient to the Powers, but the step ie dangerous, because, though the Rou-m-aniaji army is efficient, and can place over 6(10,000 men in the field, it is not likely if Servia and Greece, though not co numerous, would in their present mood accept the a.ward of Roumania if unbacked by the application of force by the Powers.