FERDINAND'S MANIFESTO

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 93, 18 October 1915, Page 7

FERDINAND'S MANIFESTO

"SERVIA HAS ATTACKED OUR TERRITORY" OUR CAUSE IS JUST AND SACRED (Received October 18, 9 a.m.) SOFIA, 16th October. King Ferdinand, in his manifesto, says : "I and my Government have striven through neutrality to realise the nation's ideals. Both groups of the belligerent great Powers^recognise that a great injustice has been done us by the division of Macedonia, and both are agreed that the bulk ought to belong to Bulgaria: Our treacherous neighbour, Servia, alone remained inflexible. "In face of the advice of her friends, the Allies, Servia, in her animosity and cupidity, has attacked our territory and forced our brave troops to fight in the defence of their own soil. "In 1912 our dear national ideals alone compelled me to call my valiant army to a struggle in which we unfurled the banners of liberty and broke the chains of servitude. Our Servian Allies were the principal cause of -our losing Macedonia. "Exhausted and fatigued, but not conquered, we were compelled to fold up our banners and await better days. They have arrived much quicker than could have been expected. The European war is nearing a close, the Central Empires' victorious armies are in Servia, and advancing rapidly. "I call the Bulgarian nation and army to the defence of the country, which has been sullied by a felonious neighbour, and to the deliverance of our en- ' slaved brethren from the Servian yoke. Our cause is just and sacred. I therefore command my valiant army to drive the enemy from the limits of our kingdom. Let our felon neighbour be crushed."