THE WAR IN THE BALKANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1913, Page 5

THE WAR IN THE BALKANS

SOFIA ISOLATED

[PICK PIKSS ASSOCIATION —COI’VKIGHT.]

SOFIA, July 18., The Roumanian army is the master of the entire right hank of the Danube. Sofia is almost isolated. The Roumanians cut tin*. Sofia-Varne railway line, seriously affecting the goods supplies. The city is only in telegraphic toucli through Bucharest.

Tlie Bulgarians, when the Roumanians reached Rustchuk, sunk three of their own small gunboats and two torpedo boats.

BULGARIA ANXIOUS FOR PEACE,

(Received this day at 12.20 p.m.)

LONDON. July 18

To-day there was surprise at King Ferdinand’s telegram appealing to the King of Roumania for peace, and expressing the desire to restore amity with Roumania and terminate the bloodshed caused by the war with Servia. and Greece.

King Charles, in reply, hinted that it was desirable that all the belligerents should arrange the preliminaries of peace. He also made it clear that the march of the army would not be stayed until Roumania secured unconditional cession of territory within the Turtukai-Dobritch line, and a deciding voice in the partition of the Balkans.

France has nitiated an international step intended to induce Bulgaria to appoint plenipotentiaries to discuss with Greece and Servia, the terms of peace.

Fi ■ance has advised Roumania not to ocupy Sofia, and urged Turkey to refrain from advancing beyond the Enos-Midia

It is understood that the Powers will not allow Turkey to retain Adrianople if it is retaken.

The Roumanian army is practically the dominating belligerent. It is suggested in some quarters that the Powers might entrust Rouniaiiia with the duty of exercising armed arbitration between the belligerents. The possibility of settling the Balkan problem by an international conference at Berlin in August is mooted by members of the Trinlicu. .