BALKAN TROUBLE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10140, 28 October 1925, Page 5

BALKAN TROUBLE

GREEKS BOMBARD PETRITGH. GREEKS ENTRENCHING. ■ (.United Press Assn.—Copyright.) ■ . SOFIA, Oct. 26. ■ Tt is stated semi-officially that.the Greeks bombarded Petritch and the' vil iage of Marikost.novo, wounding more civilians. The Greeks are entrenching their position.—Reuter.

SOFIA, Oct. 26. As a result of the Greek bombardment, twenty-six Bulgarian soldiers and twentp-four civilians, including five women were kiled or wounded, also seven sold ers are missing and believed killed.—Reuter.

territories to be ED.PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT SIGNED. ATHENS, Oct. 26. As tho result of - intervention cf Rumania, Greece and Bulgaria have agreed to sign a preliminary agreement for tlio evacuation of the respective territories they occupied following the frontier incident, thus facilitating the task of the League of Nations Council—A. and N.Z.C.A.

SOFIA, Oct. 26. A Royal decree has abolished the state of siege, which was declared on the occasion of tho attempted murder of King Boris and- the Cathedral explosion.—Reuter.

LEAGUE COUNCIL’S DECISION. ALL TROOPS ORDERED TO WITHDRAW. DRASTIC ACTION^PROMISED IF FIRING RESUMED. (Received Oct. 27 7.20 p.m.) PARIS, Oct. ,26. M. Briand presided over a specially convoked meeting of the Council of the League, at which Mr. Chamberlain represented Britain, to investigate tho Greeco-Bulgarian dispute. The chairman referred to tho conflicting reports, and in a statement said there were two distinct questions. One of urgency concerned the cessat'on of hostilities and the withdrawal of troops to the r own territories ; the other involved the ascertainment of facts fixing the responsibility and the reparation payable, which would take time. Replying to M. Br.'and, the Bugarian M l ister in P; ris said Bulgaria in no way had invaded Greece, while the Greeco Minister in Paris said Greeco would evacuate Bulgarian territory when the Bulgurs withdrew from Greece.

1 After hearing the Greek and Bulgar'an representatives, the Council announced it wrs satisfied that military operations had ceased, and requested both States to acquaint it within twenty-four hours that their Governments bad unconditionally ordered their troops to withdraw behind the national frontiers, and within sixty'hours to give assurances that all troops would be withdrawn, and all hostilities ceased, and that all troops be warned that on resumption of fir’r.g they would be severely punished. The Ooune'l requested France, Britain and Italy to direct their officers within reach to immediately proceed to the scene of conflict, and report when the troops are withdrawn and host'lities cersed, and in any case at the expirat'on of the aforesaid time limit Bulgaria and Greece be requested to facilitate in every way the carrying out of these officers’ mission.—Reuter.

LEAGUE COUNCIL VIEWS MATTER SERIOUSLY.

TIME LIMIT FROM TUESDAY NIGHT.

(Received Oct. 27. 8.50 p.m.) PARIS, Oct. 26

5 w Tlie League Council privately deliberated for an hour before announcing its Greek-Bulgiirian decision. This was embodied in a resolution drawn up by Mr. Chamberlain, the terms whereof were first privately communicated to. the disputants in view of their severity. The resolution emphasised the gravity of the action, and stated it would be intolerable and an a/front to civilisation for such incidents to lead to warlike operations instead of submission to. the Council. The League would always safeguard the horror and interests of nations whose differences it was called on to settle. • The time limits ran from to-night. The Council will meet again tomorrow.

Satisfaction is felt that the Council so speedily reached a unanimous decision.—rß enter.