OFFENSIVE IN THE BALKANS.

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13654, 23 August 1916, Page 3

OFFENSIVE IN THE BALKANS.

; I PRESS OPINIONS IN ATHENS. . FOE AND AGAINST THE ENTENTE. DESIRE TO' INFLUENCE . ELECTIONS. t ( .(''The Times" Service.) ' Received August 22, 5.40 p.m. ATHI2NS, August 21. 1 The Gmuiarist journals' barely eon- ' ccal their satisfaction in (lie Bulyo-Uor- 1 man offensive. Tlioy jt'.iblisli an impii- 1 ileiit interview with the Bulgarian Min- • istcr regarding Bulgaria's intentions. The Vcnezlisf newspapers violently attack tlic ft reek General Staff, accusing tliciii.'.of collaboration with the Bulgo-Germans in-order to affect the elections. All well-informed critics show undiminished : conlidence in the Allies' Balkan plan of campaign. ENEMY'S FORCES. . ■NEARLY SEYE.V HUNDRED THOUSAND.'' WEi/fi-EQI-'j PPED. FORCES. }"■ yrr -" l '- , ("The Times" Hurvici 1 .) Received August 22, 0.15 p.m. PARIS, August 22. If is estimated that (lie Bulgarians, Austro-Gerniaus, and Turks in Macedonia total between (300,0(10 and 700,00(1 nion, who have bencliicd by German training and are well equipped with artillery, IN GREEK TERRITORY. REPORTED.CONFLICT WITH TORTS. BULGABS NEARING KAVALLA. ('.'IV Times" ■ Survii-p.) Received August 22. il.Ll ji.m. ■ . ATHENS, August 22. Jl is reported that the Greek commander of the forts at Tlicapelra, Skulh, and Jnpel refused to surrender the forts and a cunllict ensued. No details arc available. .Advices from Salonika stale that the Bulgar invaders are two miles from Kavalla. The population is taking refuge on Thasios Island. POLITICAL OR STRATEGICAL! DESIGNED TO IMPRESS GREECE. (Australian ami N.Z. Cable, Association.) Received August 22, (1,1,1 p,ui, LONDON, August 22. The Athens correspondent of The Morning Post says: It is impossible to state whether the Bulgarian offensive should be taken seriously, II is generally conceded that it is political rather 'han strategical in'its object, and designed lo impress the electorate of the danger of siding willi the Entente. ANOTHER SENSATIONAL STORY. Y GERMANY AND RUMANIA, I REPORTED ULTIMATUM. ("Tlic Times" Service,) Received August 22, tt.l.j p.m. LONDON, August 22, The German Wolf Agency-is circularising sensational telegrams in Switzerland announcing that Germany is preparing an ultimatum lo liiiinania, \ BULGARIAN SCHEME OF OFFENSIVE. ATTACKED AT Tll fMOl: I'OIXT!S. (Australian and N./,. Cable Association.) Received August 22, 5.:!5 p.m. ATHENS. August 22. It appars that the Bulgarians took Ihe offensive at three points, The force occupying Rupel advanced on DemirhisF.ir; ji.nother attacked Fiorina ami the nWrerossed the Nestos, advancing by the Saj'ichaban plains towards Kavalla. Jlcceived'Aiigii"! 22, B.'lo ji.ni, LONDON, August 22, A German coinniuniipic says: We gained the ridges south-east of Fiorina, .tout. of Daniel the Serbian positions litre stormed. BULGAR INVASION OF GREECE. PANICSTRICKEN" POPULATION. (Australian anil X./«. Cable Association.) ATIIKXS, August 21. The Tcuton-Uulgar advance into 0 reck. Mm- edonia. is unimportant inililarilv, 'though' grave from Ihe (Ireek viewpoint. The Government is reassuring Ihe panic-stricken population of the ■ invaded district.- ■ Tlie'l']iig|ish and French Ainbas.sailor.s have ..asked M. Zaimis (Premier of lireece') what measures the Governmentinteiids...l.ijkiiig regarding the population.. Y .

WILL RUMANIA INTERVENE.

' GERMAN ANXIETY. I REPORTED ARRANGEMENT WITH RUSSIA. (Australian and N.Z. Cnblc Association.) Received August 21!, at 1.0 a.ni. ' NMW YORK, August 22. Heir Wiegaml, Berlin correspondent J of the New York Times asserts that Rumania will not intervene. The Kreuz Zeitung says: Rumania is joining the Allies. Jt is believed that the Rumanian War Minister and ; the Russian Attache yesterday discussed plans for a Russian inarch through Rumania. If this is arranged, Germany will regard it as a casus belli. CAMPAIGN IN GRECIAN MACEDONIA. TEUTON-BULGAR DEMANDS. GREEK TROOPS R IST IRE FROM ' TIRE ZONE. (Australian ami X.Z. Gallic Association.) ATHENS, August 21. The Bulgarians have advanced within ten.miles of Kavalla (an important .Gre'cH seaport in the north-eastern '/Egcaii Sea.) L.Jjie Bulgariaii aud German ministers have handed to the Creek' Government"'' a written declaration guaranteeing the rights and liberties of the .population of the Grecian' territory occupied by the advancing troops, and promising that the territory will be restored after the war. The Greek Government lias ordered the Greek troops in Macedonia to retire beyond the lire zone as the Bulgarians advance. - ACTIVITY ON WHOLE FRONT. REPORT FROM FRENCH SOURCES. (Australian and O. Cable Association.) I'All IS, August 21. A French communique says: Ope rations are progressing along the whole of our Balkan .front. i BULGAR ACTIVITY EXPLAINED. PROMPTED BY.'FEAR OF DEVELOPMENTS. . ("The Times" Service.) LONDON, August 21. Mr J. P. Calvert, The Times special correspondent at Salonika, says: The battle of Moglio was a signal Serbiantriumph. Four hundred dead Bulgars were counted on the iield. The extensive Bulgarian movement* is attributed either to a despairing desire to galvanise flic soldiers' morale, which lias been depressed by inaction ami privation, or by a desire to stave off Rumanian intervention by air appearance of strength, which is plainly fictitious.' The occupation of Fiorina is not important,' as we hold the dominating heights. Signs of increasing activity among the Allies has aggravated Bulgarian-depression. They may be regarded as an army at bay. and in a state of unbearable suspense. THE TRAVAIL OF TURKEY. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF GERMAN GENERAL. (Australian mid N.Z. Cable Association.) CONSTANTINOPLE, August 20. An Ottoman tired to assassinate General Lillian von Sanders, the German dictator in' Turkey. The General was wounded. Peace demonstrations are ruthlessly suppressed. ' FIGHTING IN THE BALKANS. EFFICIENCY OF SISKBIAN TROOPS. BRITISH REPULSE BULGARS. j , (Australian anil X.Z. I'aWo ' Received Almost 22, H 1..") p.m. SALONIKA. August 22. The new Serbian artillery indicted severe losses on the Miilsrariaiis diiriii-,' the retirement from Fiorina. A squadron of Bulgarian cavalry which charged , a Serbian battery was completely destroyed by Ihe Serbian infantry escort. I The Anglo-French have sent columns east of Struma, where there have been many encounters with the . Bulgarians. Between Kavalla and Baraklynina, the Bulgarians attempted to recapture the new British positions on Horseshoe Hill mi" Saturday, and were easily repulsed. British seaplanes successfully bombarded a column of Bulgarians, east of , Kavalla. . - Thursday's battle on Moolena front ; was a signal triumph for the Serbians, . The Bulgarians lost a thousand out of r the six thousand troops engaged.