SUCCESSES EAST AND WEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16040, 5 October 1915, Page 7

SUCCESSES EAST AND WEST.

FORCING BULGARIA'S HAND. RUSSIA PRESENTS ULTIMATUM. ONE DAY TO BREAK WITH GERMANY Sir John French states that a definite stage in the great - ' battle has now been reached. He appraises the recent British victories very highly, and states that the French army further south has secured the Vimy ridge. The British captures of prisoners total over 3000. Further progress has been made in Artois, south %l Givenchy. German attacks at various parts of the allied line have been repulsed. Reports from Russia confirm the exhaustion of the enemy's offensive along the whole line. It is stated, that a real change has taken place, and that the cities of Petrograd, Moscow, and Kieff are now definitely safe. There are a million Austrian and German prisoners in Russia. iNinc thousand Hungarian soldiers surrendered to the Russians after being outflanked and losing heavily under artillery fire. The Russian Minister at Sofia has been ordered to leave unless Bulgaria, within 24 hours, breaks with the Germans, and dismisses the Austrian and German officers now in Bulgaria. It is stated that the other allied Powers have prepared similar ultimatums. Germany is believed to have fixed the last fortnight of October for the entry of Bulgaria into the war, and Russia has chosen to hasten the decision. The Bulgarian mobilisation is complete, and 350,000 men, with artillery, are said to have been sent to the Servian frontier. Various reports indicate the unpopularity of the mobilisation.' In one town recruits came into conflict with the authorities, and there was loss of life. Sofia newspapers state that Germany and Austria have threatened to attack ROumania if she attempts to mobilise her army. The United States has received another Note from Germany concerning the sinking of the Arabic. This fails to meet the request that Germany should disavow the act. It is understood that the final refusal of Germany to meet the wishes of the United States is likely to cause a rupture of relations.