THE BALKANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15822, 22 July 1913, Page 5

THE BALKANS

ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES.

ROUMANIAN SUCCESS. ' Press Association—By Telegraph—CopyiifrM. LONDON, July 20. The Allies are gradnally closing upon tho Bulgarians. A Roumanian flying column, which is within 40 miles of Sofia, encountered a brigade between Lompalanka and Sofia. After a brief fight the Bulgarians, with 12 guns, surrendered.

The Greeks are pushing through the Central Mountains towards the capital. They fired a village in retaliation for Bulgarian atrocities. The Servians at Uskub closed those Bulgarian churches wliich under Turkish rule enjoyed religious freedom. NO NEWS FROM SOFIA. FLIGHT OF SOVEREIGNS RUMOURED. SEEK REFUGE IN AUSTRIA. LONDON, July 20. What is happening at : Sofia is not known, but there are many rumours that King. Ferdinand and the Queen have fled to Austria. THE SERES OUTRAGES. 100 MUTILATED CORPSES. CHARGES CONFIRM^. LONDON, July 20. The King of Greece has telegraphed that the mutilated bodies of the four notables at Seres (the Metropolitan, a director of the gymnasium, a bank manager, and a doctor) have been found at Petrich. Most of the foreign war correspondents confirm the charges. They state that they saw 100 mutilated corpses of influential people at Demirhissar.

REEKING SHAMBLES.

WHOLESALE BUTCHERY,

A TERRIBLE STORY,

LONDON, July 21. • (Received July 21, at 10.35 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph's war correspondent says it is almost impossible to exaggerate the barbarity of the Bulgarians towards the inhabitants of Seres. The town, with its 50,000 inhabitants, and the countryside for miles around have been reeking shambles. In the past three months nearly 50,000 people have'been done to death, mostly Turks. On July 1 the Bulgarians openly boasted of; their plan to attack the Greeks the next day, and to reach Salonika in a few hours.

On July 4 the Bulgarian troops streamed through Seres from the battle of Lachana a hopelessly demoralised Tabble. Tho Greeks failed to' appear at Seres, and the Bulgarians returned on the 10th. Soon the whole town was in flames, and the streets were covered with mangled corpses. When the Bulgarians forced the Austrian Consul to leave his house 200 refugees, mostly women and children, ■were marched off towards the mountains, the oaptoTS threatening to massacre them. A professor who was among the captives challenged the Bulgarians with Austrian vengeance, and eventually the Bulgarians were prevailed upon to accept a ransom. DESPATCH OF BRITISH WARSHIPS. Arrival at the pirjeus. ATHENS, July 20. Three British cruisers have arrived at the Pirtens, and four destroyers are expected. A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. OFFER TO ROUMANIA. LONDON, July 21. (Received July 22, at 0.5 a.m.) The prospects of arriving at a settlement in the Balkans are now more hopeful. Roumania has suggested a conference between the five belligerents at Sindia, a proposal to which Austria, Russia, and the other Powers are agreeable. Bulgaria has utilised Italy as an intermediary to offer Roumania the cession of the Turtukai-Baltchik line on condition that Roumania withdraws her troops and preserves a neutrality in the , SeTboGrrecian conflict.

Roumania has refused to consider peace apart from a general peace in {he Balkans.

OFFER BY THE ALLIES.

DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS,

ATHENS, July 21. (Received July 22, at 0.5 a.m.) A .Turco-Grsecian agreement relating to prisoners and religious safeguards has been signed, and is ready for ratification. The Allies, in reply to Russia, agree to negotiate with Bulgaria direct, and to conclude an armistice provided that Bulgaria accepts tho preliminary conditions.

A DISTURBING FACTOR. BUCHAREST, July 21. (Received July 22, at 0.5 a.m.) Fears are entertained that M. Ghenadieff, who is a friend of M. Savoff, will declare for a war policy.