THE BALKANS

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 29

THE BALKANS

ALLEGED BULGARIAN OUTRAGES. KING FERDINAND'S DENIAL. MASSACRE AT DONATO. TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER. ADVANCE OF ROUMANIANS. SOFIA ALMOST ISOLATED. CHARGE AGAINST GREEKS. ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES. ROUMANIAN SUCCESS. SOFIA, July 14. The Mir publishes an order, said to have been captured from the Servians, signed by King Peter and dated June 29,1 instructing the troops to carry the flag through the Bulgarian ranks. It also alludes to the Graeco-Montenegrin co-opera-tion. July 15. It is eemi-officially stated that a number of Greek Irregulars landed at Left era and occupied the town of Pravie, massacring nearly the whole of the Bulgarian and Mussulman population. Those who escaped arrived at Drama. Fifteen thousand fugitives have reached Gcrnadjumaya and 50,000 are en route. They are foodless. It is authoritatively stated that Bulgaria has recalled her armies from Servian territory, thus emphasising her sincerity in giving Russia full powers. The Government blames the- Greek irregulars for the firing at Seres. They assert that while the Bulgarian troops were endeavouring to extinguish the flames the irregulars massacred 200 of the Bulgarian population, including women, children, old men, the wounded and sick soldiers, and the civil officials. July 16. The Daneff Ministry has now resigned on the ground that Roumania has exceeded the agreed-upon line from Turtukae to Baltchik. and claims large tracts on the left bank of the Varda in favour of Greece and Servia with the whole of western Macedonia. It is reported that the notorious Bulgarian bandit Komatidji Sandansky was killed, with 17 followers, in an encounter with the Servians. The Turks have advanced 30 kilometres beyond the Enos-Midia boundary line in the Bunarhissar district unopposed. It is officially reported that they have occupied Lule Burgas station and Bnnarhissar, and are marching on Kirk Kilisse and Nzumkupru. July 17. There are indications that many of the foremost politicians had calculated on the exhaustion of Austria’s patience towards Servia’s growing claims, and also that Russia would intervene. The Roumanian army is master of the entire right bank of the Danube. Sofia is almost isolated. The Roumanians cut the Sofia-Varna railway line, seriously affecting the goods supplies. Sofia is only in telegraphic touch through Bucharest. When the Roumanians reached Rustchnk the Bulgarians sank three of their own small gunboats and two torpedo boats. July 18. Th Bulgarian general reports that the Greeks shelled the Red Gross flag at Bunarhissar, killing the attendants and patients in the hospital. July 19. M. Rjidioslavoff, the Liberal leader, has formed a Cabinet. M. Ghenadieff is the Foreign Minister. BELGRADE. July 15. Servia is willing to sign preliminaries of peace, and only awaits the arrival of the Bulgarian plenipotentiaries. duly 17. M. Basics and M. Venezelos met at Uskub and agreed on all points regarding the conditions of the armistice. The Servians routed the Bulgarians at Joutikamik, near Kustendil, inflicting enormous losses. July 19. The main Bulgarian army is concentrated and is entrenching between Kustendil and Dubritza along a front extending 25 miles. The Servians are preparing for a fresh advance. SALONIKA, July 14. A Greek war correspondent states that the Bulgarians pillaged and burned Seres, including the American, Austrian, and German warehouses. The American Tobacco Company’s loss is estimated at a million dollars. The Austrian Consulate was plundered and the Consul imprisoned, but subsequently ransomed. The Italian Consul saved his house by paying a ransom. July 15. After five hours’ fighting the Greeks occupied Drama. The Greek Premier (M. Venizelos} lias gone to Nish to confer with the Servian Premier (M. Basics) regarding the SerboGreek terms of peace. July 18. A complete military understanding exists between Roumania, Servia, and Greece, who refuse an armistice, and insist on a definite peace, signed when the three armies are concentrated at Sofia.

BUCHAREST, July 17. King Charles has joined the army headrpiarters. July 19. The Queen of Bulgaria has appealed to the Queen of Roumania to stop the Roumanian advance. The Queen of Roumania has replied that the advance will continue, but with consideration. King Charles of Roumania has replied to King Ferdinand, stating that Roumanian condition is known to the whole of Europe. July 21. Fears are entertained that M. Ghenadieff, who is a friend of M. Savoff, will declare for a war policy. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 15. The Turkish troops will not advance beyond the Enos-Midia line. The retreating Bulgarians burned all the villages through which they passed. July 17. The Porte ignores tire Powers’ counsels of moderation, believing that Europe is unable effectively to intervene. Preparations for a new campaign arc energetically progressing. July 19. The Turks have occupied Rodosto. They killed 25 disreputables who acted as Bulgarian spies. The Turkish cavalry have arrived before Adrianople. ATHENS, July 16. Owing to the Bulgarians’ unscrupulous conduct throughout the present struggle the Greek and Servian Governments have resolved to inform Russia of their willingness to crease hostilities after the signature of a peace treaty on the battlefield. The following conditions have been based as definite for a peace treaty :—Bulgaria to abandon all claims to the territories occupied by the Allies, pay the costs of the new war, furnish guarantees for the life and property of the Greeks in Thrace, especially their religious and educational freedom, and undertake demobilisation within a fixed period. The Bulgarians set fire to the Greek town of Doxato and massacred 600 inhabitants, mostly women and children. The Bulgarians have abandoned the defiles at Kresna and are retreating towards Duhnitza, whither the Greeks and Servians are pursuing them. It is officially stated that only 120 out of 3000 people at Doxato survived the Bulgarian massacre. An American who escaped from Seres on foot to Salonika along with several thousand people describes his flight as a picture of Hell, 'there were the groans of the women and the cries of the children. When the weaker dropped they were lifted up and helped by friends. In the background there were the cracking of rifles and the exploding of shells. A canopy of smoke enveloped the whole countryside. July 17. It is scmi-officially stated that of the victims of the Bunarhissar massacres 80 were bayoneted to death. Twenty-four saved their lives by feigning death The Austrian and Italian consuls at Salonika proceeded to Seres to verify the reports of the massacres received at headquarters by King Constantine. They subsequently declared that they found the catastrophe even greater than they had believed. The Greeks have occupied Nevrokop. July 20. Three British cruisers have arrived at the Piraeus, and four destroyers are expected. July 21. A Turco-Grrecian 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 the preliminary conditions. VIENNA, July 15. A great battle is raging outside Kustendil. 'the Bulgarians are offering an heroic resistance, and there is terrible slaughter on both sides. July 18. Preparations for the defence of Sofia arc proceeding energetically. Large forces are concentrated round the capital. Bulgaria relies on the friendly aid of the Triple Alliance to settle the Roumanian difficulty. Diplomatic circles in Sofia anticipate the intervention of the Great Powers and a speedy armistice. ST. PETERSBURG, July 17. Russia has warned Servia and Greece that if their claims are excessive her mediation will he withdrawn, and that persistence in regard to such claims is likely to provoke the intervention of the Powers, which can no more than Russia allow Bulgaria to he completely crushed. LONDON, July 14. King Ferdinand has telegraphed to the Evening News denying absolutely i there have been outrages committed on Greeks and Servians. He declares tha. stories of outrages are circulated to create a had impression on the population <■ Thrace. All peoples have enjoyed, without respect to nationality, complete liberty. He admits that a number of isolated arrests of anti-Bulgarian spies and propagandists wore made; bur, on the other hand, lie declares that the Bulgarians wore subjected to systematic persecution at the hands of the Greeks, while the Salonika prisons are now full of innocent persons. Many were transported to the .Litrean Islands before the outbreak of

hostilities. Servia has ’ been guilty of similar cruelties. In reply to a question in the House of Commons the Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr Acland) said that the Government was unable to investigate the alleged atrocities, as it had not received Bulgaria's offer of an international inquiry. The Greek Government has notified the Powers that the Bulgarians carried off 27 notables from Kavalla, and that their fate is unknown. _ They include Bishop Athanasius, the dragoman (interpreter) at the French and Greek consulates, the manager of the Bank of Athens, and 18 merchants. The Note adds that if these persons have been killed Greece will make reprisals. July 15. Reuter reports that Russia does not desire to settle the Balkan difficulty singlehanded. She considers that all the Powers should determine the best method of securing a cessation of hostilities. Replying to Mr Mason’s suggestion that the Great Powers should impose an armistice in the Balkans Sir E. Grey remarked that, in view of the passions which accompanied the struggle, and the appalling risks., incurred by the combatants, the mere words of outside Powers were not likely to affect the situation. Bulgaria had appealed to Russia to secure a cessation of hostilities, and Servia and Greece had agreed upon conditions under w hich they insist that Bulgaria must first accept before there can be a cessation. It was vitally important that the Powers should continue to mutually consult. He had every reason to believe that matters would be brought to a satisfactqy termination. The tone of the Stock Exchange is more cheerful as a result of the receipt of more assuring news in regard to the Balkans. July 17. Reuter's Sofia correspondent states that the Roumanians are near Rustchuk and Varna, and the occupation of Vratza is imminent. The population is fleeing before the invaders. Many people fear that the Roumanians will occupy Sofia The Bulgarian Government, at Russia’s instance, has agreed that the Servian frontier shall pass eastward of Vardar, leaving Ishtib to Servia. The Greek boundary includes Seres. In view of Turkey’s apparent determination to march on Adrianople Bulgaria has appealed to the Powers to confine Turkey’s action to the limits of the treaty of London, which they promoted and guaranteed. It is understood that the Powers demur at the statement that a guarantee was given against Turkey. In a Note to the Powers Roumania disclaims any intention of seeking territory beyond the Turtuka-Baltchik strategic frontier. July 18. Surprise was created to-day by a telegram from King Ferdinand appealing to the King of Roumania for peace, and expressing a desire to restore amity with Roumania and terminate the bloodshed caused by the war with Servia and Greece. King Charles’s reply hinted that it was desirable that all the belligerents should arrange preliminaries for peace. It also made it clear that the march of the army would not be stayed until Roumania had secured the unconditional cession of the territory within the Turtukai-Dobritch-Baltchik line, and a deciding voice in the partition of the Balkans. It is understood that the Powers will not allow Turkey to retain Adrianople il it is re-taken. The Roumanian army is practically the dominating belligerent. It is suggested in some quarters that the Powers might entrust Roumania with the duty of exercising an armed arbitration between the belligerents. The possiblity of settling the Balkan problem by an international conference in Merlin in August is mooted by members of the Triple Alliance. July 20. The Allies arc gradually closing upon the 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 gnus, surrendered. The Greeks are pushing through the Centra! Mountains towards the capital. They fired a village in retaliation for Bulgarian atrocities. The Servians at Uskub closed those Bulgarian churches which under Turkish rule enjoyed religions freedom. What is happening at Sofia is not known, but there are many rumours that King Ferdinand and the Queen have fled to Austria. 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. The Daily Telegraph’s war correspondent savs 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 rabble. The 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 captors 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. July 21. 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-Baltehik line on condition that Roumania withdraws her troops and preserves a neutrality in the SerboGreecian conflict. Roumania has refused to consider peace apart from a general peace in the Balkans.