THE BALKANS

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 54

THE BALKANS

DECISIVE GRECIAN SUCCESS. THE ALLIES’ TERMS. SEPARAIE COXFEREXCES. PROMISE BY ROUMAXIA. TURKISH EXCESSES. BORDER VILLAGES ALARMED. ROUMAX IA’S CHANGED ATTITUDE. FRIENDSHIP FOR BULGARIA. PRESSURE ON TURKEY. BELGRADE, July 21. The Servians penetrated Bulgarian territory at Tchipven, and the Bulgarians are retreating towards Widin. July 25. It is estimated that Bulgaria has lost 7000 men killed or wounded in the Pirot district. The Bulgarians lost heavily at Belogradchik. July 27. The Servians have completed the investment of Widin. A semi-official denial is given to the rumour that Servia and Greece have come to an understanding with Turkey with the object of taking action against Bulgaria. SOFIA, July 21. Thirty thousand Roumanian troops have reached Orkanije and Etropljo. The Bashi-Bazouks devastated the country during their march orr Adrianople, where they are now committing atrocities and pillaging and burning the city, July 22. The Bulgarian garrison attacked Enver Bey’s cavalry division before Adrianople. July 23. In a statement in the Sobranje Mi Ohenadieff stated that the Government, at Russia’s invitation, had begun negotiations with Servia and Greece, and it was hopeful of a satisfactory settlement. The Bulgarians did not offer resistance, and evacuated Adrianople after blowing up some of the Government buildings. Greece and Servia have agreed to Roumania’s proposal to discuss the questions of an armistice and peace at separate conferences. Greece, however, insists on the signing of an armistice simultaneously with The acceptance of the preliminaries of peace. July 24. Roumania has agreed not to interfere with the Northern Bulgarian railway or telegraphs, and will repair the railway bridges. Thracian refugees bring stories of Turkish excesses. The inhabitants of the border towns are alarmed, and are fleeing inland. Ninny Bulgarian villages near Upsala were burned, while the inhabitants of the important village of Bulgarkcui were massacred. BUCHAREST, July 22. The King and the Premier have received telegrams from King Ferdinand and M. Gheuadieff respectively suing for peace. July 24. The King of Roumania has telegraphed to the Sultan of Turkey urging the inexpediency of the present Turkish advance. July 25. King Constantine and King Peter have telegraphed to the King of Roumania that it would be a crime, after their past experience, to grant Bulgaria an armistice without tlie security of peace. July 26. In response to M. Ghcnadieff’s appeal Roumania has stopped her advance 15 kilometres from Sofia. SALONIKA, July 25. Further details regarding the massacres at Doxato show that babies were thrown from windows on to the bayonets of the Bulgarian soldiers. Tim massacres went on all day, and several officers and civilian officials participated. Then the troops laden with booty marched out, preceded by a party of soldiers carrying babies impaled on their bayonets. Two priests were mastered in a church. July 27. The Greeks yesterday occupied Xanthi after the Bulgarians had pillaged the town and carried off the Greek Metropolitan and 80 notables, whose fate is unknown. July 28. The Greeks traversed 12 miles of the Krosna Pass and found the Bulgarian artillery covering the mouth of a defile preventing any development. The Bulgarian right occupied precipitous heights at Rongen and fortified four lines of entrenchments. The line extended from Semeti to the heights at Porogosmahara, and was supported by powerful artillery.

After marching in pouring rain and a thick fog on Friday night the Greeks on Saturday attacked the whole of the Bulgarian front, dislodging them at Rongen. The Greeks in the Nevos Valley made a similar advance. Jhc Greek attack everywhere was successful, and three siege guns were captured. The Bulgarians finally fled. The retreating Bulgarians left a company at Kavoli, with orders to burn and sack the town at daybreak. Some Turkish boatmen eluded the patrols at night and, with muffled oars, rowed 18 miles to the Greek fleet. A destroyer was despatched to Kavoli. When the watchman in a church tower saw the destroyer in the harbour he rang the bells and ran into the streets shouting, “ The Greek fleet has come.” The Bulgarians fled, and the populace accorded an ovation to the Greek captain and the Turkish boatmen. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 21. The Porto in a Note to the Powers supplies reasons for occupying Thrace, including Adrianople. It further announces that in future the Turco-Bulgarian frontier will bo the river Maritza. The Government would have preferred to have settled the frontier question diplomatically, but the. Bulgarian atrocities and barbarism in the occupied territories made it impossible to hope for diplomatic solution. One hundred and fifty thousand Turkish troops are now marching on Adrianople. July 22. It is officially announced that Enver Bey entered Adrianople to-day. The Bulgarians blew up the ammunition depots. The Turks have occupied Kirk Kilisse (which is beyond the Enos Midia boundary). July 25. The re-occupation of Adrianople has aroused enthusiasm. Hadji Adil Bey has been appointed Vali of Adrianople. This is regarded as proof of the Government’s intention lo remain. July 25. The Porte has informed Bulgaria that she has furnished the Powers with imperious reasons for the occupation of the .Maritza line. July 27. The mosques were crowded at the thanksgiving service held to commemorate the recovery of Adrianople. ATHENS, July 22. Despite a stubborn Bulgarian defence the Greeks advanced all along the Petehovo-Orliakon line.. The battle lasted 15 hours, the Bulgarians being reinforced. Both sides lost heavily. The Greek infantry, climbing like goats, carried five successive lines of fortifications at Petchovo, thus winning the battle. The Greek centre has occupied the southern end of the Krecna Pass. July 24. Commander Cardale, a British natal officer, visited Doxato, where he raw bands of dogs feeding on human remains. Ho counted 600 bodies, mostly those of women and children, lying unburied in the streets, and lie saw 120 massacred women and children in one courtyard, the bodies being unspeakably mutilated. The walls were spattered with blood to a height of six feet. The victims had not been killed at once, but had been slowly done to death by bayonet thrusts. Commander Cardale was shown a room where a woman and child were crucified on the wall. Sixty Bulgarian irregulars, who arrived northward from Lake Ostrovo, attempted on the 16th inst. to blow up the train conveying the Premier of Greece (M. Venezelos) from Salonika to Monastir to attend a conference. July 25. It is stated here that Roumania has warned Greece that if she persists in pushing on to Sofia the Roumanian army will occupy Sofia beforehand ; also that Roumania has pointed out the necessity of enabling Bulgaria to resist the Turkish invasion. July 27. Delegates from the different States have started for Bucharest to discuss the question of holding an armistice conference at Nisch simultaneously with the peace preliminaries at Bucharest. The Allies have refused Bulgaria a three davs’ truce. July 28. The Greek fleet has occupied Dcdeazatch. When the Bulgarians were retreating they destroyed the Ottoman Bank and a number of warehouses, and carried off 240 notables. General Imimiet telegraphs that t?ie Bulgarians murdered 200 Ottoman soldiers who Were taken prisoners at Kizel Yeridje. ST. PETERSBURG, July 23.The Government is credited with *,he intention of insisting on the 1 urkish evacuation of Adrianople at all costs. The Government has advised the Bessarabian and Danubian Railway administrations that their systems must be held at the exclusive disposition of the military authorities. Three divisions cf the Caucasus army are concentrating on the Anatolian frontier. July 25. Three transports loaded with troops have sailed from Odessa for Batourn. July 28. Russia has abandoned the idea of separate action against Turkey, but La

willing to make a naval demonstration at Burgas. Roumania and the Powders apparently expect Bulgaria to expel the Turks by herself. ROME, July 26. It is stated here that the Powers are prepared to authorise Russia to occupy Armenia and compel Turkey to withdraw behind the Enos line, and prevent Turkey from drawing reinforcements from AsiaMinor. BERNE, July 21. All Austrian subjects resident in Switzerland and officers on furlough have teen ordered to rejoin their regiments forthwith. BERLIN, July 25. The German Press axe non-committal over Turkey's attitude, although it is assumed that the Powers will not allow the retention of Adrianople. PARIS, July 25. It is stated from several sources that Roumania, having secured her own territorial concessions, is now willing to act as Bulgaria’s friend to enforce the terms of the treatv of London against Turkey. LONDON, July 22. Speaking at the Centenary banquet at Birmingham Mr Asquith said the spectacle with which they were confronted in the near East was disheartening and even repellant. The Allies were drenching the conquered territories with one another's blood. Turkey, with the ink on the treaty of London not yet dry, was advancing beyond the agreed line and endeavouring to recover her lost territory. Not unnaturally the nations of Europe were profoundly moved, and demanded of those with whom, as a last resource, Tested the power and responsibility that they should terminate this sombre chapter in European history. Britain had laboured incessantly to preserve united action by the Powers. If Turkey was illadvised enough to defy the treaty she must be prepared for the bringing up of questions which were not to her interest. He believed that a speedy settlement was in sight. The opinion in most European circles is that Turkey will have to retire behind the Enos-Midia line. The feeling in Vienna about a possible entry into Sofia ts somewhat allayed by Roumania’s intimation that she will not advance further before Bulgaria is given an opportunity to accept her opponents’ terms. The Greek main, army continued to advance. Its centre lies in front of the Kresna Pass, while the Servians are in touch with the Roumanians’ right -wing, cutting off Widin, where there are three Bulgarian brigades. Sofia is ‘practically surrounded by half-a-million opponents. It is reported that Greece waives her claims to Kavala and Drama, contenting herself with Salonika and the hinterland. This decision is calculated to facilitate peftce negotiations. Bulgaria has earnestly solicited the reopening of the Varna-Sofia railway, which is the main avenue for food supplies for the army and the capital. The Bulgarian Legation in London alleges that the Greeks from Demirhiesar besides burning Bulgarian villages massacred 200 sick and wounded Bulgarian soldiers at Seres, sabred all the fleeing inhabitants from Kilkisb, and murdered a number of Bulgarian officers. Reuter’s Sofia correspondent states that communication with Adrianople is restored, and the Turkish occupation is denied. When Enver Bey’s cavalry and irregulars appeared in the neighbourhood the Bulgarian civil authorities fled. The Government ordered them to return to Adrianople and other places in Thrace whence they had fled, fearing Turkish reprisals. Enver Bey's cavalry have left the neighbourhood of Adrianople. July 23. The Bulgarian Legation has published a categorical denial to the reports of the atrocities, and has furnished a lengthy list of Greek outrages. July 2d. The tension regarding the Balkans has been somewhat relieved since Bulgaria. Greece, and Servia have agreed to meet at Bucharest and discuss peace preliminaries early next week. There is an ominous report that the Turks are advancing on Philippopolis. July 25. The Greeks have captured the entire Kresna Pass, which has hitherto been considered impregnable. Statements in the French press indicate that Russia intends to occupy Armenia until Turkey evacuates Adrianople. King Ferdinand addressed the representatives of the Powers at the Palace and protested against Turkey’s outrageous action. He said Turkey bad trodden the London treaty under foot, which was an insult to the Powers. He implored Europe to end the sufferings of the Bulgarians, who were flying before the return of their former oppressors. It is reported in Vienna that Servia and Greece have refused to suspend hostilities pending the decision arrived at by the Peace Conference. The Bulgarian Legation has announced that the Turks crossed the frontier north of Adrianople and occupied several villages and burnt others. Ottoman cavalry are advancing towards Jamboli. Dr Dillon, telegraphing from Bucharest, state* that tho Bulgarian army is demoralised. The soldiers refuse to fight, and have threatened the lives of the officers. The Ambassadors in London conferred

together for two and a-half hours yesterday without coming to a decision regarding Turkey. July 26. In tlie House of Lords Lord Morley said the situation in the Balkans was far too critical to be discussed. He was unable to state what action the Powers might feel compelled to take if Turkey disregarded the advice they had all given her. Reuter states that Greece denies a report that she desires to prolong the hostilities. If Bulgaria wants peace she need only approach the Allies simultaneously. Both have agreed not to accord an armistice separately. The Austrian Ministers at Belgrade and Athens have demanded the cessation of war, and state that they will not permit the further humiliation of Bulgaria. If Greece and Sexvia prove obdurate Roumania, at the mandate of Austria and Russia, will prevent an attack. So far the Belgrade peasants have buried 557 Bulgarians who were killed at Piret.