THE BULGARIAN SITUATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 31

THE BULGARIAN SITUATION.

BUCHAREST, October 3. Eight hundred Bulgarian soldiers have deserted and crossed the frontier into Rumania. They refuse to fight against the Russians. Reports from Sofia show that there is no enthusiasm for, but there are many protests against, mobilisation. Some recruits at Tatar Bazardjik (Eastern Rumelia) came to blows with agents of the military authorities, and several were killed or injured. SOFIA, October 3. A semi-official statement has been made in reply to the French .and Russian press. It avers that Bulgaria mobilised in order to face a new situation and to assure her national existence and her future. She had threatened nobody, and rvas hoping still for a pacific settlement which will take her interests into account. The semi-official journal Narodni Prava sayss “The Government is in nowise following a policy of adventure. The country can rest assured that the Government will nob adopt any hasty action, and if it is obliged to make armed intervention it will be only after all peaceful methods have been exhausted. The Turco-Bul-garian Agreement is the firstfruits of the Government’s policy, and other successes will follow.” October 4. Bulgaria’s mobilisation is complete. There are 350,000 men. The field regiments and artillery have been sent to the Serbian frontier. PARIS, October 3. Xio Temps’s Sofia correspondent has reported that Bulgaria, with the assistance of the Central Powers, is endeavouring to arrange an understanding with Rumania and Greece. The opposition is convinced that the pourparlers have failed, both with Rumania and Greece, which openly and entirely favour the Allies. According to the Sofia newspapers, the Austro-German Ministers at Bucharest informed the King and M. Bratiano that they would attack Rumania the moment that ord ■,, for a- general mobilisation were Issued. Numbers of Bulgarian deserters have leVea refuge iu Rumania, including GOO

from the Calafat region, declaring that they will not fight against Russia. The women and children of Bulgaria are hindering men from, joining the colours. The gulf between the people and the official class is increasing. RUSSIA TAKES A HAND. NEW YORK, October 3. A Petrograd message states that the Russian Minister at Sofia has been ordered to depart Unless Bulgaria within 24 hours breaks with the Teutons and dismisses the Austro-German officers now in Bulgaria. PETROGRAD, October 3. The Russian Minister at Sofia has been instructed to hand to M. Radoslavoff the following Note : “ The events taking place in Bulgaria give evidence of King Ferdinand’s Government’s definite decision to place the fate of its country in Germany’s hands. The presence of German and Austrian officers at the Ministry of War and on the staffs of the army, and also the concentration of troops bordering on Serbia and the extensive financial support accepted from our enemies leave no doubt that the object of Bulgaria’s military preparations is to enter the war. We on many occasions have warned M. Radoslavoff that any hostile act against Serbia will be considered as directed against ourselves, and will in fact contradict the assurances which M. Radoslavoff gave in reply to these warnings. Russia, to whom Bulgaria is bound by the imperishable memory of her liberation from the Turkish yoke, cannot sanction preparations for fratricidal aggression against the Slav and allied peoples, and therefore the Russian Minister will leave unless Bulgaria openly breaks with the enemies of Slavdom within 24 hours and dismisses officers belonging to the enemies of the Entente.” October 4. Russia does not expect that Bulgaria will comply with the Allies’ demands. King Ferdinand’s Government is so tied hand and foot by Austro-Germany that there is little likelihood of compliance. German secret agents are watching M. Radoslavoff’s house with a view to preventing him from vacillating at the last moment. i'll orders from the Bulgarian Ministry of War are submitted for sanction to German officers. The Austro-German Legations have been fortified as a precaution against a possible outbreak. LONDON, October 4. The authorities at Athens understood for some days that the Central Powers had fixed that hostilities should begin during the last fortnight in October. Russia has chosen to hasten the decision. It is rumoured in Rome that all the Powers of the Entente are prepared to deliver a similar ultimatum, requiring Bulgaria to explain her attitude. The newspapers approve of Russia’s stern protest to Bulgaria, and opine that the interests of that country are being overruled by the ambitious German ruler and a few misguided generals. Bulgaria professed to be debating the Entente’s offers until the very last, encouraging the friends of Britain to despe rate efforts to prevent a rupture. Mr Noel Buxton, M.P., interviewed, stated that the Entente has promised territory in East Yardar, but Bulgaria is still in doubt whether she will obtain Monastic and Ochrida. He added that Serbia and Greece must be prevented from taking action on the frontiers that will precipitate a crisis. KING FERDINAND. LONDON, October 4. King Ferdinand recently, in conversing with a diplomatist, described his regal condition. “ I am like a blind man,” he said, “ running with a lighted torch among haystacks. Whichever side I turn I must set fire to something.” Diplomatic circles point out that Russia’s ultimatum proves that the blind man’s torch has set his own haystack on fire. GREECE DECLARES HERSELF. AMSTERDAM, October 3. The Berlin Lokal Anzeiger’s Athens correspondent states that the Greek Government has allowed it to be clearly understood that it will consider any Bulgarian attack on Serbia as an attack on Greece. Tire Germanophile newspapers in Greece are urging Germany to recommend Bulgaria to demobilise, in order to prepare the way for the demobilisation of Greece The Greek Government has ordered all Greek steamers to complete their charters and proceed direct to the Piraeus within sis days. PARIS, October 3. Le Journal’s Athens correspondent states that for the Greeks war is certain. Henceforth the road to Constantinople will no longer be through the Dardanelles or Gallipoli, but along the Salonika-Dedeagatch railway. October 4. The ultimatum has caused intense excitement. M. Venizelos has arrived at Salonika. The Greek war spirit has increased by the arrival at Herakha of 40,000 Greek refugees from Thrace in a pitiable condition. MISSION OF GERMAN OFFICERS. ROME, October 4. The Corriero della Sera’s Petrograd correspondent states that representatives of the Quadruple Entente have pointed out to M. Radoslavoff that sjnee Colonel Nassaa, who is considered a specialist in intrigue, has been the German military

representative at Sofia, German officers have been distributed among various Bulgarian regiments and batteries with instructions to create an incident that will precipitate a conflict between the Bulgarian and Serbian troops. AUSTRO-GERM AN ATTACK ON SERBIA. LONDON, October 4. It is reported that the Austro-German attack on Serbia is now fixed for Thursday. PARIS, October 4. The French believe that the Bulgarian peasantry are willing to fight Serbia, against whom they nourish a grudge since 1913, but will refuse to raise a hand against their Russian liberators, who are likely to land from the Black Sea. Meanwhile Bulgaria is concentrating troops for the purpose of isolating Rumania and Serbia and opening the way for war stores for Constantinople. LONDON, October 4. The Hamburger Nachrichten advises Serbia to save blood and powder by withdrawing her troops and allowing goods to be sent to Turkey, and meanwhile rectifying the wrong done to Bulgaria in 1913. SIR E. GREY’S STATEMENT. AMSTERDAM, October 3. Sir E. Grey’s statement on the Balkan situation has not yet been published in Germany. TURKISH BARBARITY. ATHENS, October 4. The Turks are evacuating the district given to Bulgaria. They systematically pillaged the Christian houses and outraged the women. YOUNG TURKS EXULTANT. CONSTANTINOPLE, October 4. The Young Turks are exultant at Bulgaria’s mobilisation. Enver Pasha, who presided at a meeting of the committee, said that Turco-German hegemony from the Baltic to the Persian Gulf was now assured.