SERIOUS GERMAN REVERSE

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 23

SERIOUS GERMAN REVERSE

LONDON, October 19. Bucharest telegrams report a serious German reverse in the Tiraok Valley. The Germans also failed to break the Serbian line in the Gornacco sector in an eight hours’ battle. The Serbians took 2000 prisoners, chiefly Germans. The latter abandoned four guns and an enormous number of dead before the Serbian front. BUCHAREST, October 18. The Serbians are attempting to occupy the fortress of Widin (on the Danube) to prevent the Bulgarians receiving munitions from Austria. THE BULGARIAN ARMY. LONDON, October 18. King Ferdinand had announced his intention of proceeding to the Serbian front, but he abandoned the project at the eleventh hour in consequence of numerous anonymous threats on his life. Turkey recently offered Bulgaria troops to garrison Burgas, Varna, and Dedeagatch. M. Radoslavoff, the Bulgarian Premier, was formerly desirous of Turkish co-operation, but he now hesitates to accept the offer, as the Bulgarians are likely hotly to resent the intrusion of foreign elements into their army. ENEMY REPORTS. AMSTERDAM, October 18. Austro-German communiques state that the Serbian positions at Avala have been stormed, and the whole of the hilly district to the southward of Belgrade is now in Austro-German hands. LONDON, October 19. A Vienna communique states: A Serbian division was defeated at Avala, and is retreating south. We are attacking detachments north of Ralja. German divisions arc gaining ground on both sides of the Lower Morava. The Bulgarians occupied the heights on the Muslin-Percin-Badinzub front, and are advancing over Egri Palank. ARMENIAN VOLUNTEERS. PETROGRAD, October 19. The Armenians outside Turkey have determined upon a general rising to avenge the massacres. Volunteer corps of Armenians in Italy, Egypt, the Balkans, England, France and America will fight with the Allies. GRECIAN HONOUR. PARIS, October 18. The Greeks resident in Maastricht (Holland) and Marseilles have sent a message to King Constantine and M. Zaimis urging Greek assistance for Serbia. ZURICH, October 18. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister informed a German correspondent that Greece will not declare war while the Central Powers are successful, but if the Austro-German cause should weaken, Greece will attack us immediately. Rumania will await events, and support the side which proves the stronger. RUMANIA’S ATTITUDE. BUCHAREST, October 18. There is great diplomatic activity here. The Entente Ministers have been conferring with M. Bratiano, the Rumanian Premier. Despite Rumania’s declaration of neutrality, the newspapers believe that an important decision will soon be announced, largely as the result of fresh Russian victories.

Tho recent Russian advances indicate that the Russians are again invading Bukowina, and are threatening to invade Transylvania. The Russian left army has now been reinforced by six more army corps. ITALY’S ATTITUDE. ROME, October 18. An important Cabinet meeting was held on Sunday. Baron Sonnino explained the international situation, and outlined Italy’s programme in view of Balkan complications. Italy is' sending warships and transports in connection with the blockade of the Bulgarian and Turkish coasts. Baron Sonnino, at the Cabinet Council outlined Italy’s policy in the Balkans. He stated that Italy would not at present send troops to Serbia, but was giving assistance to the Allies in the form of transports, hospital ships, Italian guns, and munitions, which had been sent in large quantities to Montenegro and Serbia. AT DEDEAGATCH. LONDON, October 18. The Bulgarians have ordered civilians to evacuate Dedeagatch, fearing an allied bombardment. Only the military remain. General Sarrail left for Serbia yesterday. CONCENTRATION AT SALONIKA. GREEK TROOPS TO FRATERNISE. LONDON, October 19. Advices from Salonika state that the soldiers of the Third Greek Array Corps have been ordered to salute the allied officers and to fraternise with the British, who are their natural friends. Forty thousand Anglo-French troops had been concentrated in Salonika by Wednesday. A despatch from Athens states that the Allies have informed Greece that they intend sending large reinforcements to the Balkans. The Tagehlatt considers it improbable that the troops landing at Salonika will arrive in time to help Serbia. The Frankfurter Zeitung says the value of the landing at Salonika is problematical. The whole strategic situation anticipated the decisions of the Entente Powers. ROME, October 19. Great Britain and Russia have in* formed M. Zaimis that the Allies are sending considerable reinforcements to the Balkan front. They explained their views concerning the evolution of events, and also their interpretation of the Graeco-Serbian Treaty, which is apparently not in conformity with M. Zaitnis’s views.