BULGARIAN REVERSES.

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

BULGARIAN REVERSES.

ATHENS, October 19. Advices from Doiran state that a Bulgarian division was completely annihilated at Rila. It is rumoured that the Bulgarians have evacuated Petrich and Melnik. The Greek General Staff has arrived at Salonika, and King Constantine is expected there shortly. BULGARIAN REGIMENT MUTINIES. PARIS, October 19. A Bulgarian regiment near Kinehevatz mutinied, refusing to fight the Serbians, and the colonel was killed. The rest of the division surrounded the mutineers and decimated them. ROME, October 19. The Tribuna states that General Jekoff is unpopular. Several regiments have mutinied, numbers of officers refused to obey the Germans, and two colonels were shot at General Jekoff’s orders. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. LONDON, October 19. A German wireless message claims that General von Kovess has captured Obretoviz. Austro-German units, after the battle, reached the heights east of Vranic and south of Groca, on the Danube. General von Gallwitz has captured the region west of Seone, and the Bulgarians have also pushed forward towards Zaitevas, and Kniachovatz, and in the direction of the Valley of Pirot. The Bulgarians have also captured Vrania, and further south crossed the Egri-Pulanka-Ishtip line. GERMAN METHODS. LONDON, October 19. The Echo de Paris discloses wholesale German bribery in Rumania, city and provincial newspapers having been purchased. Documentary evidence proves that four of the leading pro-neutral newspapers are

largely subsidised by German propagandists, and there are indications that an association supplementing tire reservists' pay has been subsidised by Germany. MONTENEGRIN PRINCE. PARIS, October 19. It is understood that the Montenegrin Heir Apparent (Prince Danilo) is to join General Joffre’s staff. THE BULGARIAN ADVANCE. GERMANS PUZZLED. LONDON, October 20. The Chicago Daily News publishes tha following Berlin telegram “ The Salonika landing is still the riddle of the war. It is reported that most of the British and French troops there have been taken from Gallipoli, indicating, if true, that the Allies admit the complete failure of their effort to open the Dardanelles, despite their loudly-proclaimed successes in the papers, which have turned out to be disastrous defeats. It is a fact that a new terror has been added for tha Allies in the increased activity of German submarines in the Mediterranean, which gave a deathblow to the Dardanelles operations last spring.’’ NISH, October 20. A Nish communique states : The Bulgarians between Vranja and Ristovatz have occupied positions commanding the railway, and communication is interrupted. SOFIA, October 20. A communique states' : We have captured Vranja, thus cutting the railway from Uskub to Nish. The populace of Vranja ho'stod th® white flag and welcomed our cavalry with cries of “Zivio.” Later there came a hail of bullets from every house. Our troops are advancing from Fgri Palanka, and have captured & Serbian battalion. LONDON, October 20. Athens reports state that the Bulgarians have been thrown out of Vranja, and rail - way communication has been restored. A Bucharest report states that 30,000 Anglo-French have reached Nish, and other contingents are marching towards Negotim and Prahovo to assist the Serbians on the north-eastern fronts. GERMAN REVERSE. BUCHAREST, October 20. The Serbians have captured sumo German positions near Pojarevatz (about 40 miles south-east of Belgrade), and are now attacking the Germans’ flank. The battle continues. LONDON, October 20. The Germans were repulsed ntrih of Shabatz (in the extreme north west of Serbia), and are retiring in disorder. HOW THE SERBIANS FIGHT. LONDON, October 20. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent reports that advices from German sources state that the campaign in Serbia is of a dreadful character. During desperate fighting in the vicinity of Mounts Branovo and Inasulich many women, girls, and boys were shot down by the invaders, as.they were fighting si da by side with Serbian soldiers. Although the Bulgarians have occupied Vranja, the town is little more than a minefield. The struggle for possession of Vranja was most desperate, the Serbians defending it being killed almost to the last man. It is reported that 10,000 Bulgarians were killed in attacking Vranja. The Berliner Tageblatt says the Serbians are fighting with desperate courage and tenacity, and are feverishly resolved to defend every inch. They do not recoil before the bayonets, and this desperation explains the smallness of the captures. PARIS, October 20. The Intrausigeant states that the Serbians have retaken Scnsendria. A message from Salonika states that numerous detachments of Turks, with strong artillery, are marching along tho Graeco-Bulgarian frontier towards Serbia. October 21. Advices from Salonika deny the occupation of Strumnitza. DEFENCE OF SOFIA. BUCHAREST, October 20. Reports from Sofia state that the city has been put into a state of defence t-o resist a siege. The neighbouring chain of hills is covered with a network of trenches and barbed wire. The defences have been constructed by German enginers. There has been a rapid concentration of Bulgarians on the Black Sea coast clos® 1 to the Rumanian frontier. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. AMSTERDAM, October 20 A German communique states: Th® Austrians are advancing towards Shabatz. Fighting is proceeding in the Ripani district, south of Belgrade. The Bulgarians, by a quick action, captured a hill southwest of Egri Planka, and are advancing towards Kumanovo. They captured 2000 prisoners. RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. LONDON, October 20. Owing to General Ivanoff’s successes with the Russian southern armies, the Austrians have evacuated Czerni.vitz, tne ihief town of Bukowina, South-east Galicia. ROME, October 20. Mr Donohoe (correspondent of the Daily Chronicle) says that the Russian Consul at Dcdeagatch, who has arrived at Bucha<-

rest, confirms the Allies’ blockade of the Bulgarian Aegean coast. The enemy is feverishly fortifying the littoral. The consul considers that the appearance of Russian troops in Bulgaria would be the signal for a general revolt of the army and people against King Ferdinand.