ITALIAN OPINION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 24

ITALIAN OPINION.

LONDON, October 21. Dr Dillon, writing from Rome, states that the Anglo=French generosity towards Greece is causing heartsearchings in Italy. The newspaper La Nazione demands that Greece be no longer cajoled but constrained. Greece is in the hands of the Quadruple Alliance. If Italy’s thorough and whole-hearted co-operation is desired, a vigorous methodical action must be taken against Greece. ITALY’S ASSISTANCE. KEEPING THE AUSTRIANS BUSY. ROME, October 22. With a view to assisting Serbia, General Cadorna has ordered a general advance in the Tyrol. This has already resulted in the taking of Pregasina, menacing Riva, the capture of Brentonica, and the threatening of Roverto. It is estimated that there are 800,000 Austrians on the Italian front. VIENNA, October 22. A communique states ; Battles on a great scale are proceeding on the whole north-western front. Numerous heavy Italian attacks in the Tyrol failed. INVASION OF SERBIA. AUSTRO-GERMAN ADVANCE. BUCHAREST, October 22. The Serbians, by a splendid counterattack southward of Pojarevatz, inflicted on the enemy 8000 casualties. The Germans fell back near Semendria before a violent Serbian onslaught. A German division southward of Belgrade, when marching towards Leskovatz, was caught on the flank by the Serbian artillery and lost one-third of Its effectives. The Austro-German advance nevertheless continues. The Germans claim that General Kovess has reached Drnajeivo, on the Slatina front, that General von Gallwitz has advanced to Savanovac, and that General

Bojadceff has further advanced northward of Kneashevatz. Other Bulgarian forces have occupied Kumanovo, captured Veles, and driven the enemy across the Vardar, southward of Strumnitza. Reuter states that information received from Nish says that the Bulgarians are using dum-dum bullets. NISH, October 24. A communique admits the fall of Veles. SERBIAN COMMUNIQUE. NISH, October 23. A communique says : The Bulgarians on the Upper Timok reached the right bank on the 21st. Operations in certain portions of Macedonia are being suspended owing to the extraordinarily bad weather. Twelve allied ships bombarded the AEgean coast. No military significance is attached to this. AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE. VIENNA, October 23. A communique states: Russian vessels oil the northern coast of Courland bombarded Petraggo, Domesnees, and Gipken, and landed weak forces at Domesnees. We forced the passage of the Drina at Visegrad. General von Koevess's army stormed the enemy’s position between Lukavitz and the Kosmaj Mountains. General von Gallwitz has driven the enemy across the Jasanica, east of Paranka The Serbians are giving way to pressure from both sides, and are retreating from the Kosutica-Mount Hlatina line. The Bulgars captured Negotin and repulsed Serbian advances with sanguinary losses south-east of Pirot. The Vienna newspapers give terrible details of the civilian resistance of Belgrade. There was a three days’ bombardment with 42-centimetre guns before the Austrians were able to enter the town, and then there was street fighting for 24 hours. The houses are situated on terraces, and the Austrians were unable to discover whence the bullets came, so they bombarded the whole residential quarter, and afterwards stormed the houses. The civilians, including men of 60 years and upwards, the women, and even children defended them desperately with hand grenades. The Serbian losses were immense. Few prisoners were taken. The Serbians, concealed in a swamp, offered an equally desperate resistance to the Germans crossing the Save. Many Serbians fought until they were engulfed in the mud. The British naval guns rendered magnificent service in delaying the crossing by day. THE BULGARIAN ADVANCE. TURKISH CAVALRY PARTICIPATING. LONDON, October 23. It is reported from Salonika that the Bulgarians, after occupying Pirot, are advancing in the direction of Nish. A big battle is in progress between the Serbians and the Bulgarians at Veles. Turkish cavalry are participating. The Bulgarians are fortifying the Rhodope mountains. ATHENS, October 25. M. Pashitch’s despatches state that the Austro-German casualties in the battles at Semendria, Shabatz, and Obrenovatz amounted to 60,000. Some of the battalions lost nine-tenths of their strength in 20 minutes while traversing the marshes at Semendria. LONDON, October 23. The British and French Military Attaches at Nish confirm the above, and add that the Bulgarians do not occupy Vranja, They attempted only a cavalry raid, which was thrown back. The attaches say that the Serbian troops advanced into Bulgaria. The enemy’s successes hitherto are due to their heavy artillery. BULGARIA. PARIS, October 22. An anti-dynastic plot in Bulgaria has been discovered. The houses of the Opposition leaders and of numerous people concerned in politics have been searched. LONDON, October 23. The Daily Mail’s Salonika correspondent reports Bulgarian risings in various parts as a protest against the Turkish allies. A number of suspected officers have been relieved of their commands. BUCHAREST, October 22. The Interventionists rioted outside the Germany Embassy. Many were arrested. AMSTERDAM, October 23. A German wireless message states that the Kaiser has conferred an iron cross upon King Ferdinand. BULGARIAN COAST BOMBARDED. LONDON, October 24. The Admiralty announces that a squadron of British, French, and Russian ships carried out a bombardment of the Bulgarian coast on the afternoon of the 21st. The squadron shelled a number of military positions and inflicted serious damage on the harbour works, the railway station, and shipping at Dedeagatch. Great care was exercised to avoid firing on points except those of military importauce. ATHENS, October 23. Official : The Allies are bombarding the Bulgarian coast from Dedeagatch to Porto Lago. The Italian squadron is participating ini the bombardment of the Bulgarian coast.