SEVERE FIGHTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 532, 23 October 1915, Page 10

SEVERE FIGHTING.

SERBIANS AND BULGARIANS. INVADING TROOPS CUT UP. LONDON, October 22. The "Daily Mail's" correspondent at Salonica says that after the occupation of Ishtip, the Bulgarians advanced to Kuprili. Serbian reinforcements arrived, and repulsed the Bulgarians, "with enormous losses. The French have crossed the Vardar at Krivolak, with the object of cutting off the Bulgarians' retreat. Bulgarian attacks at Kumanovo were repulsed. Comitadjis and cavalry, who cut the railway near Vrania, were exterminated.

THE SERB AS A SOLDIER. HIGH PRAISE FROM GERMANY. . LONDON, October 22. The Munich "Neueste Nachrichten" describes the Serbians as offering a most determined' resistance. f Position after position in the Morava .Valley was only gained after the fiercest fighting by rearguards. It must be admitted that the Serbians .are magnificent soldiers. Despite their rough appearance, their arma-j ment is irreproachable. Numerous sharpshooters are concealed in the ' rugged mountains, and have caused the Germans considerable loss. Their artillery is not particularly good, despite the guns given by the English, j Unlike the Russians, the Serbians do j not burn or destroy everything, and the Germans obtain large supplies of grain and cattle. The weather continues wretched, and the roads are miserable, greatly impeding pro- , gress. j

' TWO TO ONE. THE SERBIANS OUTNUMBERED. LONDON, October 22. Colonel Repington, military correspondent 6f "The Times," says there is no doubt that the Serbian Army is opposed to superior forces. The Austro-Gerinans probably number 16 divisions, and the Bulgarians 16. Serbia has lost 150,000 in the present war, and another 50,000 by disease. She now has probably *300,000 men, the. enemy's superiority being as two to one, and greater, if the Turks are helping Bulgaria. The situation is not desperate, unless the main Serbian Army is defeated, but it is serious. The Serbs'are defending their country, at the greatest disadvantage, and a crisis cannot long be delayed. The best course is fpr the Franco-British force to hold up the Bulgarian columns at Ishtib and Strumnitza, to take the pressure off the Serbians. This assumes that the -whole of the Allied force can be delivered at Ghevgeli, properly equipped for fighting over difficult country. On these points no information is available.

THE SALONICA LANDING. „ .BULGARIAN PRESS FURIOUS. LONDON, October 21. Sofia newspapers furiously comment on the Salonica landing, and state that Bulgaria will not tolerate this concentration of troops. If Greece is powerless to turn out the Anglo-French forces she must call in Bulgaria, who will undertake the operation.

IN MACEDONIA. "NO HALF MEASURES." LONDON; October 22. The "Manchester Guardian" demands that no half measures be taken in Macedonia. At least a quarter of a million men are wanted within a fortnight, both to save Serbia and retain our hold oh Gallipoli.

THE OFFER TO GREECE. SENSATIONAL~DEVELOPMENTS . EXPECTED. LONDON, October 21. Telegrams from Athens show that feeling throughout Greece is undergoing a rapid change, and sensational developments may happen at any moment. The Government is beginning to perceive that an international atmosphere is forming which is fast becoming insupportable. The ■' restlessness of the Venizelists, the Army's hatred of Bulgaria, due to Bulgar atrocities, are increasing the tension. There is feverish activity at the Ministry of War. The Army is insisting that the contract with Serbia must be maintained at all costs. The arrival of the first French and British wounded at Salonica is causing a deep impression among the excitable Greeks. Leading Greeks in London highly approve of the proposed cession of Cyprus. They point out that the revenue shows a surplus of £50,000 annually. Cyprus gave 15,000 volunteers in the last Balkan War, and could have raised 60,000. Athens newspapers, commenting on the Cyprus offer, are unanimously of the opinion that the hour has come for Greece.

FEELING IN ITALY. A PRESS DEMAND. ROME, October 21. Dr Dillon, writing from Rome, says that the Anglo-French generosity towards Greece is causing heartsearchings in Italy. The newspaper "Idea Nazionale" demands that Greece be no longer cajoled, but constrained. Greece is in the hands r ■ - ■■ ■ " j

of the Quadruple Alliance, and if Italy's thorough and whole-hearted co-operation is desired, vigorous and methodical action must be taken against her. FURTHER OFFERS. THE ENTENTE'S LAST WORD. LONDON, October 22. In addition to Cyprus, the Allies have offered Greece an extension of territory on the vEgean coast and Greek colonies in Asia Minor. These represent the Entente's last word. The Greek Government has also been assured of military and adequate financial support. ATHENS, October 22. The Entente Ministers have had frequent interviews with M. Zaimis, making a final effort to convince Greece that it is necessary to assist Serbia in return for Bulgaria's exclusion from the jEgean.