A GREAT BATTLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144146, 16 July 1913, Page 3

A GREAT BATTLE.

ADVANCE ON SOFIA. BULGARIANS CONCENTRATING. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPJI . —COPYRIGHT. VIENNA, Jnly 15. Tiie rest of tlio Servians are advancing towards Sofia, and a great battle is raging outside Kusteydil. The Bulgarians are offering a heroic resistance. There has been terrible slaughter on both sides. SOFIA, July 15. It is semiofficially announced that the Greek irregulars landed at Lcftora and occupied the town of Pravil, massacring nearly the whole of the Bulgarian Mussulman population. Those escaping arrived at DramaFifteen thousand fugitives have reached Gornadjnmaya and fifty thousand who are en route lor the town are without food. It is authoritatively stated that Bulgaria has recalled her armies from Servian territory, thus emphasising her sincerity in giving Russia full powers. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 15. Turkey will not advance beyond the Enos-Midia line. Tho retreating Bulgarians burned all the villages which they traversed. PREPARING THE PILL. FOR THE BULGARIAN PATIENT. (Received July 16, 8.0 a.m.) SALONIKA, July 15. M. Venezelos, tho Greek Premier, has gone to Nish to confer with M. Pashitch, the Servian Premier, on tho Serho-Greok terms of peace. (Received July 16, 8.0 a.m.) ATHENS, July 15. It is stated that Servia and Greece will shortly bo asking the Powers to communicate to Bulgaria the preliminary terms of peace, which must he signed on the battlefield. It is li in ted that tho conditions will not bo final if negotiations are prolonged, in. which case tho Servians and Greeks will march to Sofia. THE SERES MASSACRE. (Received July 16, 8.0 a.m.) SOFIA. July 15. The Government blames tho Greek irregulars for firing Seres and adds that while tho Bulgarian troops were endeavouring to extinguish the flames the irregulars massacred two hundred of the Bulgarian population, including women, vhildren, and old men, as well as wounded and sick soldiers and civil officials. STATEMENT BY SIR E. GREY. (Received July 16, 8.0 a.m.) LONDON, July 15. In the House of Commons Sir Edward Gr«jy, replying to Mr. Mason’s suggestion that tho Powers should impose an armistice in tho Balkans, remarked that in view of the passions that accompanied the struggle and the appalling risks incurred by the combatants mere words from outside Powers were unlikely to affect the situation. Bulgaria had appealed to Russia to secure a cessation of hostilities and Servia artd Greece had agreed upon the conditions which they insisted Bulgaria must accept before the cessation of the war. It was vitally important that the Powers should continue mutually to consult and there was every reason to believe matters would bo brought to a satisfactory termination. BULGARIAN WARSHIPS DISARMED. SYDNEY SUN SPECIAL CABLE. (Received July 16, 8.0 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, July 15. Bulgarian war vessels have taken refuge at Sebastopol, and have been disarmed. ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA. (Received July 16, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 16. Reuter reports that Russia does not desire to settle thei Balkan difficulty singlehanded. She considora all the Powers should determine tho method of securing the 'cessation of hostilities. SERVIA READY FOR PEACE. (Received July 16, 1.20 p.m.) BELGRADE, July 15. Servia is willing to sign a preliminary treaty of peace and only awaits the arrival of tho Bulgarian plenipotentiaries. THE GREEK ADVANCE. (Received July 16, 1.20 p.m.) SALONIKA, July 15. After five hours’ fighting the Greeks becupied Drama.