BALKAN CAMPAIGN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14743, 23 October 1915, Page 5

BALKAN CAMPAIGN.

SERVIANS DEFEAT BULGARIANS. . ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES. Press Association.—Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 22. The Daily Mail’s correspondent at Salonika states that after the occupation of Ishtip the Bulgarians advanced on Kuprili, but Servian reinforcements arrived and repulsed the Bulgarians with enormous, lopses. The French crossed the Vardar at Krivolak with the object of cutting off the Bulgarian retreat. Bulgarian attacks on Kumanovo were repulsed. The Comitadjls and cavalry who cut the railway near Vranja were exterminated. THE OFFER TO GREECE. GREEK NEWSPAPERS APPROVE. SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ' EXPECTED. LONDON, October, 22. Leading Greeks in London highly approve of the proposed cession of Cyprus. They point out 1 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. The Athens newspapers, commenting on Cyprus, are unanimously of opinion that the hour has, come for Greece to make a decision. Telegrams front Athens show that the 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 Venizeliats and the army’s hatred.of-Bulgaria; due to Bulgarian atrocities, a re increasing the tension. There is feverish activity in the-Ministry of War, the army insisting that contact with Servia must be maintained at all costs. ■ The arrival of the first French and British wounded in Salonika is causing a deep impression on the excitable Greeks. A FURTHER OFFER. THE ENTENTE’S LAST WORD. LONDON, October 22. In addition to Cyprus, the Allies have offered Greece 'an extension of territory on the Aegean coast of Greece and colonies in Asia Minor. These represent the Entente’s ■ last word. The Greek Governments also assured of military and adequate nnancial support. GREEK PREMIER INTERVIEWED. ■ ATHENS, October 22. . The Entente (Ministers have .had frequent interviews with M. Zainvis in a final effort to convince Greece that it is necessary to assist Servia in return for Bulgaria’s exclusion from the Aegean Sea. ITALY CHAGRINED. At ANGLO-FRENCH OFFERS TO GREECE. ROME, October 22. A doctor writes from Rome that the Anglo-French generosity towards Greece is caulsing heart-searchings in Italy. The newspaper lleariazion© demaiids that Greece be no longer cajoled. Greece is in the hands of the Quadruple Alliance. If Italy’s thorough and whole-hearted 00-operation is desired, vigorous and methodical action must bo taken against Greece. BULCARS THREATEN GREECE. ANNOYED AT SALONIKA LANDING. LONDON, October 22. Sofia newspapers furiously comment"on tbe Salonika landing. They state that they will not tolerate the concentration of ‘ troops. If Greece is powerless to turn out the Anglo-French she . must call in Bulgaria, who will undertake the operations. ... STRONG MEASURES NEEDJED. LONDON. October 22. The Manchester Guardian, demands no half-measures in Macedonia. At least a quarter of a million men are wanted, within a fortnight. Thus we will both save Servia , and retain - our hold on Gallipoli. COLONEL REPINCTON’B IDEAS. LONDON, October 22. . Colonel Repington (the Times’. war i correspondent) says there is no doubt the Servian Army is opposed by superior forces—Austro-Germans, probably sixteen divisions, and Bulgarians sixteen. Servia has lost 150,000; in the present war and'another 00,000 from disease, and her Amy now numbers prohahlv 300,000. The enemy’s superiority is two to one. It will be greater if the Turks are helping. The situation is not desecrate, unless the main Servian army is defeated, but it is serious. The Serbs are defending at the greatest disadvantage, and the crisis cannot long be delayed. The best course is for the Franob-Britisli to hold up, the Bulgarian columns at Uskub and Strumitza, and take oft the pressure on the Serbs. Thp assumes that the whole of the Allied forces can he delivered at Gfhovgcli pro: perly equipped for fighting in such difficult country. These are points op which no information is available,— (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) PATRIOTIC FUNDS. "HERALD’’ PATRIOTIC FUND & Vhe following contributions. are no knowledged:-—M,J Jl., Servian Fund 10s; M1.J.8., Belgian . Fund. 10s P.W.S.. Beltoan Fund, £5; Wicky »"< Andreoli, N.Z. Wounded. £1 ; E. N Liffiten, H.M.S. New Zealand Frui Fund, £l. Total of combined funds V date, £1727 10s lid. .

THE GALLANT SERVIANS. A bavarian tribute. MUNICH, October 22. The Custenach Richten describee the Servians as offering the most determined resistance. Position after position in the Morava Valley ore only gained after the fiercest fighting by the rearguards. It must be admitted that the Servians arc magnificent soldiers, despite their rough appearance. Their armament ie irreproachable, and numerous sharp-shooters concealed in the rugged mountains have caused ua considerable losses. The artillery is not particularly good, despite the fact'that the guns are English. Unlike the Russians, the Servians do not burn and do not destroy everything. We obtain large supplies of grain and cattle. The weather continues wretched, and the roads are miserable, greatly impeding progress.

VALUABLE RUSSIAN PORT.

NEW. RAILWAY BEING CONSTRUCTED. Received October 23, 8 a.m. PETROGRAD, October 22., Tea thousand, mostly prisoners, under American engineers, are constructing a double railway, 1200 miles in length, from Petrograd to Ekaterina, in the Gulf of Kola, which is permanently ice: free and opens a valuable port for war traffic. ' Ekaterina, or Katharina as it is better known,’ is situated in Lapland, about 75 miles from the Norwegian frontier, alid about 370 miles to the north-west of Archangel, which is now icebound. This new line will parallel the present single track road, which connects Archangel with Vologda, but will lie more than 200 miles to the westward.; What is more important is the fact that Oh the completion of the new road Russia will have an all-year round open connection iyith’ tlfh.western seas, and this open communication will be maintained, through the very fine harbour of Ekatekrina, ht the head of the Gulf of Kola; - lee is.seldom seen except for a short period around the last of,, February, pr early in March, and then only during winters of unusual severity. Ekaterina enjoys the advantage of being near to the Gulf Stream. That stream- on crossing the western ocean passes close to the North Cape-and back lashes, as it were, to the eastward along the Murman coast which latter name is the one given to the Arctic shore of the Province of Kola. The effect of the Gulf Stream is felt as far eastward as Ekaterina, but ho further, and in consequence, while Ekate- , i-ina is an open port the year round, Archangel, in the White .Sea, is closed to navigation early in October, and is seldom open until some time in May. Ekaterina lies 10 miles from the ocean and from the oorirse of vessels plying’ between Archangel and the West. The harbour, which, is screened from the ocean hv- the lofty island of Ekaterina, is. about H miles in length, from 500 to 600 vards,in width, with from 10 to 15 fathoms of water. Vessels can anchorright up to the shore line, and not even the heaviest Arctic weather affects the hai-bour. which is at all times as calm as a millpond, j Vessels trading between thp east coast Of the United States arid: Ekaterina will double the North Cape', And ih the slimmer months itf the high’ latitudes of the North Cape it is daylight the full 24 hours. After doubling' the North Cape navigoters will And deep water well up to the shore line. It is expected that with the inauguration of the new service, communication can be had between Ekaterina arid Petrograd in 24 hours’ time. The distance is about six miles. Huge compound freight locomotives are being built at Moscow fqr the Arctic service, to burn either coal or oil, and rolling stock is also being constructed in America.

BRITAIN’S NEW WEAPONS.

SURPRISES IN STORE FOK THE ENEMY. Received October 23, 8.25 a.m. SYDNEY, October 23. ■ Captain Brownell, of the Worcestershires, who was wounded in Flanders';: has been appointed to the staff at 'Duntroon College. He states that everyone oh the eastern front is now armed with a three-bladed dagger with a wooden grip like the top of a shovel. One blade protrudes between the fingers, and on the other side protrudes another longer blade, with a frontal blade which drives straight forward. The others stab backwards or uppercut. It is splendid for infighting. He describes a number of new types in expensive high explosives and the most destructive bombs, adding that Britain is now the paramount power for bombs and hand grenades . amongst , those •,concerned, and had a number of surprises on these lines up their sleeves, which they would shortly spring upon the foe. AMERICANS FIGHTING WITH ALLIES. Investigations show ’ that between fifty and sixty American youngsters have been *‘rescued” from the British Army by the United States Embassy in Lon(Ion. The Embassy has only interfered in cases where parents of the bovs have appealed for its intervention, and those restored are but part of the number ofj, ardent American minors who have. $»-• listed under the guise of Canadians. Dispatch-Rider Gordon Roberts, formerly of Sari 1 Franciaoo, a Liverpool mani now with .the British force in Flanders, writing to a San Francisco friend, says a^very-largo percentage jnf *he Canadian' detachment near : hts, location are Americans, the maionjfey hailing from Detroit. A b% sprinkling of the men were former natives of the United States, but crossed the international boundary to engage in the farming industry in various parts cf Canada. ' : r V' ■ Unofficial records show that t more than 2000 Americans are enrolled in the various divisions' of the British Army, mainlv the. Canadian' contingent. More : tbo": 100 are dead on the battlegrounds of Flanders. ■ . . „ ' . Americans are not only m the uniform of Rritain, huL are working various related capacities. More than' fifty are actively connected, with t\ie Ministry of Munitions ( aidihg, in. the reorganisation of British industries.. Some are mechanics, but thb majorjtv are skilled; engindobs . getting invaluable ■ of young men '.■frbm various A merman Universities are at • work in the 'armanifent buildings) t tyiutehall, London. .