Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-11-26
THE DOGS OF WAR.
Let Slip By King Milan Over the
Bulgarian Frontier.
The Initial Skirmlsh Disastrous to the Bull
garIans-Advancing On Dragomsn Pass,
Where Sanguinary Conflict
Is Inevitable.


garIans-Advancing On Dragoman Pass,
Where a sanguinary Conflict
is Inevitable.
LONDON, November 5.-Grlm-vlsaged
Wars wrinkled front is glowing over
the Balkan provinces. Servia is at it
in earnest, and there is not to be child's
play. A dispatch received last evening
says the first actual battle occurred on or
about noon yesterday at Tru, little vii
lage on the Bulgarian frontier, on the
road to Viaslna, by the advance guard
coming Unexpectedly upon body of
Bulgarian skirmishers. The Servians'
advance was compelled to halt under the
heavy fire of the enemy. Reinforcements
were hurried forward and were met by
large body of Bulgarians who had come
up to support their skirmishers.
The Servians formed and
CALAMITY charged the Bulgarian
position, forcing them to retreat after
hot fight. The pursuit was kept up for
some distance. The casualties are not
known vet, but from what can be ascer-
tanned the Bulgarlans suffered severely.
This first victory greatly elates the Ser
vians, who are pressing forward with all
speed. The first great battle Is expected
to take place this Sunday morning,
when the advance forces expect to reach
Dragoman Defile, rocky gorge on the
frontier. A large force OF Bulgarlans
have been concentrated in this pass aud
have thrown up intrenchments. A
bloody and -sanguinary conflict Is ex-
pected.
At Belgrade it was officially announced
yesterday that force of Bulgarians on
Thursday attacked body of Servans near
Viaslna. The Servlans returned the fire.
Ten Bulgarians, killed or wounded, were
left on Servlan territory, Several OF the
Sclvlans were wounded. In consequence
of the attack OF the Bulgarians, the Cabi-
net on Friday decided to declare war.
Accordingly peace ended and war began
Yesterday morning, when the Servan
army moved over the border. King
Milan has assumed command of the
Scrvian army and active operations will
be begun at once. The Servian army has
commenced moving forward and an ad-
NuHCC Ou DOuu 10 dutiSipdtSbs AhS
troops displayed much enthusiasm.
The Servian army Is marching In three
divisions on Sofia General Horvatovtch
commands the left wing, General Losh-
yeana the right and King Milan the
center. The whole force Is expected
TO concentrate at Sofia on November 22d.
The roads are covered with snow, re-
tarding the progress OF the army.
Dispatches from Belgrade state that
King Milan has informed the powers that
Servia has declared war against Bulgaria
because Bulgaria arbitrarily attacked a
position which the Moravia division OF
the Kings troops held in Servian terri
torv, opposite the Bulgarian frontier.
King Milan has also issued procla-
nation, which is In substance as follows: /:
"Servia can not allow Bulgaria. which
has already proved hard neighbor, to
disturb the balance of power in the Bal
kans to her exclusive advantage" He
then alludes to what he calls the unjustl-
fable Bulgarian customs duties on the
frontier; the unlawful seizure Of Bregova
and the encouragement by Bulgaria OF
the Servian rebels condemned for high
treason. liking Milan here refers probably
to Peko Pavlovch, the Herzegovinian
chief, and Pashico, the Servlan Radical
leader who was expelled by King Milan
from the Skupstschina. Copies of revo-
lutionary proclamations signed by these
men and distributed throughout Servia
were recently found by Scrvian officials,
and the latter claimed that they were
disseminated by the rcvolutonists under
Bulgarian protection. This Bulgaria
denied, claiming that the men were manv
miles distant from the Servian frontier
lntcrncd in fortress.)
King Milan also aludcs to alleged ILL
treatment OF Servian cmigrants In Bul.
gara; the blockade of the frontier by
Bulgaria, aud alleged attacks by undis-
ciplincd Bulgarian volunteers on the
Servian people and troops. In conclusion
the King says: 81 cannot suffer these In
territorial provocalions, and | therefore
adopt the policy of open hostility which
has been forced upon me by Bulgaria.
Servia's Just cause now rests on the arbi-
trament Of arms, the bravery OF her
army, the protection of the Almighty.
rely upon my peoples patriotism.
The various forces o! Soryia are as
follows: Field army, 62,0SS men with
264 guns; reserve formations, l2, S56
meu with 81 guns; reserve army, OF
landwehr, 52,270 men with l20 guns;
landstrum, As, 900 men, or total of no..
4l2 officers aud men, and 4l3 guns. The
Infantry Is armed with the Mauser rife,
improved by Major Nee ,vanovitch, which
is OF a callbre of 1915 nillimetres. The
artillery is variously armed with muzzle-
leaders and Krupp euns. The total cav.
airy force included In the above, numbers
1900 men.
The Bulgarian field army consists of
"a, 900 infantry, l,400 cavalry, two regi-
ments and one company of artillery, 2,3t0
men; a battalion of engineers, $50 men |;
detachment of train, 1000 men, and a
force OF gendearmerie, 900 men; or a
total force of 32, 220 men with lOi guns.
The infantry Is armed with Berdan rifles
and the batteries have Krupp guns and
guns of the latest Russian pattern. The
reserve force consists OF $4,000 men.
There are also twelve battalions of land
strum Of 600 men each, or 1900 men,
making a total force of 60,000 men.
There is no want of arms, but there is
scarcely sufficient force of cavalry and
artillery. The cavalry numbers l,50C
men. The scarcity of officers, since many
of the Russian officers returned home, is
also a serious matter. Prince Alexander
Is an aOle and energetic soldier.
The Eastern Roumelian army com
prises is, 224 men OF the first levy, l9,
ls7 of the second, 2S,l97 of the reserve
aud 2,422 men of the active reserve. max.
ing total Of 81, $50 men. The number
of officers available is altogether out oI
proportion to the number OF men. There
is no scarcity OF arms, as there is about
$4,000 Kruka, 1000 Berdan and 5000
Martini-IIenry rifles in the province,
The artillery consists of four guus. The
Bulgarian arsenals at Rusischuk and
Rasgrad contain q good supply Of arms,
uniforms and equipments. The arsenal