The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-11-16
FOREIGN.
War Between Servia and Bulgaria
Actively Opened.
Several Bloody Engagements Won by
the Servians.
King Milan Gives His Reasons TO
Beginning Hostilities.
A St. Petersburg Journal Hints that
England is Responsible for
the War.
The English cunboats Capture King
ThebaW's War Vessel.

The English CunboatS Capture King
Thebaw's War Vessel.
VIENNA, Nov 14-The greatest excitement
prevails here over the latest news from Servia.
War has finally been declared, and the Seryian
troops are on the march, What the end will be
none can foresee. The first intimation of this
action on the part of the Seryian government was
received here from Sofia last night, but was not
generally credited until this morning. when its
confirmation was made by the Servian ambassador
here. The general and most reliable opinions
agree that the war has been precipitated by the
blunderings of the Constantinople conference.
Their note to King Milan ordering disarmament
of his troops, which elected his curt and fiat
refusal, gave him no other alternative He had to
proceed to carry out his designs at once for delay
would have enabled the conference to compel him
to demobilize, which meant revolution and the
possible loss of his crown
Taking advantage of the late Bulgarian raid into
Vlasina, he this morning officially announced to
Prince Alexander, through M. Rangabade, the
Seryian envoy at Bucharest, that he considered
this raid an outrageous and unjuStifable act He
felt it his duty to resent it, and war was
announced.
Prince Alexanders reply was courteous and to
the point He bowed to the inevitable.
Dispatches arriving here at noon state that
King Milan has issued stirring address to his
troops and assumed personal command. Belgrade
is wild with joy and the troops manifest the great
est enthusiasm The march toward the Bulgarian
frontier began at 10 o'clock this morning.
The following has been received as the probable
plan of campaign decided on by. King Milan. It
King Man's staff. The main movement will be
made directly on Sofia, by the highway or state
road leading from Palanka, on the Danube. Two
Of the largest divisions, composed Of the flower
of the Servian army, commanded by the King in
person, will take this course as it is considered
the one where the most opposition will be expert
enced for not only is Sofia strongly defended, but
the Dragoman pass most important mountain
strongly guarded by the best Of the Bulgarian
army. The pass bristles with cannon, something
which the Seryians lack sadly, and Prince Alex
Servians expect to demonstrate their superior
fighting qualities. The pass once taken, south
at the mercy of the invaders, for Sofia can hardly
hold out against the force Milan has with him.
The other point to be, attacked simultaneously
with Sofia is Widdn on the Danube, in the north
western portion OF Bulgaria, some 100 miles
north Of Sofia Two divisions of Seryians will
proceed to invest this strategic point, as it is con-
sidered the key to Bucharest, and, if taken,
Prince Alexander would have his flank turned
and his communications with his capital cut off.
For two months past the BulgarianS have been
working night and day these fortifications, and
here the mass of their artillery is located, incud-
Servans will hardly be able to take it without a
siege and at all events will get warm reception.
Another single division nc Of Serga9s VIII attempt
some place midway between Widdin and
Sofia.
The effect of the news in Constantinope is tre-
mendous, so private despatch says. Later in |
formation states that the Turks are hurryng mas
ses of troops to Pristina near the Servan 'front.'
er. At the first hostile act against Turkey, hun
dred thousand men will be thrown over the Ser
Wan frontier into King Milan's domains. All
Constantinope. The Austrian war office is ssu-
ing secret orders to the different division com
T5e on the Bourse here IS intense
Adyices from Sofia state that the Bulgarians are
in excellent condition. The town men are said to |
be enthusiastic and their German officers conf
dent. The town is much excited over the news,
and troops are being rapidly pushed forward from |
the Interior The Dragoman pass is being rapidly /
massed with troops.
LONDON, Nov. IA despatch from Belgrade |
states that King Milan's army which is marching |
toward Sofia, has its two wings commanded by |
King himself commands the centre. The march |
Of the army is very slow, on account of the condi,
ton of the roads. Winter has set in early, and /
the roads and passes in the mountains are deep |
with snow.
later despatch states that the first actual bat
tie occurred about today at Tru, little vii
lage on the Bulgarian frontier, on the road to /
Vlasina, by the advance guard coming unexpect- |
ServianS advance was compelled to halt under the |
heavy fire of the enemy. Reinforcements were L
hurried forward, and were met by large body of |
Bulgarians, who had come up to support their
skrmishers. The Servians formed and calamity /
charged the Bulgarian position forcing them to re
treat after hot fight. The pursuit was kept up /
for some distance. The casualties are not known /
yet, but from what can be ascertalned the Bulga- |
rans suffered severely. This first victory greatly
elated the Seryians who are pressing forward with
all speed
BELGRADE, Nov. lathe Seryian army crossed |
the Bulgarian frontier at O'Clock this morning |
in three divisions, at Tsaribrod, Klesovia and 1
Bregovia They met with no resistance in cross L
ing. Sharp fighting occurred at Tru on the Vlas-
wounded on both Sides The Bulgarans retreated |
at all points. Fhe whole iServian army is now in
Bulgarian territory.
4 A TI,a folIo has i,,eA
issued by the government: The Seryians having |
invaded Bulgaria today, near TSaribrod, before |
declaring war, Bulgaria has decided to uphold L
the national cause by all means at her disposal. |
Intense excitement prevails, and active prepara- |
tions are being made to defend the city A num-
Der of heavy guns are being mounted in all valu- |
able positions commanding the different roads |
leading to the city.
1t is OFFICIALLY announced that force of Bull |
garians. on Thursday attacked body of Seryi- |
ans near Vlasina. The Servans returned the |
fire, and ten Bugarians, dead. OF wounded. were |
Bulgarans, the cabinet Friday, decided to de- |
clare war. The Servian troops have captured |
Tru and occupied the heights.
lLATER.1
LONDON, Nov. 15.-Despatches from Belgrade
this evening state that King Milan today in
formed the Powers that Servia had declared war |
tackled position which the Moravia division of |
the kings troops held in Seryian territory oppo |
issued proclamation which is in substance as |
follow
"Seryia cannot allow Bulgaria. which has al
ready proved ha6d ara pelgnpor 4 70 aisturG the bal
vantage" He then alludes to what he calls the
unjustifable Bulgarian custom duties on the |
frontier; the unlawful seizure of Bregovia and the
encouragement by Bulgaria of the Servian rebels
condemned for high treason (King Milan here
refers probably d1 10 ekS tSe e
leader who was expelled by King Milan from |
the Skuptschene) Copies of the revolutionary |
proclamations signed by these men and distrlb-
uted throughout Servia We're recently found by |
the Servian officials and the latter claimed that
BULGARIAN protection. This Bulgaria denies,
claiming that the men were many miles distant /
from the Seryian frontier confined in fortress.
ment of Servian emigrantS in Bulgaria, the block
ade of the frontier by, Bulgaria and alleged at
the Servian people and troops. In conclusion the
King says: cannot suffer these intentional |
open hostility which has been forced upon me by |
Bulgaria. Servia's Just cause now rests on the |
arbitrament OF arms the bravery OF her soldiers
and the protection of the Almighty. | reply upon
my peoples patriotism"
LONDON, Nov. 15.-Tie g declaration of war by |
Servia against Bulgaria caused depression in the |
way securities and European bonds fell per |
cent.
The various forces of Servia are as follows: |
Field army, 60,28S men, with 264 guns; reserve |
formations, 1886 men with "a guns; reserve |
army or landwehr, 52,270 men with 12O guns; |
Landestrum run 40, ooomenmor total tai Of 17Q412
armed with the Manser rifle improved by maj. |
McCovanovitch, which is of a cabre of 1015 mil |
limetres. The artillery is variousy armed with |
muzzle leaders and Krupp guns. The total cav |
airy force included in the above numbers 1900 |
men.
The Bulgarian field army consists of 24,0Oo in |
fantry, 1400 cavalry, two regiments and one COM
pany of artillery 234o men, battalion of engin- |
eers, $50 men, a detachment of train 1000 men, |
and force Of gendarmerie 1000 men; or a total |
force of 81, ,22O men, with 104 guns The infan- |
try is armed with the Bredan rifle and the batter
les have Krupp guns, and guns of the latest Rus
sian pattern. The reserve force consists of $4,000
men. There are also IL battalions of landstrum
of 600 men each, or 1900 men. There is no want
of arms, but there is lack of SUFFICIENT force of
cavalry and artillery Prince Alexander is an
able and energetic soldier.
The eastern Roumelian army comprises 1924 |
men of the first levy, 19,1S7 Of the second, 23197
of the reserve, and 1922 men of the active re-
serve, making total of 64,03o men, and with no
scarcity of arms.
VLASSINA, Nov. ia skirmish has taken
place near here, between the Bulgarian and Servi-
an troops. Eleven men were killed and 20 wound
ed The Bulgarians have retired from Tru, Tsar-
bid, Klesroia and Bregovia.
SOFIA, Nov. 15.-The Servians commenced OPP
erations by vigorous attack on the Bulgarian po
stion at Bewskedal. descending from the heights
Of Dastcheni and Kloderitz the Servians occu-
pied the Bulgarian villages of MilOstawtZi, Ze-
lcne, Gard. and Zeyontzi. They met with no OPP
position. No serious action has yet occurred. The
Bulgarian troops have left for the frontier, while