The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-11-21
THE DOGS OF WAR.
Let Slip By King Milan Over the
Bulgarian Frontier.
The Initial Skirmish Disastrous to the Bull
garians-Advancing On Dragoman Pass,
Where n SangulDary Conflict
Is Inevitable.

the Balkan provinces. Servia is at it
in earnest, and there is not to be chlld's
play. dispatch received last evening
says the first actual battle occurred on or
about noon yesterday at Tru, little viii
lage on the Bulgarian frontier, on the
road to ViasIna, by the advance guard
coming Unexpectedly upon body Of
Bulgarian skirmlshers. The Servians'
advance was compelled to halt under the
heavy fire of the enemy. Reinforcements
were hurried forward and were met by q
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 a
hot fight. The pursuit was kept up for
some distance The casualties are not
known vet, but from what can be ascer-
tanned the Bulgarians suffered severely.
This first victory greatly elates the Ser
VANS, 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 Detile. "a rocky gorge on the
frontier. A large force of Bugarians
have been concentrated in this pass aud
have thrown up intrenchments. A
bloody and sanguinary conflict is ex-
pected.
Al Belgrade 1t was officially announced
yesterday that force of Bulgarlans on
Thursday attacked body OF Servians near
Viasina. The Servians returned the fire.
Ten BulCarians, killed or wounded, were
left on Servian territory, Several of the
Selvans were wounded. In consequence
of the attack OF the Bulgarlans, 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
Servian army and active operations will
be begun at once. The Servian army has
commenced moving forward and an ad.
vance on Sofia is anticipated. The
troops displayed much enthusiasm.
Tho Servian army Is marching in three
divisions on Sofia. General Horvatovitch
commands the left wing, General Losh-
yeania the right and King Milan the
center. The whole force Is expected
60 concentrate at Sofia on November 22d.
The roaGs are covered with snow, re-
tar ling the progress of the army.
Dispatches from Belgrade state thai
King Milan has informed the powers that
Servia has declared war against Bulgaria
because Bulgaria arbitrarily attacked a
position which the Morava division oil
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 mel ghbor, to
disturb the balance of power in the Bal
kans to her exclusive advantage" He
then alludes to what he calls the unjusti.
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. (King Milan here refers probably
to Peko Pavlovch, the Herzegovniau
chief, and Pashico, the Servlan Radical
leader who was expelled by King Milar
from the Skups,schina. Copies of revo.
lulionary proclamations signed by these
mn and distributed throughout Servit
were recently found by Servian officials
and the latter claimed that they were
disseminated by the revolutionists under
Bulgarian protection. This BulgariG
denied, claiming that the men were many
miles distant from the Servian frontier
informed in fortress.)
King Milan also alludcs TO alleged i'll
treatment OF Servian emigrants in Bull
garia; the blockade of the frontier By
Bulgaria, and alleged attacks by unds
| cipincd Bulgarian volunteers gu thu
| Scrvian people and troops, In conclusion
the King says: ~ cannot suffer these In
territorial provocations, and therefore
adopt the policy of open hostility whicl
has been forced upon me by Bulgaria
Servia's just cause now rests on the arbi
trament of arms, the bravery of he
army, the protection of the Almighty
/ rely upon my peoples patriotism"
The various forces OF Servia are a
follows: Field army, 62,OSS men wit
264 guns; reserve formations, 1913
meu with 81 guns; reserve army, o
landwehr, 52,270 men with 100 guns
landstrum, 40, 900 men, or total of ITO
4l2 officers and men, and 4l3 guns. Tn
infantry is armed with the Mauser rifle
| improved BY Major Mecovanovitch, whic
is of calibre of 1915 millimetres TIL
ar illery is variously armed with muzzle
| leaders and Krupp euns. The total cay
airy force included in the above, number
] 1900 men.
The Bulgarian field army consists O
q, 900 infantry, 400 cavalry, two regi
ments and one company ofartillery, 1884
men; battalion of engineers, $50 men
n detachment of train, 1000 men, and
force of gendearmerie, 1000 men; or
total force of 80, 220 men with 104 guns
The Infantry is armed with Berdan rife
and the batteries have Krupp guns an
guns of the latest Russian pattern. Tn
reserve force consists OF 24, 900 men
There are also twelve battalions OF lanC
strum of 600 men each, or 1900 mel
making a total force of 10000 mel
There is no want of arms, but there
scarcely a sufficient force of cavalry an
artillery. The cavalry numbers 1,5C
men. The scarcity Of officers, since mar
of the Russian officers returned home,
also q serious matter. Prince Aexand,
is an aoie and energetic soldier.
The Eastern Roumellan army cor
prses 1924 men of the first levy, Is
lS7 of the second, 1897 of the reser'
and ?, 422 men of the active reserve, nal