The National tribune., 1885-11-26
THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.
Varying Success OF the Belligerents, but the Bul.
garians Ahead.

During the first few days of the war between
Servia and Bulgaria, the former appeared to
have everything in their own hands, defeating
the Bulgarians in every engagement. Large
numbers of prisoners were taken by the victors,
besides great amounts of ammunition and other
implements of war The Bulgarians appeared
to be thoroughly dispirited, great numbers of
them throwing down their arms and fleeing in
panic at the mere sight of the Servians, and
there seemed every prospect that the march of
King Milan and his victorious army to Sofa
would be accomplished without any difficulty
at all. All this news has, however, been re-
ceived from Servian sources and may be taken
with a grain of allowance, although there can
be no doubt at al that the Bugarians were
greatly worstcd.
Affairs have, however, now taken complete
turn. The Bulgarians seemed to have pick ed
up their courage and are making decided and
successful stands against the Servians at every
point In last weeks NATIONAL tribune we
left the Bulgarans at Slivnitz, on which point
the Scrvians were then marching and an inn
portant battle imminent, which there seemed
every prospect of them gaining. The Bull
garians, however, marched out from their
positions, recaptured Bresnik and dispersed
the Servians in the neighborhood, recapturing
all the important positions which menaced
SlivnitZ. The Bul garianS were led by Prince
Alexander in person. In the battle it is esti-
mated that no less than 5000 Servians were
killed or wounded, besides the loss Of 356 horses
and 10 cannon. This success seems to have in
spirited the Bulgarians and the utmost enthusi
asm prevails throughout the Principality.
Hundreds of recruits are joining the army daily
and going to the front The courage of Prince
Alexander seems to have spread to all divisions
of his army, and his troops endure the greatest
hardships with remarkable fortitude-in many
instances encamping at night in the coldest
parts of the mountain, without even tents or
blankets. The Servians have become quite
dispirited over their reverses, and it is not
likely that the war will be of long duration
unless some Of the great powers become entan-
gled.
Turkey has proposed an armistice between
the belligerents, but the Bulgarians are unwill-
ing to stop fighting until they have expelled
the Servians while King Milan will not cease
hostilities until he has retrieved his recent de-
feat. Turkey has also warned Servia that if
she does not at once withdraw her troops,
Turkeys troops will invade that country.
On Sunday and Monday last, tritiing skir-
mishes took place between Servaand Bulgaria,
who are both awaiting re-enforcementS The
Servians are reported as getting prepared for
final move on SlivnitZ, which place it is
expected they will lombard. The Servians are
still disprited and looking anxiously for an
intercession of the Powers. Prince Alexander,
of Bulgaria, says that he will only talk about
an armistce when he gets on Servian territory.
The latest dispatch states that the Servians
have evacuated all the positions heretofore oc-
cupied by them. DragOman, Bresnik, Pernik
and 1zvor, all places of more or less strategic
Importance, are in the hands of the Bulgarians.