The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-04
Order of R0umania for the
Mobilization of Troops
Causes Comment
BALKAN CONDITION
is EXTRAORDINARY
Hostilities Continue on Both Sides
Despite Declaration to Abstain
From Activities Pending
Arbitration

| London. July 3.-The condition of af-
| fairs in the Balkan rupture is extraordi-
nary. The "a hours which the Bulgarian
government accorded to Greece and Servia
to cease operations have expired. During
the same period Bulgaria undertook to alb
stain from hostiities in order to give Rus-
STA time to intervene in favor of peace.
But hostilities are being carried on by
both Sides apparently with the fierceness
characteristic of the Balkan soldiers, and
no declaration of war has yet been mace.
The respective diplomatic representatives
are still at their posts.
There is now only the faintest hope that
Russia or the powers will be able to pre-
vent the struggle which is to decide
whether or not Bulgaria shall be pre-
dominant in the Balkan confederation.
New Complication
A new complication arose today in tie
decision of Roumania to mobilize her
army. What role Roumania will play
is quite unknown, but she is generally eX-
pected to follow her traditional policy of
waiting on events, in readiness to take
advantage wherever it may be obtained
with the least risk and trouble Rou-
mania's mobilization causes uneasiness in
Austria, where 1t is regarded as a defeat
for Austrian diplomacy.
Little news has come to hand today CT
the military operations in Macedonia and
owing TO the fact that Bulgaria, as in the
former campaigns, is very reticent con-
cerning her military movements and be-
cause the reports from the Servian and
Greek side are clearly exaggerated, it is
| exceedingly difficult to form any estima e
of the actual position of affairs
1t is believed from the disposition OF
her troops that Bulgaria has carefully
prepared a plan to place some of her
forces between the Greeks and Servians
ard prevent their junction, and 1t is re-
ported that the Bulgarians are now exc
cutting a great fanking movement in the
direction of Egri Palanka
Issues No Report
! The Belgrade government issued no re-
ports from the theatre of war today.
but according to advices from Premier
| Pachitch to the Servian legation at Lon-
don, the Servian losses in the first three
| days fighting were 5000 killed and wound
ed. This included the great battle at
ovtchepolye. The Servians captured zoos
prisoners and 800 guns from the Bull
| RdTlanS, WHOSE CdSudllleS tActutu lne
Scrvians. Sixty of the prisoners were Of
| ficers.
That very heavy fighting occurred is
confirmed by the arrival of 1000 wounded
at belgrade.
| Official reports issued at Athens claim
| the capture of Guevgheli and Kilkish
after severe fighting and heavy losses. 1t
is added that Bulgarian prisoners declare
that the RlIlgarians are preparing to at
tack Salonilxi.
| The Salonild correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph describes King Constantine of
Greece as again displaying amazing
rapidity in his military movements. The
Greek second division which left Salonilii
after disarming the Bugarians Tuesday
afternoon, camped at night at Baldja, Is
miles to the north, where the King arrived
the next morning. He ordered a general
advance of eight divisions and at dusk
Wednesday the entrepched positions at
Kilkish were taken at the point of the
bayonet.
The correspondent adds: II believe that
the battle of Kilkish will be immortalized
as one of the finest examples of lightning
offensive in the military records of the
world. The Bulgarians made a great
stand within three miles of Kilkish, but
the Greeks 5000 strong delivered a ter
rifle bayonet charge, taking the position
and causing immense losses.
Occupy Nigrita
A dispatch from Athens announces that
the Greeks have occupied Nigrlta, to the
northeast of Salonil<i, which they found
burning. the inhabitants having been
massacred by the Bugarians.
There is still no news from the Bull
garian side and no contradiction of the
Servian occupation of Istip and the re-
capture by the Greeks of Guevgheli which
1F<.r- he -1-1
The Bulgarians' plan to prevent juno
ton of the Greek and Servian forces at
Guevghei has has failed Tt was report
ed that Bulgaria aimed at dividing the
Greek and Servian armies and defeating
them separately and then. wheeling round
intended to deal with Roumania.
Greece and Servia, however. suffered
less than Bulgaria In the last campaign
and their armies are in better cond-
ton.
According to a Berlin dispatch to the
Daily News, Bulgaria and Roumania have
accommodated their differences and
reached an agreement in which Bulgaria
is given a free hand against Servia and
Greece. But there is no confirmation
of this statement from other sources and
it is still unknown what course Roumania
with her army of 100000 men will adopt
The st. Petersburg correspondent of
the Times learns that in response to urg-
ent representations as Sofia and Bel
grade both governments have informed
Russia that they sent strict orders to
the front to cease fighting.
An Athens dispatch to the Daily Tele-
graph says that the Greek minister at
Sofia has been recalled.
The Bugarians the dispatch adds. are
retreatng over the Vardar bridge under
fire of the Greek artillery
Move Quarters
Salonili, July 3.-King Constantine and
his staff moved their quarters to Kilkish
this morning. 1t is reported that another