Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-09
BULGARS EXPECTED
TO STRIKE IN REAR
Developments in Balkans
Are Coming in Most
Startling Manner

~ ooasA"oA Will Iuc LTlud, Dau-
ube and Save rivers at their backs. in
an attempt to seize the trunk railway
stretching from Belgrade to both Sa-
loniki and Constantinople.
The next move lies with Bulgaria.
Whether she will attack Serbia from
the rear while the central powers are
hammering at the northern and north
western gates, or maintain for the mo-
ment a watchful attitude, is a matter
of surmise, but the situation is such
that her entry into the war seems to
be matter only of hours.
Russian Fleet Busy.
Russian warships are already re-
ported to be hurting shells at the Bull
garian port Of Varna, on the Black
sea. French and British troops are
being rushed northward from Salon
TX. by express trains. Meanwhile, at
the point where the railway ap-
proaches closest to Bulgarian territory
both an allied and a Bulgarian army
are massing.
Virtually made over in guns and
equipment and strengthened by Brit
ISL and French effectives, it is pre-
dicted here that the Serbians will Of
fer stubborn resistance to the Austro.
German advance They will be as
sisted by the flood conditions In the
Morava valley. down which Field Mar
shall Won Mackensen hopes to force
his way.
Estimates of the strength Of the
Austro-German forces along the Ser
HI &o
100000 men. There may have been
withdrawals by the Austrians and
Germans from some parts Of the east
ern front, but the renewed effort of
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg to cap
ture Dvinsk does not indicate any
weakening Of the troops under his
command.
Developments Come Fast.
With the drive at Serbia by heavy
force Of Germans and Austrians led
by Field Marshal Won Mackensen well
under way, the Balkan situation is
bringing forth new developments al.
most hourly.
A Nish dispatch late last night stat
ed that an aeroplane coming from Bul.
garia subjected the Serbian city to an
aerial bombardment, killing five per
sons and wounding two others.
The Bulgarian military authorities
have taken over the railroad from the
Bulgarian seaport of Dedeaghatch on
the Aegean and Mustapha Pasha in
Thrace, forty miles of which line runs
Turkish territory.
London hears unoficially that the
q i'm q n
attitude of benevolent neutrality to-
ward the entente allies
Advices from Nish through Athens
state that the Serbians believe Greece
will not abandon Serbia as Serbia and
Greece are equally threatened by the
new developments in the Balkans.
BuIgars Decide Course.
) Bulsaria's intention to enter the
war on the side of the central powers
is proclaimed Berlin dispatches state,
in a manifesto to the Bulgarian ma
tion. aThe manifesto states that 1t
would be suicidal for Bulgaria not to
align herself with Germany and her
allies.
According to the quoted text of the
manifesto, parts Of Serbia have been
to Bulgaria by the Teutonic
powers whose victory is declared to
be assured. In that victory, it is az
firmed, the desire for the union OF all
Bulgarian peoples will be realized.
The Venizelos party in Greece will
not oppose the new government, Paris
hears from Athens, as overthrow OF
the cabinet would mean dissolution
of the Greek chamber, which, 1t is con-
sidered would be hazardous at this
critical time.
An Athens dispatch states that
Greeks consider that King
Constantine has gained prestige by
hia recent course, while Former Pre-
nier Venizelos has suffered a cores
nonding loss. General sentiment in
Athens, the dispatch declares, seem
inelv is that the kings policy has saw
ed Greece from war into which Venl-
zelos would have led 1t.
Big Guns Busy in West.
Again there is little but artillery
action reported from the front in
france. Much of this was Of violent
character. There has been much
trench fighting. however, near Tahure.
which the French recently took from
the Germans.
Continued on page 50