The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-17
Ferdinand's War Manifesto ArOuses Enthusiasm of the Inhabitants of Sofia. Victory Predicted
TEUTONS REPORTED
 ON DEFENSIVE ON
 EASTERN FRONT
Berlin Reports Repulse of Russian Attacks on the Forces of Field Marshal VOn Hindenburg

London, October 17.-Aliied troops left snIonil<i Saturday to join the Ser vian army fighting nt the serbo- Bui- earIan frontier. according to mn Ath- ems dispatch to Reuters Telegram com pnny.
 Pctrograd, October 16.-(Nia London, October 17.)-British submarines oper- ntIng in the Baltic sea have sunk five German transports and forced another ashore. according to s Russian off cinl statement tonight.
 Sofia; October 14.-tvia London. Oc- tober I6.)-rhe Bulgarian general of- fensive began this morning, the en- tire line being very active. Acco ordin ' to reports brought in by m aviator nt noon the Bulgarian troops hnd aI- ready penetrated Servian territory. at some places n distance of about six miles.
 The public received without excite ment the Kings manifesto declaring n state of wnr with Scrvia. The crowds around the bilIbonrds rend the docu- ment calmly. hut the passages "We will advance simultaneously with the victorious armies of the central pow
 IyOndop- OCfnhar .--R n . joined Greece In declining to enlarge the field of conflict ir the near east by de- claring officially that the Rdumanier government Intends to preserve striei neutrality.
 This step followed close on intImations from unofficial German sources that II was time that Bucharest gave moro definite indications of Roumanas stand, in view of the latest developments in the Balkans. From a German source also comes q report that the British and French ministers are leaving Athens. but this report is without confirmation and is discredited here.
 Unofficial reports from Petrograd say the Germans appear to be on the defen- sive on the entire line, except that sec ton near DvinslS which. 1t was said. they have been ordered to capture at any cost.
 Russian Attacks Repulsed
 Berlin, however. officially reports Rus sian attacks not only before Dvinslx, but at a number of other places, and adds that they have been repulsed. These at tacks were all comprised within the army group of Field Marshal Won Hindenburg. which is taken to mean that the Russitns have assumed something In the nature of general offensive along the front of which Dvinsl forms Q vital salient
 Along the western front many isolated bomb attacks have occurred with varying fortunes. Italy is again unofficially re- ported to be on the verge of joining her allies in the Balkan campaign. While the French and British continue to land troops at Saloniki for the army which will be under the supreme command of General Sarrail. the former commander in-chief of the French army of the orient, the Germans announce that their forces continue to make headway against the Seryians, whose positions south of Sem endria have been stormed.
 The Bulgarans are said to have forced the frontier ridges at several points be- tween Negotin and StrumMa That Bull garia does not anticipate any hostile ac- from Bucharest that Greece has pur- chased large amounts of wheat from Roumania. which will be permitted pass age through BulRarIap tprrftorv