The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-18
DECLARES
 WAR ON BULGARIA
 SAySPAR|S REPORT
Council of Ministers, Pre- sided Over by President POincare, Decides to
 Fight the Bulgars

Paris, October 17.-The council of ministers, presided over by President Poincare, announced at noon today that state of war existed between France and Bulsaris dating from 6 a. m.. De- tober 1e.
 The ministers held q special meeting sunday at Elysee palace and after xo- Ing over in council the diplomatic and military situation adopted the follow ing,
 Bulgaria. having taken action with our enemies and against the allies of France. the government of the republic announces that a state of war exists between Bull garia and France from October 16 at 6 o'clock in the morning. through the action of Bulgaria. '
 England Also at War
 The declaration of state of war be- tween France and Bulgaria follows the line of action taken by the British except the time is fixed at a. m. Saturday in- stead of the British hour of 10 D. m. Fri day. The time named in the French state- ment Is that at which the commander of the allied fleet in the eastern Mediter- ranean was ordered to blockade the Aegean sea coast of Bulgaria
 Successes for the French in the Artois district and in Lorraine are reported in todays war office statement Southeast of Melville St. vaast in the Artois region a strong barricade was seized and held against counter attacks. In Lorraine, north of Reilon, 100 meters of trenches were captured.
 AviatOrs Are Busy
 French afrmen have bombarded a Ger many army provision post at Maizieres q Azoudang. and the Avricourt railroad station.
 The communication says:
 In Artois we seized a long barrIcade last night southeast of Neuville St. Vaast and maintained ourselves therA after having repulsed two counter attacks in the course of the night
 In the sector of Lihons there was a violent bombardment on both sides.
 There is no incident to report from the Aisne front, in Champagne, or fh tho Argonne
 Tn Lorraine we again captured 100 metres of trenches in the course of stub born combats fought at close quarters.
 During the night of the 18th our ayia tors bombarded the German army pro- vision post of Maizieres d Azoudanee and the railroad station of Avricourt
 Heavy Artillery Duel
 Tonight's statement said:
 Violent artillery engagements continue before LOos, the "Boisen- Hache'' and to the east of Souchez We have consou- dated and enlarged our positions in the Givcheny wood
 On the Aisne close fighting with gre nades is reported in the environs of Godat
 There has been a continuous arti1- lery duel of an intense character in Champagne. particularly in the region of Tahure. F.
 "On the Lorraine front we have replied to the cannonade of the enemy by an effective fire which caused outbursts of flames at several points in inc German lines near Leintrey. Amenon- court and Gondreacon. Violent and re- peated German counter attacks against our positions to the north of Reillon were arrested by our barrier fire
 "The Germans, having again recently carried out aerial bombardments aeains. English towns and one of their aero. planes having dropped yesterday two bombs on Nancy group of our aero planes today bombarded the town of Treves CRheinish Prussia). on which sol shells were dropped.' The official communication from Belgian headquarters reads:
 The night and morning were calm In the afternoon the enemy displayed more activity He cannonaded the region to the south of Dixmude and bombarded with artillery and bomb throwers the dis trict between steenstrete and the Ferry mans House.