The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-16
RUSSIANS FIRE ON
BULGARIAN PORT
Bombardment of Varna on the
Black Sea Carries the
War Into Balkans.
EVENT MARKS ANOTHER CLIMAX
Allies Rushing Troops TO Servia to
Head Off Austro-German Inva-
sion-French Make Gain.

London, Oct 8.-Two Russian
cruisers are bombarding Varna, Bull
garia's principal port on the Black
Sea, and the invasion of Servia by a
large Austro-German force is under
way. A new climax in the world war
has thus been reached, fraught with
grave consequences
Along the Serbo-Bulgarian frontier,
or scattered at strategic points, are
several hundred thousand Bulgarian
troops, while farther to the southeast,
behind the Tchatalja line, the Turks
also may have strong reserves ready
10 be thrown into battle
The British and French forces land
ed at Saloniki are already we'll on
their way along the railway running
north from SalOnGd to Nish, the Ser
Wan war capital, u distance of about
$50 miles, to aid The Serbs, whether
1t be against the Austro-Ger or
the Bulgarians.
Rumanian Mobilization Goes On.
The ultimate stand that Greece and
Rumania will take as a result Of a
change in the situation in the Balkans
= =
Zation continues, but no word has
been Youchsafed officially as to wheth-
er it purposes to remain in state of
armed neutrality or join one of the
contending factions.
The new Greek coalition cabinet
will announce its program to parlia-
ment next Monday. King Constantine
has given no indication that he in
tends to swerve from his original po-
sition that Greece should not enter the
war.
French Claim Gain.
Champagne, the country over which
the French made their big gains late
in September, is still the main district
of contention in the West The re-
ports are so contradictory, however,
that it is difficult 20 ascertain what is
actually happening. The Germans adj
nit that the French have made slight
progress, but, on The whole, claim to
have repulsed the allied general Of
fensive. On the other hand, the
French declare that it is German
offensive which has been repulsed.
Allies Break with Bulgaria.
Sofa, Oct THE Russian, French,
British and Italian ministers have
asked for their passports, Bulgaria's
answer to the Russian Ultimatum be-
ing unsatisfactory. The Serbian min
lister also has asked for his passports.
London, Oct. Even the greatest
battles Of the war may prove TO have
had less weight in deciding the future
of Europe than the events CT the past
few days in the southeastern king
doms
King Constantine OF Greece, brother
in-law of the German emperor, appears
to hold the balance of power of the
Near East in his hand for the hour
In the second crisis, where Greece
seemed on the brink of entering the
war by the side of the entente powers,
he has virtually dismissed the fore
most Greek statesman, EleutheriOs
Venizelos, from the premiership and
has asserted personal control of the
government
King Ferdinand of Bulgaria has re-
| jected Russia's ultimatum demanding
| that she break with the Central pow
| ers and exDeI German officers, who
| have taken charge of Bulgaria's army
staff, and at the same time, according
/ to several correspondents, has sent
an ultimatum to Servia, allowing a
time limit of twenty-four hours for
the cession of Macedonia to Bulgaria.
The Germanic Program.
The program OF the Germanic en-
| pires apparently includes the cOnsoli-
dation of their field operations with
their Turkish allies by sweeping clear
channel from Berlin and Vienna to
ConstantinopIe. For the accomplish
ment of this program they have al
ready obtained the cooperation of Bull
garia They need the neutrality of
Greece and Rumania and then must
crush Servia-
Greek Premier Resigns.
| London, Oct. Greece is now the
central point of the storm which is
likely to break over the Balkans at
any moment. The Greek premier,
vonizelos, has carried his policies
| through the Greek chamber with a
majority of 40, some members not
voting, but the Athens cores ondent
| of the Havas Agency is authority for
the announcement that VeniZelOs lat
er resigned because King Constantine
informed him that he was unable TO
support the policy Of his ministry
! nreN,fus Com n1ands Eorf