New-York tribune., 1915-10-03
Displays Force on
Frontier to South,
East and North.
ULTIMATUM FOR
RUMANIA READY
Austria to Make Final De-
mand for Free Passage
of Munitions.
TONE TO BE FRIENDLY
Germany Undertakes Separate
Offensive Against Serbia
on the Danube.


London, Oct. 2.-The Balkan sit
uation continues tense, with Bull
garia still the centre of the political
storm. She is reported 70 be moving
troops TO her Serbian, Rumanian
and Greek frontiers and giving
other indications of an intention TO
act in the near future on the side
of the Central powers. Her prin-
cipal point of concentration will
probably be along the upper Strou-
ma River, near the Serbian border.
IL is reported through Cologne
that Austria is about to send an
ultimatum to Rumania demanding
the free passage Of munitions to
Turkey. The message says Aus
tria's ultimatum will be couched in
friendly terms, and that short in
terval will be given in which Ru-
mania may reply.
Germany, it would appear. has
undertaken an offensive against
Serbia independently of Austria.
and a Bucharest report says that
the Germans havs attempted. with
ou1 success, to sross the Danube
River near Semendria. 1t is at this
point that the main Serbian railway
most nearly approaches the frontier.
10000 on Serb Border.
Reports originating in various
places that an immense number Of
German and Austrian troops has
been concentrated on the Serbian
front appear to have been greatly
exaggerated, in the light of to-day's
advices.
Early reports gave the size OF
the Teutonic army as 100000 10
100000 men, who. it was represent
ed, were ready to hack a way to
Constantinople. 1t is now known
that only about 10000 men are
threatening Serbia.
While many writers discredit the
statements that .he Germans are send
ing large force against Serbia. others
believe sne Is doing so TO influence Bull
garia, who, IL is now realized. is only
waiting an opportune moment 70 throw
the weight Of her army In the scale
against The Allies.
Combined Move Foreshadowed
The moment she does so. the Allied
force which has been promised for the
support of Serbia, and which tho Paris
papers are confident is already in or on
the way TO Macedonia, will take a hand,
in cooperation il is hoped in the Al
lied countries with Greece. which is
already mobllizing. and Rumania,
which, IL is believed. will not yield 10
the Austro-H Hungarian ultimatum de-
mandlng the passage through Ruma-
nlan territory of munitions for Turkey.
Interest strategically In the Balkans
will be concerned mostly with the rail-
way by which Serbia can be supplied
with men and munitions. This runs
from Salonica TO Uskub, parallel with
and west of the Nardar River, and
thence to Mitrovitza. About sixty miles
from Salonica il passes within few
miles Of the Bulgarian border near
Strumitsa, the scene OF the laid by
Bulgarian irregulars a few months ago.
Milan (yia Paris, Oct. Bulgaria
is mobilizing all men up 20 the age OF
fifty-eight years. according 10
Bucharest dispatch 20 the "Corriere
della Sera." No citizen under forty
FIVE is permitted TO leave the country
and martial law has been proclaimed.
Pro o-Germsn demonstrations are re.
ported in Bulgarian cities along the
Danube.
Bulgarian artillery, the correspond
ent asserts, is being massed along the
frontier of DobrudJa, the part Of Ru-
mania bounded by the Black Sea and
the Danube which was taken from Bull
garia in 1873 and given 10 Rumania.
This section has a cosmopolitan popu-
lation.