Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-28
SERBS FIGHTING
FOR LIFE WHILE
WAITING FOR AID
Teutons and Bulgarians Are
Closing the Net About
Heroic Defenders
FRENCH AND BRITISH
SLOW IN APPEARING

Few Changes Occur in tn
Relative Positions on
Other Battle Lines
Berlin, Oct. 27 = German troops
under Field Marshal Won Hinden-
burg have penetrated Russian posi-
tions over front Of more than a
mile In the fighting in the Dvinsk
region, the war office announced
today.
Berlin, Oct. 27.-Direct connec-
tton between the Austro-German
forces in Serbia and the BuI-
garian army Of General Boyadjoff
has been established on the
Danube river east Of Brza Pal
anka, according to the official an
nouncement given out today BY
the German army headquarters
staff.
Paris, Oct. 27.-The Hestia Of
Athens as quoted by the Havas
sgency, says that steps are being
taken by the Bulgarian and Tur-
kish ministers to Greece with es-
tabIishing the right Of their gov
ernment's troops to pursue the
Scrbians and their allies into
Greek territory should the oeea-
sion arise. ,@
London, Oct. 27. The desperate
plight Of the Serbians, which has been
described ever since the beginning Of
the Austro- German and Bulgarian in.
vasions as IAN affair of national life
or DEATH is no longer rhetorical
phrase, but the literal truth. London's
optimism regarding the outcome OF
the Balkan conflict, which had been
colored by reports of the determined
Serbian resistance and the difficulties
which the invaders are meeting, has
now yielded to the conviction that 1t
will take something in the nature of a
miracle to avert a disaster for Serbia.
Lord Lansdowne's exposition of the
Macedonian campaign in the house of
lords yesterday is regard as an indica-
ton that the assistance the allies have
been able to offer Serbia is not suff1-
cient to meet her needs. The appeal
Of the Serbian premier to England ito
do everything you can to ensure your
troops reaching us as soon as pos
sible." intimates the resistance of the
Serb1ans is nearing it's last stage.
Austro-German and Bulgarian forces
are now within twenty miles of each
other. Southwest and south east of
Belgrade invading armies are advano-
ting along hundred mile front, rs to
40 miles south of the Danube. Anal
ysis of the situation in regard to the
Belgrade e-Nish-Saloniki railroad shows
that the Germans command the first
fifty miles from Belgrade, the Serbians
the next 150, the Bulgarians the next
100 and the French the last so miles to
the Greek frontier.
No details have been received here
concerning the reported recapture by
the Serbians of Veles.
No Quarter Asked.
Whether free communication be.
tween Hungary and Bulgaria by way of
the Danube has yet been established
lie doubtful, but the proximity of the
forces of the two countries makes such
at least imminent.
All dispatches continue to describe
the intensely stubborn resistance Of
the Serbians. According to accounts
which have reached here, concerning
the capture of Uskup the Serbians de-
Tended every foot Of ground furiously
and no quarter was given on either
side. Although the Bulgarian forces
nre said to have outnumbered the Ser
bians ten to one, they made only 500
prisoners. All the other fought to the
death
Russians Hold Own.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg's tre-
offensive against Dvinsk con-
tinues, but thus far has not advanced
sufficiently to shake the Russian de-
lenses. South of the Pripet the Aus
trians are struggling to regain the
Initiative. The situation on other
fronts shows no material change.
Summary Of Events
Franco Serbian successes III south
ern Serbia probably have rendered un-
tepable the Kumanovo-V -Vranya line Of
he Bulgarians along the Nish-Saloniki
road, according to Saloniki dispatch.
The Bulgarians in this section are de-
,lared to be menaced by Serbian at
ackA from both sides.
lContiuued on RaeA ll