The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-04
BAL KAAS
BY Ed. |. Keen, United Press Staff
Correspondent.1

Correspondent
LONDON, April 3.-A blow that
may send four more nations tumbling
into the European war has been
struck along the serbian-Bulgarlan
frontier. Bulgarian irreguiars have In.
vaded Serbian territory, the Serbian
war office announced tonight and are
battling with Serbian troops along
the Varzar river. Both sides have
suffered heavy losses and the struggle
was continuing when the last dis
patches reached Nish.
The news created a sensation In
European capitals Rome dispatches
tonight reported communication with
SaIonika Interrupted and wild reports
that Greek troops had been hurried
northward toward the scene Of the
frontier. The Serbian prime minister
N. Pashitish 10 reported to have teIe-
sraphed to Sofia peremptory demand
for an explanation.
The Serbian embassy tonight was
confident that the Bulgarian raid
would be disavowed by King Ferdi-
nand. Diplomatic circles, however,
saw the possibility Of an explosion In
the Balkans that would plunge first
Bulgaria, then Greece, Italy and Rou.
mania into the war.
First reports Of Bulgarian invasion
came from Rome. This was followed
by an official statement from the Ser
bian war minister, stephanovltcz.
"At 2 p. m. yesterday numerous Bull.
earian irreguIars in military unlforma
attacked the Serbians at the block.
house near valandovo," said the off.
cial statement "Their superior force
.cornpeiied our frontier guards 10 re-
atreat toward Strumnitxa. The Bull
garIans have occupied all the heights
on the left bank Of the river varzar.
Fighting continues with considerable
losses for both sides"
The scene Of the fighting 10 Ia the
BeIashltza mountains, fifty miles
northeast Of SaIonika, at the extreme
southeast corner Of Serbia and few
miles north Of the Greek border The
engagement 10 being fought on soil
formerly part Of Turkey, but reIin-
quished to the Serbians after the last
Balkan war.
Because Of the renoteness Of the
region and the fact that communica-
tIon with Salonika has been inter
rupted, orty meagre news reached
European capitals tonight This was
to the effect that the Bulgarians ad-
vanced from the town Of Badova,
crossed the Strumnitz river and de-
manded the evacuation by the Ser
bians Of the border town Of valandovo.
The Serbian frontier guards answer
ed the demand with several volleys
Iii III r. no. L. -
the north, toward the village Of strum-
nltza. They were reinforced by other
Serbian frontier patrols. There 10 no
indication either in the Nish or Rome
dispatches that Bulgarian regulars are
engaged In the combat.
This 10 the second clash between
Serbian and Bulgarian frontier forces
within few weeks. Shots are said
to have been exchanged few days
ago, but neither side attempted 70
cross the boundary line.
Berlin reports for several weeks
have carried rumors that Bulgaria
might enter the war on the side Of the
ro-German-T Turkish alliance. One
rumor had II that Bulgaria aspired to
a port on the Adriatic or Ionian sea
and was planning to cut her way
through Serbia and Albania. Il was
hinted that Sofia statements might
seize upon any pretext. however
sIioht. to attack Serbia, whose army
already has been partly annihiiated.
Both Italy and Greece, II is certain,
would frown upon Bulgaria's partici-
patton in the war; Practically all
Rome dispatches in the last few days
have agreed that should Bulgaria de-
clare war, Italy would follow with an
immediate Invasion Of Austria. Ath-
ems dispatches have reported the
Greek statesmen keeping an anxious
eye on Bulgaria, whose troops were