The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-10-20
BULGARS join WAR
TWELFTH NATION TO COMBINE
in WORLDWIDE SLAUGHTER
Opens fight ON SERVlA

How Most Powerful Of the Balkan
States Was Lined up for Teutons-
London's Wednesday Survey OF the
attlefeld-Russian Victory Con-
firmed.
London reports Wednesday: Bull
garia has declared war on Serbia,
says a Central News dispatch from
Paris.
The decision of Bulgaria, the
twelfth nation to enter the war, to
join the ranks Of the belligerents on
the side of Germany, Austria and
Turkey, was reached only after
diplomatic battle waged for months
between representatives Of the Teu-
tonic allies and the Quadruple En-
tente. Each side offered tempting
inducements in an effort to gain an.
other ally, but the Bulgarian govern
ment finally decided the central pow
ers made the higher bid.
Bulgaria is rated as one of the
most powerful of the Christian Bal
kan states. Her army while consid-
erably smaller than that OF her neigh
Dor, Rumania, is we'll drilled and
equipped. Her military strength on
a peace footing is only about fifty-six
thoufand, but in time Of war she is
able to put into the field something
like three hundred thousand men.
Since the second Balkan war in
which Bulgaria fought Greece, Ser
bia and Montenegro, after the victory
of all four nations against Turkey,
Bulgaria has been isolated to a GER
tain extent from the other Balkan
States. The second war which re-
suited from dispate as to the divi-
sion of territory won from Turkey.
was not participated in by Rumania,
which also kept out Of the first Bal
kan conflict. Rumanian troops in
vaded Bulgaria, however, and forced
the latter to make territorial conces-
sions.
When peace was finally restored
Bulgaria was compelled to relinquish
large part of the territory she had
gained in the first war. The i'll feel
ing thus engendered made it doubt
full whether Bulgaria would consent
to enter the present war on the side
Of Serbia and Montenegro. She
steadfastly refused to abandon neu-
trality unless assured Of territorial
concessions which would enable her
to realize her national aspirations.
Chief of these was to regain those
sections of Macedonia populated
chiefly by Bulgars which now belong
to Serbia and Greece. She also sought
section of Turkish territory.
The first important victory OF Ger
man diplomacy was scored when Tur-
key was induced to cede Bulgaria ter
rftory along the line Of the Dedeag-
hatch railway.
Bulgaria ordered the mobilization
Of her army on September q. On
October 3 Russia sent an ultimatum
to Bulgaria demanding that she break
with the central powers within tWen-
ty-four hours but the Russian de-
mands were rejected and three days
later diplomatic relations between
Bulgaria and the allied powers were
severed. The same day Bulgaria sent
an ultimatum to Serbia regarding
Macedonia and on October 8 issued
manifesto announcing her decision
to enter the war on the side of the
central powers. Bulgarian troops ac-
tually invaded Serbia about twenty
four hours before the war was de-
clared.
London reports Wednesday: The
issue between Bulgaria and Serbia
apparently has been Joined squarely.
It is reported unofficially that Bull
garia has declared war. Little is
known Of the progress OF hosulitles
between these ombatants beyond the
fact that Bulgaria has invaded Serbia
and is said to have suffered reverses
in the opening engagements. In
northern Serbia the Austro-German
invaders are meeting with stubborn
resistance.
The report from Petrograd OF an
important Russian success IN Gallcla
has been confirmed officially. Cen
eral Ivanoff has broken the Austro-
German front along the Stripa tax
ing two thousand prisoners and
number Of guns.
II the Russian victory is as definite
as indicated by the official announce
ment, the Austrians may be COM
PEELED to fall back on Lemberg. Sucn
a retreat would be certain to nave
considerable moral effet in the Bal
kans, where the continued neutrality
of several states is believed to %
due largely to Russian reverses.
In the Dvinsk region desperate but
indecisive fighting continues with the
offensive shifting frequently from
one side to the other.
Won Hindenburg evidently intends
to continue his attack as it is report
ed reinforcements for his army are
on the way to the Dvinsk front. From
the western front come reports bear
ing evidence that the French are re-
suming the offensive in the Cham
pagne.
Paris claims slow but steady pro-
gress, accompanied fly the capture OF
a few prisoners and heavy losses for
the Germans. A German correspond
ent at the front states that a great
fight in which all arms seem to be
engaged, is proceeding in the Cham
pagne. which is regarded as an indi-
cation that the French intend to re-
sumo the offensive.
Beyond the announcement made by
Premier Viciani in the French cham
Der little has yet developed as to the
extent Of aid to be given by the En-
tente powers to Serbia in resisting
the Austro-German effort to clear the
road to Constantinople.. 1t is report
ed unofficially, however, that italy Is
not able to spare any troops for this
purpose.