Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-16
SHELLS ARE BURSTING
IN RUINS OF BELGRADE
Believed to BE Opening of Tcuton
Drive to Cut Way Through
Balkans.
TURKEY is ITS OBJECTIVE
Massed on It's Own Frontier, What
Is Left OF Serbian Army Is Max
ing Valiant Defense-Littic States
Must Act Soon.

| Especial Cable to The Times-Dispatcb :,
LONDON, August 15.-Shells from,
German guns are bursting In the ruins
| OF Belgrade. as an army of between
100000 and 100000 Austro-Germans
concentrated along the Serbian border
! from Orsova near the Roumanion fron-
tier, to Semlin. Is preparing to cut it's
way through TO Turkey.
With the opening OF the Teuton Bal
Kan drive. Bulgaria, Roumania and
Greece are brought to point where
they Will have to declare either for the
powers of the quadruple entente or for
the central empires and their allv. the
| Sultan.
MaSSed on its own frontier, what is
left of the Serbian army is rcplyiur
valianly to the COMMANDMENT of the
German howitzers. From positions be-
mind Belgrade tho Serbian artillery is
hurting shells into Semlln, on Austrian
territory. and the town of Pancero,
where the population has fed in panic
under the bombardment
While the best opinion here is thar
tho Balkan states will cast their
strength on the side OF the allies, every
brought to bear upon Car Ferdinand
and Premier Radoslavoff, Of Bulgaria.
upon whom more than any one else the
vital decision rests
Germany apparently hopes that Bull
garia can be induced to allow the pas
sage OF German troops and ammunition
across her territory once Il path is cut
through Serbia. On the other hand ad-
vices reaching here during the last few
days indicate more favorable attitude
on the part of the Bulgarian authori-
ties to the proposals of the allies rep
rescntatives. Bulgaria however, is
standing firmly upon her demands that
Greece and Serbia must cede the terri
tory In Macedonia, of which Bulgaria
believes she WAS wrongly deprived by
the treaty Of 1913. in order to gan her
support. In order to force Greece and
Serbia to comply with these demands
, England. Franco, Russia and Italy are
understood to have notified the Athens
and Nish governments that they will
be excluded from a share in the redis-
tribution Of territory after the war un-
less they reach an agreement with Bull
garia
Reports from Rome state that Rou-
mania is aiding the allies IN their pres
II
portion OF the Roumaninn army has
been modified against any move by
Germany against Roumnnan territory,
which Is menaced from Orsova. Ber-
lin, however, is very confident of the
passive support of the Bucharest gov
eminent, owing to the fact that the
Roumanian frontiers are at the mercy
OF the Teutonic allies, because Of their
recent successes against the Russians
Roumana still refuses to let German
ammunition cross her territory to Tur-
key. but she has released great guam.
titles OF grain for export 10 Germany
and Austria, despite the representations
OF the quadruple entente.
The policy Of Greece, it is believed,
will be settled upon tomorrow when
the Greek Parliament meets. or shortly
thereafter. Mr.. Nenizelos. the former
Prime Minister. who favored an alli-
ance with the allies, will return to
power, but Will meet strong opposition
from King Constantine in any move
which looks to other than the contin-
ued neutrality Of Greece. It is report
ed. in fact. that the King will pledge
Nenizelos TO a policy Of neutrality as n
provision Of his return TO the premier
ship.