New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-05
Lodges Protest in Sofia
Asking for Arrests and
Imprisonments:
NEWS OF FIGHTING
STARTLES LONDON
Allies Believe Operations in the
Dardanelles Induced Bulgaria
Not to Support Germany.
lRy Cable TO The Tribune ]

London. April 1.-The following ON
cial dispatch from Nish was given out
to-day by the Serbian Legation in Lon
don:
"The Bulgarian irregulars were
driven back from Strumitsa. The night
was short. When reinforcements ar
rived our advanced posts cleared the
Strumitsa station. and the invaders
fed in the direction of Bulgaria.
"Our troops, pursuing the enemy
found thirty Of their dead, and It IS
presumed that others were carried
away. We lost fifty killed"
A Reuter- dispatch from Nish states
that the invading force scattered
among the Serbian frontier villages
and compelled the inhabitants to re-
move to Bulgaria. taking their goods
and cattle with them. 1t is also stated
although not confirmed. that the IN
yaders set fire 10 the Serbian block
houses at Plauvotch and Borakl'
The news Of the Bulgarian raid on
Serbia created a sensation here. Inc
facts to hand, however, are few, ana
information is bong eagerly sought
In an authoritative quarter 1t was
stated to-day that until now Bulgara's
attitude has been satisfactory TO the
Allies. with no indication OF any m
tcntion on the part Of King Ferdinand
OF attacking any Of the AiileS.
From the facts available, II is rather
cautiously stated that 1t would De
to attach undue Importance
to events on the Serbian frontier OIh-
cials who discussed the matter TO-DAY
ali seemed to feel certain that the rad
does not mean real Bulgarian paiUcl-
patton yet. lilo.
The necessity Of caution in making
any definite prediction was, OK course
There has been a rumor
in London for several weeks that az
one time Bulgaria seemed to be on the
verge of participation on the sue OF
Germany. but that the chances OF TINS
occurring practically disappeared Wheh
the Allies began operations in the oar
danelles. Bulgaria thcrcupon returning
to an attitude of strict neutrality
Paris. April 4.-The Serbian govern
ment has protested to the government
of Bulgaria because of the invasion OF
Serbian territory b. Bulgarian irreGu-
lar troobs. according , lie Petit Jour
nal' While couched IN moderate
terms. the protest is said to request the
arrest and imprisonment OF those re-
sponsiblc for the rald.
Further details Of the incident re-
ceived to-day confirm the report that
the invaders were driven away from
the railroad station ~ Strumltsa, the
Serbian town near the Bulgarian Dor
der where the attack was made he
railway station master at Strumitsa re-
ports that the line 10 Ghevghcll rs now
clear of the raiders and APPARENT. has
not been damaged.
Serbian frontier guards who pursued
the fleeing irregulars retook the two
cannon which had been captured.
Six bodies were found in the railway
station at Strumitsa. The extent of the
losses inflicted upon the attacking
force is unknown. but is believed to be
large. Thirty bodies were found and
the raiders themselves picked up and
buried a number of others.
This is said 10 be the fifth incident
of its kind since the beginning of the
European war, and there is much spec
ulation in Paris as to their exact sig
nifcancc.
The Havas Agency received to-day
from Nish, Serbia, dispatch saying
that the losses of the Serbian troops
were sixty killed and iifty-three wound
cd, including five officers.
Rome via Paris, April 4.-D. Rizow.
Bulgarian Minister to Italy, expressed
the opinion to-day that the incident on
the SCrbo- Blu garian border was the
work Of Macedonian reyolutonists in
Serbia who are opposed to the Serbian
regime in the territory gained in the
balkan wars, in which the lighting oc-
CURED. VI. Rizow asserted that the
bulgarian government was iu no way
RESPONSIBLE for the affair and that its
only desire was to preserve neutrality.
VI. Ristitch. the Serbian Minister,
took issue with VI. Rizows statement.
He said that, having spent thirty years
in the region concerned. he knew it
thoroughly. and could affirm that the
Nacedouians in this part Of Serbia had
10 desire TO oppose the present order
of things. Responsibility for the in
cident. he asserted, might be deter
mined by considering TO whose inter
ests it would be to provoke such an
outbreak. This. he said pointed
clearly to Bulgaria. which, BY occupy
ing the left bank Of the Vardar River,