The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-10-21
.BULGARs TAKE
TOWN IN SERBIA
Ferdinand's. Army Captures City
of Vranya.
TEUToNS ARE IN oBRENOVATz
italy Declares War on Bulgaria and
Squadron Puts to Sea Under
Sealed orders-NIsh Admits
Retreat.

London, Oct. 20.-Berlin officially
announced the Bulgarian capture of
Vranya, on the Saloniki-Nish railroad,
and the capture of the city Of Obren-
ovatz, near the border west of Bel,
grade, by the Austro-G German troops.
The Serbian war Office admits retreat
from Kotchana and Istib, in southern
Serbia, whore the Bulgarians are strik-
ing terrific blows. Details of the Ger
man statement indicate an advance
south of Belgrade about fifteen miles,
but it is apparent that the Serbians
are making a desperate resistance in
this section. Their retreat is ex-
planned by the war oGIicS as forced by
the necessity of taking positions which
will be more easily defended, and as
such a likelihood has been forecast
for several days, this explanation is
given weight.
italy Declares War.
Rome, Oct. 20.-Italy has declared
war against Bulgaria.
ltalys declaration of war means that
she will send an army or fleet. and
maybe both. against the Bulgarian al
lies of Germany in the Balkans. Eng.
land, France, Serbia and Italy have
now formally declared war against
Bulgaria.
Ita;y's formal entrance into the hos
tilities in the Balkan theater followed
reports that a secret treaty had been
offantod hipdipo TfoIu IN baiD tho IN
tente powers in the Balkans in con
sheraton for Balkan interests which
Italy will acquire on the eastern side
OF the Adriatic IL the quadrrple en-
tente wins.
That the entente powers have not
yet given up their efforts to force
Greece INTO the war against Germany
is shown by the following dispatch
from Athens:
The British and Russian ministers
on Sunday notified the Greek govern.
ment that the entente powers are add.
ing heavy reenforcements TO their
troops in the Balkans At the same
time it was stated that the allied gov.
ernments have not yet accepted the
Greek Interpretation of the Graeco.
Serb treaty"
According to the entente powers
Greece is bound by treaty to enter the
war to fight for Serbia
5uIgars' Hardest Blow.
London, Oct. 2O.-By capturing
Vranje, on the Salonik, -Nish railway
the Bulgarians have struck their hard.
est blow at the Serbs.
The Serbian army in the North.
which is engaged on a front south OF
the Drina, Save and Danube rivers. is
out off from further Anglo.French re.
endorsements.
The Italian declaration of war is ex.
peCted to have some political effect as
well as a material advantage for the
allies. Agents of the entente powers
in Bucharest and Athens can use it as
another argument in favor OF the en-.
trance of these countries into the con.
tiict against Germany.
A dispatch from Athens said that
the Greek government has been in,
structed that more re-enforcements
for the allies are being sent to Sa,
loniki." This may refer to Italian
troops.
italian Squadron Sails.
Paris, Oct. 20-An Italian squadron
is enroute for the near East under
sealed orders, according to a Brindis
dispatch received here. 1t is supposed
this squadron is to participate in the
blockade OF the Bulgarian coast.