Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-10-12
ALLIES HURRY FOR BATTLE

Their Cruisers Bombarding
Coast Town.
Berlin, Oct. Especial to the
Freeman-Tribune: The German
Austria campaign in Servia is pro-
crossing rapidly and satisfactorily.
Many prisoners have been taken and
no serious opposition encountered
thus far. The German ambassador
at Nishe, Servia, has been given
passports. War has been declared
between Bulgaria and Servia.
The situation on the western front
is not disconcerting. A number Of
French advances were repulsed to-
day and the Germans recaptured a
number of trenches that they lost
several days ago.
The Bulgarian government has &C
lively Joined the central powers
against Servia and will put 100000
soldiers in the field if necessary.
Amsterdam, Oct. S.-The Cologne
Gazette reports two Russian cruisers
actively bombarding the Bulgarian
port of Varna.
London, Oct S.-The long threat
ened Austro- German offensive in the
Balkans, with the added menace of
Bulgaria, has begun in earnest.
Almost simultaneously with the
rupture of diplomatic relations be-
tween Sofia and the entente powers,
an Austro-German army estimated
at 100000 men, with an enormous
weight Of heavy artillery, started to
attack Serbia from the north and
west and, according to the Berlin Of
fetal report, crossed the Drina, Da-
nube and Save rivers at many points
and firmly established itself on the
Serbian side.
The Anglo-French troops, which
were landed at Saloniki with the
tacit consent of the Greek govern
ment, are being hurried northward
to assist Serbia, and if possible keep
the Bulgarians from capturing the
Saloniki-Nish railroad, the only
source by which the Serbians can be
furnished munitions of war.
The hoped for support from Greece
has not been forthcoming, King Con-
stantine, by the dismissal Of Prem
Ter Venizelos, having shown that,
while his country sympathizes with
the cause of the allies, he is not pre-
pared to go against the central pow
ers or to fulfill the obligations of the
Grcco-Serbian treaty Of alliance,
which provides that one ally must go
to the assistance of the other in the
case Of attack.
A new Greek cabinet, composed of
men of pro-German and pro-ally
sympathies, has been appointed, and
the expectation now is that unless
public opinion forces the hand of the
government and insists on action on
the side of the allies, Greece will
remain neutral. 1t is hardly con-
ceivable to the entente diplomats
that Greece will go over to the cen
trail powers, for, they point out, Bull
garia is known to covet some of her
territory and the treatment of Greek
nationals in Turkey makes it vir-
tually impossible for her to become
the ally Of that country.
AS in Greece, public opinion in
Bulgaria is not entirely unanimous
in support of King Ferdinand and
reports indicate that the Bulgarian
is not being carried out
without difficulty. The king and
Premier Radoslavoff, however, have
finally thrown in their lot with Aus
tria, Germany and Turkey. Allied
ministers have either left or are
leaving Sofia. Italy has taken ac-
ton by giving the Bulgarian minis
ter at Rome his passport.
It is possible that Bulgaria may
avoid arousing the Greek people by
from attacking Serbia,
simply keeping her troops on the
border. This would have the affect
of preventing Serbia from bringing
her full strength to bear against the
attack.
Rumania, the other Balkan state,
is still neutral. Rumania has not
been heard from, but, like Greece
for the moment, is bent on continu-
ing friendly relations with all bel
L gerents. Doubtless to influence her
and the other Balkan states Russia
is reported to have commenced an