The Rice belt journal., 1915-10-15
INVASION OF SERBIA
begun BY TEUTONs
100000 GERMANS AND AUSTRlANS
HAVE STARTED TO AID OF
TURKEY THROUGH SERBIA.
serbia AIDED BY French
The Balkans Now Center of World
War ConfIict-BuIgara Turns Down
Russa's Ultimatum-Greece
Has Her Troubles, Etc.
Latest War News From the Front.


forces of the Austro-German allies
has begun, and two Russian cruisers
are reported bombarding Varna, Bull
gaTia'S principal port on the Black
sea, A new climax in the world has
thus been reached, fraught with grave
consequences.
Across the Danube, the Save and
the Drina rivers the Germans and
Austrians have sent 100000 men in
an attempt to crush the Serbs and
cut their way through the kingdom
and effect a junction with Bulgaria
with the object of reaching CONSTANT
nOple and giving aid to the Turkish
forces on the GaIlipCH peninsula.
Along the Serbo-Bulgarian frontier
or scattered at strategic points are
several hundred thousand Bulgarian
troops, while farther to the southeast,
behind the Tchatalja line, the Turks
also may have strong reserves ready.
The British and French forces land
ed at Saloniki are already we'll on
their way along the railway running
north from Saloniki to Nish, the Ser
bian war capital, a. distance of about
25O miles, to aid the Serbs.
The Greek crisis and the severance
Of diplomatic relations between Rus
sia and Bulgaria are the. absorbing
features of the war. The Russian,
French, British and Italian ministers
at Sofia, soon after the presentation
OF Bulgaria's reply to the Russian ul-
timatum, requested their passports
from the Bulgarian government on the
ground that the reply was unsatisfac-
tory. This was followed by a similar
request by the Serbian minister.
Although there is heavy fighting on
the western and eastern battle fronts.
the latest moves on the diplomatic
chessboard in the Balkans-moves
which admittedly will have an impor-
tant bearing in the great world war
game-are holding the attention of the
universe.
Divided by the avowed determine
tion of the king of Greece not to as
sent to the ultimate policy of Pre-
mter Venizelos and a majority of the
parliament that Greece should come
to the aid of Serbia, her treaty ally,
the populaCe of the Hellenic kingdom
has taken sides for and against the
war, King Constantine and his follow
ers for the moment at least being in
the ascendaIcy.
The Greek cabinet has resigned
and coalition ministry, headed by
Alexander Zaimis, and in which Yeni-
zelos, the master of Greece" will
have no portfolio, is probable; Bull
garia has declined to accede to Rus
sia's ultimatum that she have done
with the Teutonic powers and the
breaking off of diplomatic relations
between the two countries, and prob
ably with all the entente powers and
Serbia, has resulted; King Ferdi-
nand's government is reported to have |
sent an ultimatum to Serbia demand |
ing Serbia's acquiescence in Bulga-
ria's demand for the cession of Mace.
donia; French troops will continue to
land in Greece to proceed through
that country to the aid of Serbia, and,
II need be, against Bulgaria and the
Teutonic allies, regardless of the
Greek crisis-these are the main de.
Velopments in the Balkan situation.
There is little change in the mill
tary situation on any of the various
war fronts. Reports which remain un-
confirmed are to the effect that an
Austro-German force variously esti.
mated at from 100000 to 100000 men.
with 1000 guns, is proceeding through
thern Hungary to attack Serbia
Fary observers in London. how
2, assert that it is probable a fig.
pdre between these statements would
be nearer the truth, declaring that
there is no evidence of any very great
Withdrawals of Teutonic troops from
the Russian front and that the west
ern front every day is demanding new
drafts.
The observers say that the Germans
are not in position to withdraw
many troops from the Russian side as
making desperate effort to assume the
the armies of Emperor Nicholas are
initiative in the fighting On some
sectors Petrograd reports that the
Russians already have succeeded in
doing this. Besides, it is asserted
they have now held up Field Mar
shall Yon Hindenburg's drive against
DVinsk for several weeks and inflict.
ed very serious losses on him. Won
dindenbdfg is now reported to be re.
'eiTing reinforcements with a view of ]
making another attempt to force his {
way through the outer defenses of the
,ity. s
In the west the big guns are boom. {
1g, seemingly preparing way for a
ontinuation Of the offensive Of the
lies, which the Germans doubtless a
ill try to forestall by an attack from