The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-23
ELEVEN NATIONS
IN BATTLE Line
SAL0NIKI FRONT
No Such Heterogeneous Clash
in Modern History.
Allies Start Offensive to Stop
Bulgarian Drive.
FIGHTING ON 15O-MI. FRONT
Turks Send Troops to Rein
force Central Empire.
Rumania Will Wait Until Al.
lies Get Underway.

London, Aug. ga great battle of
nations with the troops of nearly ev
cry European belligerent involved. is
gradually developing in the Balkans
as the fighting along the $50 mile
front increases in fury.
Turkey is sending reinforcements
into Bulgaria, according to an Athens
dispatch today. At least one division
of Turkish soldiers is en- route to join
the Bulgars in the attack on the al
lied lines. while another division will
be so placed as to threaten Rumania
should that country decide to enter the
war on the side of the allies.
Austria will be asked to send a few
detachments to the Greek border to
join the Bulgars, Germans and Turks
in resisting the combined attacks of
French, English. Russians, Italians.
Serbians and Montenegrins and Greeks
who already have combated the Bull
gar invasion. In no engagement of
modern history have the armies of so
battle front
Bulgar Rush Checked.
Forced to yield advanced positions
under the first Bulgarian attack the
allies have reinforced their lines and
are strongly on the offensive IN the
Vardar Valley, northwest of Salonlki.
On the wings, the Bulgarians have
made further slight advances by rea-
son of their numerical superiority, but
Anglo-French artillery and the stub
born resistance of the Serbs have con-
siderably checked the momentum OF
the advancing enemy forces.
All press dispatches from Rumania
hear evidence of close cens6 rship but
from indirect sources it is reported
that the fighting in the Balkans has
caused n o u n impression IN
Bucharest
But despite warlike reports brought
to London in a roundabout way, many
persons well informed on the Balkan
situation, do not believe that Rumania
will enter the war at least until the
allies have advanced up the Vardar
Valley and have scored decisive gains
against the Bulgarians- 1t has been
known kere for several weeks thai
the third Rumanian army was mobil-
lied and in readiness for instant SER
vice, but there has been no other pos
tive evidence of military movements
to warrant the belize that Ruma mia is
about to declare war.
Interest Veers to Balkans.
London, Aug 23.-Developments in
the Balkans take first place in both
news and editorial columns of the
newspapers this morning. The papers
display keen interest not OILY in the
ldnQlnR Oh If0 duo 4NuSoidli
troops at Salo1iki but also in possible
actions by the Greek and kumanian
governments in the new Russian often
sive which IS developing in Bukowina.
According to unofficial dispatches
the Russians are pressing ahead with
the greatest energy in Bukowina close
to the Rumanian frontier and already
have gained "a very brilliant success
The Daily News in an editorial sums
I'D the Balkan situation as follows:
Would IsOlate Turkey.
''The imminent general offensive
against Bulgaria is of great import
ance. One of the first results of a
successful offensive by the entente
allies would be a complete rupture OF
Germany's communications with the
east and the isolation and capitulation
of Turkey, This is a plain geographical
fact.
There are also other issues upon
which 1t is wiser to reflect than to en-
large. These affect the fortunes OF
the two neutrals, Greece and Rumania
as well as the dozen belligerents
''As to the intentions of Rumania
/ we may be content to draw upon the
German press which is authority for
the statement that Rumania definitely
has Joined hands with the entente and
is preparing to give Russian troops
passage thru her territory. 1t is diff
ficult to conceive what motive the
Germans could have for circulating
such a statement other than the belief
/ that If is true