The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-01
'D|Ble9IA HELPLESS,
!. J MILITARY OPINION
ALLIES ARE IN FULL CONTROL.
Armies Now Carrying on Invasion Can
Dictate Such Terms as They VIII.
United States May Soon Hear APP
peal.

Washington, September 2s.-The
only thing that interests the allies is
the position OF Bulgaria as mill
tary power. For the moment, po-
litical questions, ratifications Of from
tiers. etc, do not exist.
What, then, Is the position of Bull
garia as military power? Her
armies are not in retreat-they are
in flight. Hundreds of cannon, most
OF them OF heavy caliber. without
which no modern army can hold the
field. have fallen into the hands of
the Allies. 1t must always be remem-
bered that we are dealing with a coun-
try whose maximum army at the pres
emit moment is $50, 900 to 200. 900 men.
The capture OF 10000 unwounded
prisoners is the same as If the Ger
mans had lost 200 900 men on the
western front.
With the Bulgarians are a certain
number of German and Austrian
troops When / was with the Serbian
reckoned at 1890 men. That was
eighteen months ago. 1t is. there
fore, beyond doubt that the German
contingent In the Balkans are help
less TO save their Bulgarian allies.
That Bulgaria considers herself as
"down and out is proved by the ar
rival of the Bulgarian 'parlemen-
taires" at Salonica to discuss the sur
render of the army OF King Ferdi-
nand.
As far as the allies are concerned,
all that remains is the possibility OF an
Austro German army arriving in Bul-
Raria In time TO save that country from
unconditional surrender In my opin-
b. Inv &c
true that Amsterdam dispatches an
nounce that Berlin declares that Ger
man and Austrian troops are being
sent to get the bulgarian situation
again In hand " This is only win
dow dressine" to console public opin-
ion in Germany.
The great general staff in Berlin
realizes better than any one the eX-
tent Of the disaster No German or
Austrian reinforcements can, for the
time being save Bulgaria. If the
Bulgarian army was still in being.
If II was opposing an unbroken front
10 the advance Of the army of the
Orient. it would be possible TO rush
austrian and German troops right
into the fightlng line But there IL no
longer any fighting line. The Bulga
.fans are routed The troops in their
md knapsack abandoning their guns.
burning their war material.
Any army of succor must there
fore, undertake the re-conqGest Of
Bulgaria. This means that il must TIC
organized at a safe distance. says a
hundred miles from the actual fight
Ing line Il must accumulate its sHn-
plies OF food and ammunition. organ
lie its transport, and assure its sources
of supply from country hundreds OF
mites in its rear As far as Bulgaria
is concerned, the logical base is the
German army OF occupation in Rou
mania under the command OF Field
Marshal Won Mackensen
But. under the present circum-
stances. Roumania is hostile territory
An army advancing on bulgaria
through The Dobrudja would have to
have a triple guard for itS lines Of
communication II is ont Of the
question that Non Mackenzen could
dispose OF such a force. Under the
best circumstances. weeks must ciapse
before the central powers could threw
their weight into the TIA }asnee, aS7a fs5s
that rTme every strategic position in
Bulgaria from the Danube 10 nede-
agatch from Sofia TO Narna Will be
in the hands OF the army Of the
Orient
Ii is pointed ont that tho conaI-
tons are such that she Bulgart anz
can hardly ask for any terms other
than those that would he absolutely
satisfactory to the allied commander
The reason for this view is that Bull
Earia is even now at the mercy OF
the allied arnies-Greek French and
British-and is not in position to die
tate anything The best play Of the
Bulgarian commissioners. II Is con-
tended here. is 20 respond promptly
to the expected demand for uncon-
ditional surrender
Any remaining questions involving
political or military concessions TO
the Bulgarians might very we'll be
referred 10 the allied military coun-
ell at Versailles; and General Tasker
III. Bliss Is on that council represent
ing the United States. No one here
doubts that the United States gov
eminent. II appealed 10 diplomatical-
II by Bulgaria, would lean toward
concessions. providing such conces-
sions did not interfere with the mill
tary plans of the allies and the United
States Is just now the most power
full factor directly and indirectly on
all fronts.