The Washington herald., 1918-10-03
ALLIES AWAIT
BULGAR ACTION
Mackensen Sent to Hak
Balkan Peace and Faces
Anti-Hun Riots.

London. Oct. As the allied
world is waiting for the sick man
of Europe" to lay down his arms
and surrender, thus making the de-
bacle OF Germanys Eastern ambi-
tions complete. interest in the Bal
kan situation is fixed tonight main
ly upon the area that lies between
Turkey and the Rumanian and Aus
tro-Hungarian borders.
Best military information here is
that Germany will not give up the
Bulgarian stretch of the Orient
Railway without a desperate strug-
gle. For such a struggle Field Mar
shall Won Mackensen, Berlin's white
hope" in the Balkans, is believed to
be gathering whatever Teutonic
troops he can scrape together.
BuIsnrs Engage Germans.
A report published by the Koel-
nische Volks Zeitung today that
! lighting is proceeding south of
Sofia" implies to some military
critics here that a clash has oc-
CURED between Mackensen's troops
and Bulgarians. That would be the
debut Of Bulgaria as Q co-belliser-
ent-of thes allies. 1t Ia not thought
probable that Teuton troops have as
yet come in contact with Gen. DIES
perey's allied forces. since at last
accounts the British were still at
I least fifty miles south Of Sofia, while
the serbians at the moment hostili-
ties ceased, were in Kumanovo,
ninety-three miles southwest of the
Bulgarian capital.
The military situation in Bulgaria
Is unclear, but great battle for the
Nish-Constantinople sector OF the
Berlin -Bagdad railway Is expected to
flare into flame at any moment.
Meanwhile It Is not known how far
iD'Esperey's left wing has advanced
northward toward Nish. 1t is known,
however, that the Bulgarians have
begun the evacuation of Serbia.
Anti-German Riots.
Anti-German riots are the order Of
the day in Sofia. Public opinion
, is overwhelmingly back. OF Premier
Malinoff. to whose initiative the Bull
garian surrender Is chiefly credited.
That King Ferdinand himself fully
consented to the capitulation was
proved. however, by the speech from
the throne read before the Sobrapia
by Malinofr.
Turkeys surrender Is regarded here
as only matter of time. Last nights
report Of a Turkish ultimatum TO
Germany. exclusively cabled to Uni
Versal Service. was supported by dis
patches from various sources today.
After her bitter experience with Bull
garia, whom Berlin believed TO be
bluqing when she sent a similar ul-
timatum, Germany is expected to be
more prompt in meeting the SuItan's
demands. One of these demands.
! however. hits Germany in an ex-
tremely sore spot. 1t is that Ger
many hand over the Russian Black
Sea fleet to Turkey. since the Porte
regards this fleet, while in German
hands. as a powerful weapon against
| Turkish prestige and a lasting "clun"
to keep Turkey in German, bondage.
Appeal to Pope.
In the midst of his plight, confiden-
tial counsel is said to have come to the
Austrian monarch from Pope Bene-
dict The Vatican. 1t is said, has ad-
Vised Kaiser Karl not to lose a single
moment in pressing for peace, telling
him Of the absolute hopelessness OF
Teutonic victory and warning him
Of the danger to his dynasty IL the
war lasts much longer.
At the same time. it is reported, the
Pope has chosen this moment for his
formal answer to the Austro-Hun-
garian peace note. leaving the time
and manner of its publication to the
discretion of the Vienna government.
In Germany the restiveness of the
people and the irritation of the govern
ment circles are increasing with every
new reverse on the western front and
the depression of the populace is inten-
sified by the gloomy outlook in the near
east. The press is dividing its time
between chanting hymns of hate and
contempt addressed to Sofia and fran
tic pleas to the people not to let the
western defeats discourage them.