Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1885 — “ FOEWARD TO SOFIA!” [ARTICLE]

“ FOEWARD TO SOFIA!”

The Battle-Cry of the Servian Soldiers in Their Advance Into Bulgaria. Prince Alexander’s Forces Retreating Before the-Advancing Servian Invaders. Strength of the Forces That Servia, Bulgaria, and Rouinelia Can Bring Into Action.

Servia. Dispatches from Belgrade state that the Servian army has crossed the Bulgarian frontier in three divisions at Tsaribrod, Klissura, and They met with no resistance in crossing. • Sharp fighting occurred at Tm on the Vlasina road, and at Kustendil. Many were killed and wounded on both sides. The Bulgarians retreated at all points. The whole Servian army is in Bulgarian territory. King Milan informed the powers that Servia has declared war against Bulgaria because Bulgaria arbitrarily attacked a position which the Morava division of the King’s troops held in Servian territory, opposite the Bulgarian frontier. King Milan has also issued a proclamation which is in substance' as follows: “Servia cannot allow Bulgaria, which has already proved a hard neighbor, to disturb the balance of power in the Balkans to her exclusive advantage.” He then alludes to what he calls “the unjustifiable Bulgarian customs duties on the frontier, the unlawful seizure of Bregova, and the encouragement by Bulgaria of the Servian rebels condemned for high treason.” [King Milan here refers probably to Peko Pavlovich, the Herzegovinian chieff-and Pashico, the Servian Radical leader, who was expelled by King Milan from the Skuptschina. Copies of revolutionary proclamations signed by those men and distributed throughout Servia were recently found by Servian officials, and the latter claimed they were disseminated by the revolutionaries under Bulgarian protection. This Bulgaria denied, claiming they were many miles distant from the Servian frontier, interned in a fortress.] King Milan also alludes to the alleged ill treatment of Servian emigrants in Bulgaria, the blockade of the frontier by Bulgaria, and alleged attacks by undisciplined Bulgarian volunteers on the Servian people and troops. In conclusion, the King says: “I cannot suffer these intentional provocations, and I, therefore, adopt the policy of open hostility which has been forced upon me by Bulgaria. Servia’s just cause now rests on the arbitration of arms, the bravery of her army, the protection of the Almighty. I rely upon my people’s patriotism.”

Bulgaria. Great excitement and enthusiasm prevail in Philippopolis. Troops are being hurried forward to the defense of Sofia, and the war fever, which had recently died out, is again at the highest pitch. Prince Alexander, from his headquarters at Sofia, issued an order of the day to the officers and men of his army, of which the following is the substance: “King Milan has declared war against us and ordered the Servian army to invade Bulgaria. Our Servian brethren, instead of assisting us, wish to ruin our country. Show your courage now and defend your mothers, wives, sisters, and homes! Pursue and annihilate the cowardly, treacherous enemy! Let ‘Forward’ be your battle-cry, brethren, and may God aid us and grant us victory.” ; ~~

Strength of the Combatants. The various forces of Servia are as follows: Field army, 60,288 men, with 264 guns; reserve formation, 12,856 men, with 34 guns; reserve army of landwehr, 52,270 men, with 120 guns; landsturm, 45,000 men, or a total of 170,412 officers and meh and 418 guns. The infantry is armed with the Mauser rifle, improved by Major Mecovarovitch, which is of a caliber of 10.15 milimeters. The artillery is variously armed with muzzle-loaders and Krupp guns. The total cavalry force included in the above numbers 4,600 men. The Bulgarian field army consists of 24,000 infantry, 1,400 cavalry, two regiments and one company of artillery, 2,340 men; a battalion of engineers, 880 men; a detachment of train, 2,000 'men, and a force of gendarmerie, 1,600 men, or a total force of 32,220 men, with 104 guns. The infantry is armed with Berdan rifles, and the batteries have Krupp guns and guns of the latest Russian pattern. The reserve force consists of 24,000 men. There are also 12 battalions of landstrum of 600 men each, or 7,200 men, making a total force of 60,000 men. There is no want of arms, but there is scarcely a sufficient force of cavalry and artillery. The cavalry numbers 1,500 men. The scarcity of officers, since many of the Russian officers returned home, is also a serious matter. Prince Alexander is an able and energetic soldier. The Eastern Roumelian army comprises 18,224 men of the first levy, 19,187 of the second, 23,197 of the reserve, and 3,422 men of the active reserve, making a total of 64,030 men. The number of officers available is altogether out of proportion to the number of men. There is no scarcity of arms, as there are about 80,000 Kruka, 7,000 Berdan, and 6,000 Martini-Henry rifles in the province. artillery consists of four guns. The Bulgarian arsenals at Rustchuk and Rasgrad contain a good supply of arms, uniforms,and equipments. The arsenal at Rustchuk is turning out 60,000 Berdan cartridges a day, in addition to ammunition for artillery.