Servians Defeat Bulgars In Battle.

New York Times 100 years ago today, June 26, 1913:
King Ferdinand's Troops Flee, Leaving Many Dead — Serbs Also Lose Heavily.
DECLARE WAR HAS BEGUN
Belgrade Papers' View of the Fight — A Report That Rumania Will Aid in Fighting Servia.
    BELGRADE, June 25. — Bulgarians have been defeated in a battle with Servians at Zletovo, Macedonia.
    An official report says that the Servians went into action only when heavy forces of Bulgarians began to cross the river at 1 o’clock this morning and commenced an unprovoked attack.
    After desperate fighting the Bulgarians broke and fled, leaving behind many dead and wounded and abandoning all the positions they had seized in Servian territory.
    The Servians also suffered considerable losses. The Servian artillery was employed in the battle.
    The Bulgarian attack on the Servians has created a dangerous state of excitement here. The newspapers publish special editions declaring in large type, "War has begun."
    The streets and cafés are filled with excited crowds.
    According to advices received here, 12, 000 Bulgarian troops with 500 bomb-throwers attacked the Servian positions at Zletovo. Eventually the Servians charged with fixed bayonets all along the line and the Bulgarians hurriedly retreated.
    The combined losses exceed 500 men.

    LONDON, Thursday, June 26. — What, according to Servian reports, was a serious battle was fought yesterday at Zletovo, near Istib, between the Servians and Bulgarians.
    Whether this outbreak will obstruct the projected Russian arbitration by strengthening the war party in Servia will be seen when Premier Pasitch with his reconstructed Ministry meets the Skupshtina in extraordinary session to-day.
    A rumor gained currency in Belgrade yesterday that the Pasitch Cabinet had again resigned, but this is not confirmed.
    It is quite possible that the reports of the Zletovo battle, of which no news has been received from the Bulgarian side, are greatly exaggerated.
    The Montenegrin Premier has arrived at Belgrade, ready to accompany Premier Pasitch to St. Petersburg, where the proposed meeting of the Balkan Premiers would be held, but, in view of recent developments, the result of the meeting of the Skupshtina is awaited.
    The St. Petersburg correspondent of The Times learns that in the event of war Rumania will take the field in support of Bulgaria.