GREECE STILL DEBATING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 30 November 1915, Page 7

GREECE STILL DEBATING

ALLIES' DEMANDS IN THE BALANCE HEAVY FIGHTING IN SERBIA BIILGARS LOSING HEAVILY HOPEFUL NEWS FROM MQNASTIR ACTIVITY IN THE WESTERN THEATRE The Military side of the news from tine Balkans to-day. is much more cheerful than, the political. The Greek Cabinet is discussing the Allies' demands, and) there are all sorts of rumours afloat, one correspondent asserting that the situation' is grave. The British troops are now in their first-line positions and have taken over a section of the battlsFront. The French have withdrawn across the Cerna and adjusted their line to meet the altered conditions created by the falling back, of the Serbians. The Bulgars. rcinforcedj are desperately striving to retake Krushevo from the sorely harassed Serbians, while at the battle of Kossovo the Bulgar losses are stated to have been "huge. The situation at Monastir has improved, and the garrison has been ' reinforced. The Austro-Germans, anxious about the gathering storm en the Rumanian side, have transferred some troops to that side of the front, while on the other side little Montenegro is being darkly threatened. The activity on the Western front still continues.

WHAT THE ALLIES DEMAND OF GREECE

POINTS DISCUSSED BV GREEK CABINET SITUATION REPORTED TO BE GRAVE By Telegrapli—Pfofis Association—Oopyrlght .7 s ,' Athens, November 28. The three demands of the Allies are (2)''Th¥'Tn<M»TO-of f 6iWk-;trbdsß'fr6m the vicinity of Salonika. ' ['■ (3) The policing of Greek territorial waters against Austro-German submarines. • >' ' Thero.have been long discussions of the Allies' 'Note at successive Ministerial councils, and repeated conferences between the Headquarters Staff and M. Skouloudis, the Premier. No decision has yet been reached. . Government journals point out'certain points which it will be difficult for Greece to accept. . ,l HINT PF GREEK PROPOSALS. London, November 28. ; Heuter's corre&pondont at Athens says that after receipt of the Allies' Note, M. Skouloudis conferred with King and a Cabinet Council met. It was stated at the latter that the Allies' optimism had greatly weakened. 1 ! • ■ ' There are indications that Greece will propose to the Entente that military experts should be appointed to discuss with the Greek General Staff tie Allies' latest demands. , The "Daily Chroniole's" correspondent at Athens says that the Allies' Note asked Greece to give a categorical assurance at the earliest possible moment that she would (adhere to the conditions laid down therein. The situation is regarded as grave. The "Observer's" Athens correspondent interviewed a Cabinet 'Minister, who said: "Greece would never commit the folly of disarming and interning the Entente forces. The Entente demands elbow _ rooms in Macedonia, which Greece will accede to, as an assurance h&s .been given that the territory occupied will be restored, and an indemnity for damage given."

GERMAN REPRISALS THREATENED. . _ Paris, November 28. • Munich papers state that as the Allies are violating Greek territoiy, Ger. many "will not hesitate to pursue the Serbians thither. THE RUMANIAN CHECK TO THE AUSTRO-GERMANS MOVEMENTS OP RUMANIAN TROOPS. _ . .. . Buoharest, November 28. ,M. Bratiano, .the Rumanian Premier, haa intimated that he cannot allow the passage i of Austro-German troops below the Bulgarian port of Rustchuk. Rumanian troops at Giurgevo (opposite Rustohnk) lave been transferred to Oltenitza. Rumanian territory bordering on the Danube Las been deolared a military zone. AUSTRO-GERMAN TROOPS SENT TO. RUSTOHUK". ,ir< -inc. » i 'j. 'a.' . Rome, November 28. The "Cornere della Sera" states that a portion of the Austro-German troops has been withdrawn from Serbia and sent to Rustohuk (Bulgaria). ' i : SERBIANS ONCE MORE ON THE DEFENSIVE FRENCH LINE ADJUSTED TO ASSIST THEM . . r. j • li jil r, Salonika, November 28. The Austro-German advance compelled the Serbians to relinquish the offensive in the Kachanik and TJskub districts. Their only hope of functioning with the Anglo-French forces is via the Dibr,a Heights. The Serbian force which was victorious at Leskovatz has been obliged to abandon the ground it conquered and is retreating under difficulties. On the other band, the Monastir detachment has made progress towards Prilep The Bulgarians at Uskub await Austro-German reinforcements. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ... • . nn •j. •, . ,„ , Paris i November 28. A communique reports: "Our aviators bombed Bulgarian encampments at Strumnitza village, also at Istip. "In view of the present situation of the Serbian armies, our troops on the left bank of the Cherna have been withdrawn to the right bank, the withdrawal being accomplished without difficulty." FRENCH ADVANCE UPSETS BULGARIAN PLANS. ■' n 1 • " P a|, ' s > November 28. The "Journal" states that tn& Bulgarians havo abandoned Monastir in order to concentrate their efforts in the Lower Cherna towards the Vardar against the French, who are menacing with large forces. ' DECIMATING FIRE OF BRITISH BATTERIES; • i .. . m t i . , Paris, Noyemb'sr 28. The "Petit Partiilstt" nWUa to-BuißMsMi tlia ..Mtislj at VaJwiAva m«fc*d under tie mwimhU ft re ei the Britlsa batteries,

I BRITISH IN THE FIRST LINE (Bee. November 29, 5.40 p.m.) London, November 29. Mr, Ward Price, writing from Salonika, says: "The British are now in tho first line, and face the enemy in country as different from the polders of Belgium and the slag-heaps of Lens as the potteries district of England differs from the Highlands of Scotland. "The French, early in November, after a stiff encounter, drove the enemy up a ravine and across a valley to the north, and were making good their position along til© crest above a village, when, on tho night of November 16, tho Bulgare attacked with considerable energy, creeping down the gullies on their side of tho valley, and noiselessly scaling the steep slopes opposite. Their feet were shod with leather mocassins. • The French trenches were of an elementary character, the rocky soil making digging almost impossible; they had no entanglements in front of their position. Three hundred dead Bulgars were lying liinder the cre3t next morning. They had been killed with the bayonet in "trying to rush the low parapet. "The valleys here are strewn with yellow maize, -which the peasantry have been forced to leave to rot. Partridges, liares, and woodcocks abound. You need to see the British in this unfamiliar setting to realise why we are a great colonising raco.' ■ . - . "Neither the grandeur of the scenery nor the sombre history of the country distracts them from setting about their matter-of-fact military duties. .They already have well-beaten paths on the hillsides, where the inhabitants never before had troubled to make a track. From the railhead, we have the best road in Macedonia as our line of supply. Men from Gallipoli, with its heat and flies, find it an almost unbelievable contrast hore. "Until now ten thousand Bulgars have been facing us, and hare keen satisfied to leave us alone. They apparently hold a scattered line of trenches, blockhouses, and hangars along Tidges parallel to ours, and their patrols occcasionally meet ours in tho valley at night-time. Tho enemy frequently seizos this opportunity to surrender, owing to their shortness of food."

i LATEST NEWS FROM THE FIGHTING FRONT GREAT BATTLE RAGING AT KOSSOVO. (Rec. November 29, 11.5 >m,) _ , . London, November 29. The "Times" Pans correspondent states that the British have taken over the Dolran-Kutchorino section from the French. The Serbians are con- . centrating iu the Kossovo region. The battle of Kossovo continues. The Bulgarian losses have been colossal j fugitives affirm that thirty thousand wounded Bulgars have Teached Sofia. King Peter of Serbia, despite grave illness, insists on going to the fighting line, and has several times declared that he will, die by his own hand, and that all the State archives will bo burned. A fresh struggle for the possession of Krushevo has begun, and the reinforced Bulgarians aro attacking the harassed Serbians. MONASTIR STILL SAFE. _ , , ~, ' Salonika, November 29. German cavalry.have appeared before Voles. { Advices from Mouastir on Thursday show that the situation has improved. Four thousand recruits have joined the garrison, while a French battery has arrived and is co-operating with the Serbians in the direction of Prilep. ! "OUR MAIN OPERATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED" WHAT A GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE SAYS. » (Rec. Nove /r 29, 8.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, November 28. "We have occupied Rudnik, south-west of Mitrovitza, taking prisoner 2700. "Our main operations have now closed. With the flight of the meagre remnants of the inn mountains, out first aim, .to open communication with Turkey, via Bulgaria, has been achieved. Over on© hundred thousand Serbians have been capture, while the German losses htave beoil moderate." • ■ AUSTBIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE.' . ' ■ , ! • Amsterdam, November 28. An Austrian communique' states: —"Since the occupation of Mitrovitza, 11,000 Serbian soldiers have been brought in; also 3500 civilians liable for service. 1 ' MOUNTAIN RAILWAY TUNNELS DESTROYED. (Reo. November 29, 8.5 p.m.) Paris, November 28. The Serbian Minister states that all the railway tunnels, of which there are many, from Nish to the Bulgarian frontier, have been destroyed, and the lino cannot be repaired rapidly. SEVEREST w'I'NTEB FOB TEN YEARS. London, November 28. A terrific blizzard is raging in the district in the Balkans where the Allied headquarters are. Correspondents state that the snow is lying deep, and that i the men: have been plunged into an abruptly fierce winter. Only a few can be billeted in the mountain villages, ' and the remainder are compelled to shelter in the trenches, and a few tents and dug-outs, where the tents are exposed and may be blown to pieces. The blizzard has madb transport more difficult. - Neither side can see the other in the trenches across the valley. This early winter is the severest for ten years. A TEUTONIC DESCENT ON MONTENEGRO Rome, November 28. A Montenegrin communique states: "The enemy is busy reconnoitring, but is concealing the direotion of his main action, which has been in preparation for some days." London, November 28. German newspapers state that the Austrians and Germans will soon undertake tho vigorous conquest of Jlontenegro. It is anticipated that Montenegro will soon be without ammunition. , GERMAN OVERTURES TO MONTENEGRO AND SERBIA

(Rec. November 30, 0.15 a.m.) Roma, November 29. The Milan newspaper. "II Secolo," states that M, Pasitoh, the Serbian Premier, has communicated General von Mackensen's overtures to the Serbian Cabinet, saying: "Our way has been marked out} and we will be true to the Entente, and die honourably." • _ It is understood that von Mackensen made similar overtures'to Montenegro, and King Nioliolas replied offering to send an army to die with the Serbians at Kossovo. Cetlnje, November 29. King Nicholas's proclamation exhorts the people to remain calm in the face of the danger which is threatening .Montenegro. The Serbians have been forced to withdraw to the Montenegrin mountains, where the forces of both kuigdoms "will fight valiantly from mountain to mountain." IN THE CAUCASUS AND PERSIA RUSSIANS HARRYING THE TURKS: (Rao. November 29, 9.15 p.m.) ' Petrograd, November 29. A Russian official communique states : "In the Caucasus, near the village of Teve, north of Tortum Lake, our scouts descended precipices by ropes,, and rushed the Turkish detachments, capturing their arms. We drove the Kurds in th 6 TJrumiah Lake region froin Persian to Turkish territory. . "Matters have been quiet in the Teheran region since the Russians arrived." ARTILLERY ACTIVITY IN THE DARDANELLES EFFECTIVE BOMBARDMENT OF TURKISH POSITIONS. Paris, November 28. 3! communique states: Our artillery at the Dardanelles on Wednesday an 3 Thursday effectively bombarded heaxy, Turkish guns. Large numbers of wounded Turks recently arrived at Constantinople." TURKISH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ... Amsterdam, November 28. 'A Turkish communique reports: Our artillery near Anafarta and Ari Burnu (near Anza'c) destroyed some enemy machine-guns and some bomb-throw-ers' positions, and also killed many of the enemy who were sheltering near the landing place at Ari Burnu. We occupied on Thursday last a great part of the hostile trenches near Ari Burnu. A big gun near Anafarta that 'had-been directed upon our position at Kiruhepen was successfully brought undor fire, and | the gun orew killed." . TURKS RESORT TO ASPHYXIATING GAS (Rec. November 29, 9.15 p.m.) , . ' Paris, November 29. 'A French, offioial communique states : "There has been marked artillery activity in tho Dardanelles. The Turks, attacking the British, used asphyxiating gas for tho first time, but without result." LORD KITCHENER'S VISIT: ACCORDING TO TURKEY, • ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) ' London, November 28. Constantinople professes to supply the German Press with details of Lord Kitchener's visit to Gallipoli. It is said tho British indulged in an incessant artillery attack on the Anafarta. position during Lord KitclWnor'g sittv of {-WO

PERSISTENT REPORTS OF TURCO-GERMAN DISCORD

REVOLUTIONABY PROCLAMATIONS IN OIROULATION. . . _ Salonika, November 28. Persistent reports from Constantinople are daily increasing to tlie effect that there are Turco-German discords. A German regiment is outside Chataldja awaiting authorisation to enter Constantinople. ' Athens, November 28. Revolutionary proclamations have been distributed among the Turkish army and placarded on the railways, appealing to the soldiers as follows: —"111 the name of God turn your weapons against the Government, which is leading the country to the brink of an abyss/'