SERIOUS REPORTS'FROM THE BALKANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2638, 8 December 1915, Page 5

SERIOUS REPORTS'FROM THE BALKANS

WHAT ITALIAN CORRESPONDENTS SAY GERMAN INTRIGUE IN GREECE By Telegraph—Presa Association—Copyright (Rei. December 7, 7.30 p.m.) . London, December 7. The "Daily Telegraph's" Milan correspondent states that the dispatches from tlie Italian correspondents at Salonika and Athens indicate that a very serious situation exists, to the Allies' disadvantage. "There is nothing to show," he says, "that the reports are exaggerated. King Constantino's intentions are still veiled in mystery, causing the Allies growing conoern. Despite enormous financial difficulties, Greek military preparations are being feverishly hastened and secretly intensified. Fresh' decrees appear daily, concerning particular exigencies in the event "of war. New uniforms have been distributed, winter outfits improved, strategic positions strongly occupied, and officers' pay increased. German influences are ODenly at work, especially by Teuton 1 officers, who are brazenly advocating war against the Entente. while closely spying on the Allies' positions in Macedonia. The German officers are openly discussing ways and means of neutralising the economic blockado, and are contemplating a combined German-Bulgarian attack on the Allies in Maoedonia. King, Constantino is less and less disposed to yield to the Alließ, and is completely under the influence of his staff officers, who recently—and ostentatiously—received special decorations from the Kaiser." , AN INTERVIEW WITH KING CONSTANTINE "GREECE WILL NEVER CHERISH DESIGNS AGAINST THE ALLIES." , ' (Rec.* December 7, 10.35 p.m.) ' Athens. December 7. King Constantino has given an audience to the "Times" correspondent. He said that he was deeply grieved an d hurt that suspicions should be cast upon bis intentions and sentiments. He had always preferred - England to other countries, and bad spent his holidays there, but England had forgotten that he was King of Greece, and his first duty was to keep Greece clear of disaster. The pitiable condition of Belgium was always before his eyes, and he would only consent to. war if the existence of Greece were threatened; or the 6'ertainty of victory were bo great that the rewards would justify the sacrifice. ' The King added: "I have given the most solemn assurances that Greece will never cherish designs against the Allies. It is an insult to think that Greece and its King are capable of treachery." ( • The attack on the Dardanelles is a gamble which might or might not succeed, but Greece is unable to run such risks, nor is the Allies' Balkan policy very definite. If Greece joined and the Alließ decided to retire, Greece would become a second Belgium. Greece's friendly feelings were sufficiently demonstrated when she placed the railway and telgraphs at the disposal of the forces at Salonika. Perhaps she overstepped her neutrality." King Constantino then asked, sharply, if the Allies' confidence in Bulgaria had been justified. He suggested that Greece was now the victim of vexation at the results of an unsuccessful policy elsewhere, lie GrecoSerbian treaty dealt with the Balkans, and! only came into force if Bulgaria alone attacked Greece or Serbia. He emphatically denied the runr.ourd treaty between Greece and Bulgaria. The latter was Greece's hereditary enemy. Allies Have No Plans, "The present situation " he said, "can be summed up in a few words. The Allied Powers made certain demands regarding the Greek forces in Macedonia. We replied giving our most ' solemn assurances that nothing detrimental to the Allies need- be feared from Greece, but that before we could bind ourselves to an irrevocable programme wo were desirous of knowing what programme the Allies had drawn- up. In reply, we have been told that England and her Allies are deliberating, and that no fixed programme has yet been decided upon. Can Greece in justice be invited to remove her troops to other districts while the Allies are still undecided as to whether they will occupy and hold the evacuted region? Whatever the Allies' plans may be, Greece will not abandon her neutrality." King Constantino concluded by expressing his gratitude for Lord Kitchener's and M. Denj-s-Cochin's i visits, and reasserting that the suspicions regarding his political views and aims were unjustified and cruel.' FRENCH AND GREEK GENERALS IN CONFERENCE. (See. December 7, 9.16 p.m.) : Athens, December 7. General Pallis (Greece) has gone to Salonika to confer with General Sarrail regarding the Allies' demands for facilities for the Ententes' troops. AUSTRIAN MONITORS IN THE DANUBE. (Reo. December 7, 9.15 p.m.) .Athens, December 7. Four Austrian monitors lave left the Bulgarian port of Rustchuk, on the Danube, on an attempt to bombard the port of Aeni (in Bessarabia). riteni, on the Danube, has been reported as being the base for a big Russian concentration of troops.] GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, December 6. A German communique states: "South of Genica and north-cast of Ipek Montenegrin and Sorbian detachments were thrown back." % . Copenhagen, December 6. Telegrams declare that, as the Austn.ans and Bulgarians are able to defeat the Anglo-French and Serbians, the Germans are withdrawing and proceeding to other fronts. NAVAL ACTIVITY IN THE DARDANELLES V/ITH VIGOROUS LAND ATTACKS. ' Amsterdam, December 6. 'A Turkish communique th®'Alliaa' naval iwitivlt.y lt> wid. vigorous by the British wtflwst tha centra and left,