BARGAINING WITH THE GREEK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2643, 14 December 1915, Page 5

BARGAINING WITH THE GREEK

SITUATION CLEARING ALLIES EXTRICATED FROM DIFFICULT ' 'POSITION v, • By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' (Rec. December 13, 7.20 p.m.) . Paris, December 12. ■ A highly-important statement in the "Matin" suggests that tlio clouds are clearing in the Near East. "The Anglo-French Governments have reached complete agreement regarding the conduct of the. campaign," says tho "Matin " which proceeds: "Identical instructions, signed by Sir Edward Grey (British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) and M. Briand (French Premier), liavo been seut to the Allies' representatives at Athens, while identical military orders, signed by General Joffre and Lord Kitchener, have been dispatched to the Commander of the Anglo-Frenoh Eastern armies. This is a precedent of, great importance. Never before in history have the Anglo-Fr'ench Governments acted as one nation. There is no question of the Allies abandoning t/he Balkans expedition. \ ; "King Constantino has already given proof of sentiments of a' more reassuring nature, and only asks now that the Entente Powers shall pdrmit Salonika to preserve its Greek character If that be granted, King Constantino is willing to leave tho field open for Anglo-French operations. The Entents Powers have accepted King' Constantine's point of view, noting his assurances. ' It is certain that tihe railways will remain at the Allies' disposal In view of the fact that the Bulgarians will probably not be able'to resist the temptation to secure reparation for their 1913 losses in the event of tlieir crossing the' Greek frontier, it appears that the Allies have considered that it would not bo wise to insist on t'he Greeks demobilising. The Allies in rethese concessions, would permit the free resumption of GrfSc mm merce between the Greek and the Allied ports." Tho "Matin" declares that the Greek peril now ceasea to exist. "The British Ministers concerned" have accomplished valuable and fruitful work " The Athens newspapers announce that partial demobilisation is being seriously considered. ALLIES WILL NOT QUIT SALONIKA GREEK FEAR OF A BULGAR INVASION (Rec. December 13, 9 p.m.) _ , , , ,j- ~ , , London, December 13. Reuter'a correspondent definitely announces that the Allies will not quit Salonika. ' An official commiuiique, published in Athens to-day, states that the pourparlers at Salonika between the Entente Powers' and Greece's militarv staff officers are now definitely approaching a satisfactory solution Conflicting reports continue to arrive from Salonika. ' Router's agent transmits a statement, published in Salonika, that the Greek staff officers who are conferring with General Sarrail informed tho latter that !n the .event of the Bulgarians crossing the Greek frontier in pursuit of the Allies the Greek army would retire before the Bulgarians, in order to avoid a dangerous contact. Mr. Martin Donohoe, writing from Athens, learns from the hkhest source that Greece is prepared to go to any lengths to prevent the Bulsar-ians-who are their hereditary, enemies-from setting foot on the Baored soil of Greece. SALONIKA' TO BE FORTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. .(Rec.. December IS, 11.30 p.m.) . The French newspaper "l'Opinion" states, that Generd noti fied the Government of his intention to'fortify Salonika immediately. / J ' MORE BRITISH TROOPS LANDED (Rec. December 13, • 9 p.m.) : further contingent of British troops were landed * 3 ' SERBS COMING ROUND BY SEA. (Rec. December 13, 9 p.m.) ... _ j. j. it, *i. j, , ?. 0 P s .nhagB n , December 13 A German rumour states that two British divisions have landed at Ka vala. Two thousand Serbians have arrived at Salonika from Durazzo and others are coming. ' THE BRITISH RETIREMENT FROM LAKE DOIRAN SPLENDID WORK OF T'HE TENTH DIVISION. x (Rec. Decombor 13, 7.40 p.m.) j London, December 12. . A British War Office communique states' After sustaining violent attacks by tho enemy, the Tenth Division, which had been reinforced retired in conjunction with our Allios to a strong position from Lake Doiran' towardsthe Vardar Valley. The Division fought well against heavy odds. Tho success of our withdrawal was largely clu o to tho gallantry of tllo Munst'er and Dublin Fusiliers, and tho Connaught Rangers. "Owing to the mountainous naturo of the country it was necessary to placo oight field guns in positions from which it. was 'impossible to withdraw them during the retirement. Our casualties totalled fifteen hundred " [Tho High Commissioner's report of the above ouei'Rtiuan is auWtuutlully .i4antical.il