PEACE OR WAR?

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 506, 5 October 1912, Page 5

PEACE OR WAR?

AUSTRO-RUSSIAN COMPACT.

TO PREVENT A CONFLICT,

A GREEK ULTIMATUM.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyriglil London, Thursday.

The Near Eastern crisis is still very

acute and with so many factors to be considered, it is yet impossible to predict the outcome of the trouble. It is rumoured that the Greek Government has given a three days' ultimatum to the Turkish Government to release the Greek steamers detained in Turkish water for use as transports in the event of war.

If this be rejected the Powers will be informed that war will begin after a further lapse of three days. The Powers have made strong representations to the various Balkan States in favour of peace. There are also indications that Austria and Russia have arrived at a close understanding to prevent war. If they fail they will take necessary measures for circumventing its area.

Most of the newspapers see the chief hope of peace in the empty war chests of the Balkan States.

A report from Cettinje states that the Turks fired on a party of Montenergins over the border near Berana, the scene o£ the recent massacres. The Montenegrins did not reply to the fire.

The Continental Bourses are still in a state of panic, and the "Lokal Anzeiger" rebukes the German Exchange for failing to exhibit selfcontrol in the face of the crisis. The British Stock Exchange is nervous, and there has been heavy selling of foreign bonds. Hundreds of thousands sterling were lost byjpanic-stricken investors in Germany. The Daily Mail's Vienna correspondent says that many speculators have been ruined in the debacles on the Stock Exchange. Most of the stable stocks fell heavily. GREECE BUYS WARSHIPS.

The torpedo boat destroyers which were just concluded in English yards for the Argentine Government were brought by Greece for over half a million, and they sailed to-day for Athens under the command of English officers.

A deep impression has been made in Greece by the Porte's detention of a Greek steamer armed with a Firman authorising the passage of the Dardanelles.

The Porte contends that she was authorised to enter, but not leave, the Straits. Tha act is regarded as a deliberate provocation. The Daily Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent says that the Turkish forts in the Bosphorus attacked two Greek steamers.

The Hellenic Minister has protested.

There are six Greek vessels detained in Turkish ports. They are being hurriedly transferred to foreign ownership in order to avoid detention for use as Turkish transports. A EUROPEAN CONFERENCE,

The Daily Chronicle's Constantinople correspondent says that it is rumoured that the Porte has received proposals for a formal European Conference with the object of avoiding war.

The same corespondent assertß that a Turco-Roumanian agreement was arranged when Turkey learned at the Balkan States were arranging a mili> tary alliance. It is reported that Herr von Kider-len-Waechter, German Minister for Foreign Affairs, has stated that none of the great Powers wil-l be drawn into the impending conflict, which will, in his opinion, be confined to the Balkans.

The North German Gazette an the Local Anzeiger publish inspired statements confirming the localisation of any outbreak. A HINT TO SERVIA. The Powers have requested Servia not to concentrate troops near the frontier lest the situation should be rendered worse.

The Premier has replied that the Commander-in-Chief has ordered that the concentration, and that his duty is to safeguard the country's integrity. Precautions will be taken to avoid any challenge on the part of Servia, who would gladly accept the Powers' good offices. The underwriters at Lloyd's are shy of accepting war risks. Bulgaria has engaged a prominent English aviator, and other similar engagements are contemplated. Reports state that Bulgaria and •Servia have stopped all railway traffic with Turkey. The Russian Red Cross Society is mobilising and preparing detachments to serve with the Servian and Belgarian forces. The newspapers indicate the Posvers are seeking to secure a cessation of the army mobilisations by the Balkan

States, the Powers guaranteeing that Turkey will likewise disarm and abstain from attacks. The Porte may then, it is suggested, be induced to grant reforms in the form of a compromise. The Minister of ¥/ar announces that the troops in the south-east of Austria have been ordered to adopt an increased peace footing. The Bulgarian Minister had a lengthy consultation with Count Berchtold, Minister for Foreign i Affairs.

TURKEY READY TO FIGHT,

ULTIMATUM FROM THE ALLIES

London, Thursday.

Reuter's Constantinople correspondent states that Turkey has notified the Powers that owing to aggressiveness of the Balkan States she reserves full liberty of action to safeguard her rights. The Pdll Mall Gazette says that the legations of the Triple Alliance have received copies of an ultimatum which is to be submitted to the Powers before being sent to Turkey, demanding the autonomy of Macedonia, Albania, Old Servia, and Crete. The Paris Eclair states that Italy has purchased for £200,000 the cruiser Abdul Hamid, seized in the Ansaldo yard at the commencement of the war.

GREEK RESERVISTS RECALLED. Received October 4, 9.10 p.m. Washington, Friday.. The Consul for Greece has received orders to notify all reservists in the United States to return to Greece and join the army.