MONDAY

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 December 1915, Page 3

MONDAY

Salonika to be Held — Allies Retiring in Servia — New Zealanders Engaged at Krithia — Berliners Insult the Kaiser

Britain and France have decided not to abandon the Balkan campaign. They will hold Salonika, and send sufficient reinforcements to resume the offensive under favourable conditions. It is stated that at least 250,000 men will be required to defend Salonika. Portion of the Greek troops have been removed, in order not to impede the allies' measures to place the town in a state of defence.

The allies, who are reported to be outnumbered by nearly four to one in the south of Servia, continue to retreat in good order. Portion- of their artillery is already on Greek territory. It is^ reported that the New Z?ri.!auJers, on Friday, repulsed a Turkish attack at Krithia. Heavy Austrian mortars have been sent to the peninsula, and an Italian newspaper states that a powerful concentration of Germans points to an offensive there. M. Venizelos, ex-Premier of Greece, states that the Servian treaty was binding on Greece, and it was a great mistake to abandon Servia, Although, the tone of the Socialists in the Reichstag during the present debate has been very mild, thousands took part in a peace demonstration in Berlin on Thursday night. Some of the demonstrators shouted insults to the Kaiser.