In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 46, 23 October 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

TO-DAY'S NEWS. The British offer of Cyprus to Greece has been turned down, says a message from The Times. This news has not been confirmed, but it is likely that it is true and is not surprising. The Greek King, Constantine, is apparently • out-and-out pro-Ger-man, and as long as he has* his own way and can veto any proposals that are antagonistic tp/ his policy, which is inspired by the Kaiser’s intrigues, no Allied diplomacy will prevail. The feeling of the Greeks as a nation cannot be accurately gauged, as the King and his men abe in power and are sure to suppress any messages that are not to their liking. But some telegrams that have leaked through show that the feeling throughout Greece is undergoing a rapid change, and that sensational developments may happen at any moment. This probably "means that the King is beginning to see that the Yenezelists (who are in a majority) are becoming restless, also that the army s hatred of the Bulgarians, which is due to atrocities, is increasing the tension and he will give way. The army is also said to; be insisting that the treaty with Serbia must be maintained at all costs.. If this report of the Army’s attitude and the restlessness ' of the pro-Allied party increases is correct, then King - Constantine will cease to play the dangerous game that he has adopted at very serious risk to the dynasty. The offer of Cyprus was added to by the further offer of islands in the Aegean Sea and the promise of military support. These offers are represented as the Entente's last word to the Greeks. If Greece has refused the offers then the time has arrived for further and different action, which will hot prove very much to the liking of Constantine.

The fighting in the Russian Campaign is a story ot German steady progress on Riga and the wapid advance of the Russian forces under Ivanoff in the south in East Galida. The Germans have apparently been defeated in their effort to reach Rvinsk. and are making a determined attack i on Riga for the purpose of establishing winter quarters. 1 They are attacking from the south-west from Mitau, and from the Dvina on the south-east. Their path is said to be a very difficult one, but unless they are severely beaten shortly the likelihood is that they will reach Riga. Even then it will not be of such value to them now as it would have been some weeks ago. In the winter months the harbor is icebound and all communications must be through -the difficult country that/ surrounds it. Thp German commander will probably get over this difficulty by using the ports lower down the coast and the railways from them. But the presence of 'British submarines in the - Baltic will render this channel of communication dangerous. ’’The fighting iii Galicia has proved a rapid success for the Russians, who have forced the Austrians out of Czernowitz and are developing their offensive along Roumanian frontier. This turn of affairs should havfe great influence with the Roumanians, who are not giving any definite indications of their intervention policy. Their attitude is to wait the result of the Allied intervention on the side of the Serbs and the decision of the’ Greeks, and also the result of the Russian offensive in Galicia and Transylvania. Should the Russians bti successful in these places, the i

Roumanians >voqld probably intervene on the side of the Entente on condition that she received Transylvania in return. Should Russia be defeated, Ronmania would be offered Bessarabia from Germany as a price for intervention. She covets both provinces very dearly. The importance of the successful Russian campaign will lie indeed be very far reaching. And the indications are that the present success is not a flash in the pan, hut a dead shot.

There is very little fresh news at the time of writing from Serbia, and the position at Yranya is still 0,) ‘ scared. The march of the Allied troops, especially the French move to cut off the Bulgarians retreat, should bring forth something of a startling nature. It is hoped that the 1 reach move will be of the characteristicallyrapid nature for which the French are famous, and that it will succeed in its object. The Germans are reported to be still advancing in places, but at tremendous cost to themselves, and at a very slow pace. Time again is on our side, and the expected rapid advance through Serbia has not been realised, and the nemy are meeting .with a resistance that will yet, with the aid of the Allied troops, be successfully developed into a successful offensive. ,

The bombardment of Dedeagatch will divert the Bulgars, especially ifcit is followed by a landing to seize the railway. TURNED IT DOWN. ' " ALLEGED REJECTION BY GREECE. United Press association. (Received 10.0 a.m.) / London, October 22. The Times states that it is understood in well-informed circles that Greece hag . rejected the Cyprus proposal. HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES, SPLENDID SERSTkN FIGHTING. (Received 10.0 a.m.) Bucharest, October 22. The Serbians, in a splendid count er-attack southward of Pojarevatz, inflicted on the enemy 8000 casualties. The Germans fell back near Semendria before violent Serbian onslaughts. A German division southward of Belgrade marching towards Leskova tz was caught on the flank by Serbian artillery, losing one-third of its effectives. The Austro-German advance never-the-less continues.

THE FLEET AT WORK. DEDEAGATCH BOMBARDED. United Press Association. (Receved 12.15 p.m.) London, October 22. Sofia announces that the British fleet is bombarding Dedeagatch. ANTI-DYNASTIC PLOT IN BULGARIA. (Received 10.0 a.m.) London, October 22. An anti-dynastic plot in Bulagria was discovered, and the bouses of the Opposition loaders and numerous politicals were searched. WITH THE FRENCH TROOPS. Paris, October' 21. The French first encountered the Bulgarians at. Valandovo. The Bulgarians bombarded vigorously, and the French energetically resisted. The French and Serbians then took the offensive, annihilating several Bulgarian battalions;

CREASING THE WAY! London, October 22. In addition to Cyprus the Allies have offered Greece an extension of territory on the Aegean coast of Greece and her colonies in Asia Minor. These represent the Entente’s last word to the Greek Government, who have also been assured of military and adequate financial support. ! Leading Greeks in London highly approve of the proposed cession of Cyprus. They point out that the island’s revenue shows a. surplus of £50,000 annually. Cyprus gave 15,000 volunteers in the last Balkan war, and could have raised 60,000. Athens newspapers, commenting on the proposed cession of Cyprus, are unanimously of opinion that the hour has come for Greece to make her decision.

Telegrams* from Athens show that the feeling throughout Greece is undergoing a rapid change, and sensational developments may happen at any moment. The Government is beginning to perceive that an, international atmosphere is forming which is fast becoming insupportable. The restlessness of the Venizelists and the army’s hatred of Bulgaria, due to Bulgar atrocities, are increasing the tension. There is feverish activity at the Ministry of War, and the army is insisting that the compact with Serbia, must be maintained at all costs. The arrival of the first French and British wounded at Salonika is causing a deep impression on the excitable Greeks.

PRESS COMMENT. Sofia, October 21. The newspapers furiously comment on the Salonika landing, and state that Bulgaria will not tolerate the concentration of troops. If Greece is powerless to turn out,, the AngloFrench she must call in Bulgaria, who will undertake operations. London, October 22. The Daily Mail’s correspondent at Salonika says that after the occupation of Ishtib the Bulgarians advanced to Kuprili. Serbian reinforcements arrived and repulsed the Bulgarians with enormous losses. The French have crossed the Vardar-Krivolak line with the object of cutting off the Bulgarian retreat. Bulgarian attacks near Kumanovo were repulsed, and comitadjis and cavalry who cut the railway near Vranja were exterminated. % The Munich Custenachnichten deschibes the Serbians as offering a most determined resistance. Position .affer position in the Morava Valley is only gained by the fiercest fighting by the rearguards. The paper says it must he admitted that the Serbians are magnificent soldiers, despite their rough appearance. Their armament is irreproachable, and numerous sharpshooters, who are concealed in the rugged mountains, have caused us considerable losses. Their artillery is not particularly good, despite the guns given to them by the English. Unlike the Russians, the Serbians do not burn and destroy everything, and we obtain large supplies of grain and cattle. The weather continues wretched, and the roads are miserable, greatly impeding progress. Colonel Repington says there is no doubt that the Serbian army lis opposed to superior forces. The AustroGermaiis have probably sixteen divisions and Bulgaria sixteen. Serbia has lost one hundred and fifty thousand men in the present war, and another fifty thousand from disease. Now she has probably three hundred thousand men. The enemy’s superiority is two to one, and is greater if the Turks are helping. The situation is not desperate unless the main Serbian army is defeated, but it is serious. The Serbs are defending at the greatest disadvantage, and a crisis cannot be long delayed. The best course is for the Franco-British to hold up tlie Bulgarian columns at Lstid and Strumnitza, to take off the pressure from the Sorbs.