In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 49, 27 October 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

TO-DAY’S NEWS. 0. ; I''! . ■ -it •;i \ ■ ■■■' ' * ‘ =3 ' ji: I M : ‘ n 1 i-.i , ’ ;M ,i ,i -d , At tiiue of writing there l ‘is no late news to hand‘beating on the military aspect of the‘ war. Sir‘Edward Grey in tile House bf 'Commons, when questioned 'regarding the offer of Cypriis to'‘Greece, stilted that * his Government felt b6mi<T ’to render Serbia every a.ssistiihte ail'd therefore offered Cyprus, on condition that she would give full and immediate support to Serbia against Bulgaria. Greece declined to do so, and therefore the offer was immediately withdrawn as the conditions under which it was made were not fulfilled. When the paragraph from Dr' Dillon makes jplaiq the whole position and policy of the Gr,eek King, of wliom the present Premier,, M. Zaimis, is merely the .mouthpiece. The Doctor, who is an authority on Balkan matters, says that , King Constantine promised the Kaiser that he would maintain neutrality, the Kaiser guaranteeing to reward Cfieece with Cyprus and coveted portions? of Albania. In view of [this understanding, which is undoubtedly engineered and heightened by the relationship of the two monarchs, Dr. Dillon adds that Britain has wasted valuable time in treating with Greece. The Doctor intimates that the only way to influence the Greek nation is to lose no time in sending a powerful army to Serbia and attract the apparently favorable Roumanians towards the Entente. Then possibly Greece could be left to her own wiles under] the moral suasion of the presence of Allied warships and would not be allowed—unless she renounced the Germans—to share in the spoils, land would, through the stubborness iof her Monarch, be robbed of the reward offered her by the Allies,

The Allies have in M. Venizelos a wary friend, who is watching for the' time when 'the majority of the Creek nation which he represents will let the King see that he cannot trifle with their welfare merely to satisfy the requests of the Kaiser, whose promises do not and cannot hold water. But the step by which the will of the people may be enforced will, perhaps unfortunately, he a drastic one. Yet, before such is taken, diplomacy must be given its full measure, and the Allies must have every faith in Venizelos and their own diplomats. The popular policy' of “those who are not with us are against us” must not be allowed to get the upper hand. The surest way to win over the Creeks is to land large forces for Serbia, and by making < a determined eliort to smash Bulgaria and keep out the Austro-Cermans, show Constantine that the friendship of Germany and the Kaiser is worthless. The political market in Greece must be captured first, for the rule is that politics govern a country’s military attitude. “Deliver the goods and we will pay the price” is the attitude ot the Greeks. Therefore it behoves the Allis to devote all their energy to landing forces and material, smash. Bulgars in the battle that wa- reGerman vengeance from the Greeks.

The situation in Serbia is unchanged in the North, while in the South the French have followed up their success and have again defeated the Bulgars in the battle tehat was reported yesterday at Valandova, and are pursuing them to the frontier which is only next door to A alandova.

The Bulgars have claimed to have driven back the French, but this is expressly denied by the High Commissioner. By this time the Bulgarians have, it may be expected, , cleared right but of southern Mappclohja and all ‘danger to the railrqad is, rein owl. 1 1, The Bulgars remain, on,the offensive, in the Timpk* Valley whore they were repiilsed before by the Serbians. The likelihood is that they will, again bo ( driven back. Until further, ,'ion/irnij atoiy news arrives nothing can be said of’this district. The same may be sfliid of the German crossing of the Driua, of which news is very vague. The probability is that the crossing was not in force. The report of the crossing is included in a message that states that the Allies have asked,.Serbia, to hold out for another five days, when effective will be forthcoming. It is hard to put any faith in this report for many reasons. ’ In the first plate, the AlUes are, not. going, to let the world and the Germans know hbw lon ft’ it will take, them to get troops through to thb SeiWis. 'liv the second place, the message is not in keeping with the position and itrength l of the Serbs* Jt gives the impression that the Serbs are at their last gasp and cannot hold out much longer. The real position is that the Serbs have not been beaten in any battle, and are holding their own, and have compelled the enemy in places to remain on the defensive until reinforcements arrive. Messages of such an unreasonably alarmist nature could and should be suppressed, especially when of such a nature as the one referred to.

That the pressure on all sides is being kept up is further revealed by the German casualty lists, which state that the German and Austrian losses have now been five millions. From October 11th to October 20th, the lists showed 57,024 killed, wounded and missing. Comment is unnecessary; figures speak for themselves. THE OFFER TO GREECE. EXPLANATION IN THE COMMONS Dmted Press Association. (Received 10.45 a.m.) London, October 20. When the House of Commons met, Mr Magnus asked Sic Edward Grey, if ho could give information of the conditional offer of the Government to cede Cyprus to Greece. Sir Edward Grey replied: We felt bound in the very critical position wherein our Servian Allies wpie placed to make every possible effort to obtain for them the only assistance which was immediately availfable; accordingly, . the Government I made it known that if Greece would give full and immediate support to Servia against Bulgaria, Britain would be prepared to give Cyprus to Greece. As Greece had not seen her way to support Servia, the conditions whereunder the -offer was made not having been fulfilled, the offci therefore lapsed.

“RUSSIA, THE DELIVERER.” (Received 10.45 a.in.) London, October 26. A French wireless message states that six Bulgarian colonels had been shot for showing sympathy with “Russia, the Deliverer.” FRENCHMEN CHASING BULGARS Athens, October 26. The French, in a fresh battle near Va la do vo, defeated the Bulgarians, and are pursuing them to the frontier.

BULGARIANS AT STRUMNITZA COMPLETELY BEATEN. [United Pbess Association.] (Received 12.55 p.m.) Paris, October 26. A communique states: Th e Bulgarians ou the 22nd attacked along the whole front, the French forces occupying the Strumnitza region, but they were completely beaten. The reports that the French were thrown back on the right bank of the Vardar are false.

GREEK KING’S STATEMENT. "LOOSENING THE SWORD IN THE SCABBARD." “ '(Received 12.55 p.m.) New York, October 26. King Constantine, in a statement to the Associated Press Athens’ correspondent, states: VOreece is merely loosening the sword in the scabbard. She menaces no one, but cannot permit events constituting a menace to the integrity of the nation or the free dom of the Greek people. It is my duty 'to preserve the country from danger and destruction through becoming involved in a general European conflict. I shall do this at all ha/.-' aids, if possible.” ’ _1 5 1, ■!! •T. ONLY 13,000 BRITISHERS iAT SALONIKA. t ' r ( ■ it (Received 12.55 p.m.) London, October 26. .The Marquis of Lansdownq .stated that there were only thirteen thousand Britishers ac Salonika. Tnese were all that could be collected at ,the moment. CATCHING UP A LIE! The High Commissioner reports;— London, October 26 (5.10 p.m.) In the Balkans the report is false that the French have been beaten back on the right bank of the Vardar. SERBIAN REPORTS. London, October 20. It is understood the Auglo-Fron.ch have asked the Serbian headquarters to resist for five more ~ days,, when effective Assistance will lie forthcoming. The Serbians are keeping, up a rigorous defensive' and deliver j coun-ter-attacks to gain time. .

A NJsli communique states that three etiemy battalions,. crossed the Drina.near Itishgrad. The Bulgarians lave strongly pressing towards Kmazekat/.we. aifd have taken up a position immediately near the town, and cross-, od to the left bapk of the Timok. THE CREEK KING’S PROMISE. : « , Rome, October 2(3. tDocior Dillon states that King Constantine promised the Kaisyr , that |i,e wduld maintain neutrality, the jjvaiser .guaranteeing to ye ward Greece with Cyprus arid coveted portions 1 of Albania.. .In;vieiv of this understanding. Dr Dillon, regards it that Britain has lost valuable time in making the offer which included more than Cyprus, and he adds that a powerful Allied army in Serbia \\;ouldj attract lionmania towards the Entente.

A ROUMANIAN COMMUNIQUE. i Bucharest, October 25. A communique denies M. Filipe,sen's allegation. It declares no explanation of the external question will lie given until the proper time, and threatens a proclamation of a state of siege il order was disturbed. It prohibits processions and demonstrations.