In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 57, 5 November 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

TO-DAY’S NEWS. First ami foremost in to-day’s news is the resignation of the present Greek Cabinet as the result of a noconfidence vote which followed the discussion on military proposals between M. Venize'los and the Minister of War. The majority of the Government who are obviously fast tiring of the state of affairs and desire some definite issue asked for the confidence of the Chamber. The voting went against the Zairnis party by 147 to 114. This turn of affairs partly helps to mend matters, but does not assure immediate intervention. If King Constantine keeps his attitude, even M. Yeni/.elos and the majority cannot force the hand of the King unless the military party are favorable to the Government’s views. The King is’ Comimtnder-in-Chief, and as such nominally commands. Has he the Aymy behind him? Future events following on the present situation will answer the question. If the King has the Army with him, then if he wishes to defy the' majority of the Government he must reign by force. Oji the other hand he may fall into the line of his people and abide by the measures of the Venizelos party. The fall of Zairnis has caused intense satisfaction in Italy.

Regarding the other passive Balkan state, Boumnnia, little fresh is to hand. The Russians are reported to he pouring troops into Bessarabia, and from there to Reni, which is on the Russian side of the Danube. Are the Russians concentrating here in order to proceed down the Danube to Bulgaria via Silistria, or merely to be on the guard against Roumania It is quite possible that the Roumanians intend coming in on our side, and will co-operate with the Russians in an attack on Bulgaria. A similar movement was made by these two powers in 1878, when Russia was at war with Turkey. From Roni the Danube runs in a southerly direction \vith a westerly flow along the Bulgarian frontier. Silistria is the nearest point where it flows along Bulgaria. The other day word came to hand that the Bulgarians were fortifying Silistria, and Turks were concentrating at this point. On the face of tilings, it looks as if Roumania is about to intervene and co-operate with Russia.

In the Serbian theatre, things are much the same. The Austro-German advance from Visegrad continues, and has reached Uzice, which is at the head of the railway that runs along the Serbian Morava. Uzice is due west of Kragujevatz,which the enemy captured when the, Serbs had blown up the arsenal, which the Germans seemed to make so much of in their report. Further east of the line, General Gallowitz is fighting hard for the heights north of Jagodina, which is on the Nish railway. The enemy line, therefore, runs from Uzice in an almost due easterly direction to Kragujevatz. The Serbs retreating from Uzice will fall back on Kruchovatz, which is on both sides expected to be the scene of the great battle. The Serbs inflicted a big defeat on the Austrians last year at this place. A decisive defeat of the Austrians in the west would maim things very good for the Serbs, as it would delay seriously the enemy advance along the rest of the line. On , the other hand, a serious defeat of _ __ , _ „

the Serbs at Jagodina is the critical point—at present. A defeat there will hasten the final battle, and then the road to Turkey will lie open. However, the Serbs seem to bo retreating in splendid order, and are not hurrying. So much the better.

'As was anticipated in this column yesterday, the correspondent’s story about Monastic has turned out to ho premature. The real position in that direction is that the Serbs have given the Bulgars (who were trying to force their way from Veles to' Monastic) a taste of their mettle, and have driven them bask. Moreover, the strength of i the French positions, which are being reinforced every day in readiness for a sudden attack, is baffling the Bulgar General, who seems to have got himself into a hole from which he cannot withdraw and cannot make any further headway. The whole thing looks as if the Bulgars will get a sharp defeat very soon. The writer is inclined to the view that they have shot their holt, and will, when the Allies get into their proper stride, be snuffed out quickly.

The landing at Kavalla has necessitated the. concentration of the enemy at several points, and has brought about the splitting of the Bulgarian army into smaller lots. With the Bulgars, as with others, union is strength, and the division of the whole army into lots is a serious blow to their strategic value. The only way for them to prevent the development of the danger is to attack the Seres railway on the Grecian territory. That would mean violation of Greece’s neutrality, and more,trouble for everyone, including the Bulgars. On the whole, the position in the south is very solidly developing for the Allies, who will soon make a definite forward move to put Bulgarian resistance aside, and so leave the Serbs the Austro-Germaus to deal with alone, and help them to drive Mackensen out of the way. Meantime Turkey is still gobbling up her ammunition, and the promised supplies are being used up in Serbia.

ZAIMiS DEPOSED. , . DEFEAT OF THE CREEK CABINET TRIUMPH FOR THE VEHIZELISTS United Peers Association. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, November 4. The Greek Cabinet was defeated in a no-conlidenco motion by 147 votes to 114 and resigns. BAD FOR BULGARIA. M. VENIZELOS HEADS THE MAJORITY. (Received 8.10 a.m.) Athens, November 4. A debate on the military proposals raised a discussion between the Minister of War and M. Venizelog as to which side held the majority and the Government asked for the Chamber’s confidence. M. Venizelos recently informed iX newspaper correspondent that “When 1 next conic into office 1 "'ill make war on Bulgaria.”

GOVERNMENT UUT OF TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE, "POLICY FATAL TO THE COUNTRY'S INTERESTS.” (Received 11.55 a.m.) Athens, November I. M. Venizelos, before the vote, declared that it was impossible for the Liberals to .support a Government whose policy was fatal to the country’s interests. REJOICING IN ITALIAN POLITICAL CIRCLES. (Received 11.55 a.m.) Rome,' November 1. M. Zaimis’s resignation has caused intense satisfaction in Italian, political circles.

BULCARS THROWN BACK. SERBIAN SUCCESS IN THE SOUTH ENEMY’S SHOCKING TREATMENT OF PRISONERS, (Received 8.40 a.m.) Paris, November 5. The Petit Parisien’s Salonika correspondent states that the Serbians’ impetuous counter-ofiensive threw back the Bulgarians iu the defiles between Veles and Perlipe. The Bulgarians on the north-east-ern frontier gouged out the eyes or tore out the tongues of the Serbian prisoners and then released them. The women and children were infamously treated, some being shockingly mutilated. BULGARIAN CASUALTIES SINCE 29th OCTOBER, 30,000. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Geneva, November 5. The Tribune’s Bucharest correspondent states that the Bulgarian casualties on the southern frontier since the 29th nit., amounted to 30,000. NSSH FORTS BOMBARDED. SERBIANS LEAVE BLACKENED TRAIL. BULGARIANS CLAIM CAPTURES. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Geneva, November 5, The Loka] Auzeiger’s Sofia correspondent states that the Bulgarians bombarded the northern and northeastern exterior forts at Nish, and destroyed the wireless station.

The Serbians, in fighting round Pirot, abandoned provisions and waggons containing American munitions. Pirot was destroyed by the Serbians before its evacuation. The arsenal at Kragujervatz was similarly fired. A Bulgarian communique claims the capture of six hundred prisoners and four guns southward of Strumnitza. THE FRENCH ENTRENCHED BRITISHERS AT SERBIAN FRONTIER SINCE 29th OCTOBER. (Received 8.40 a.m.) Geneva, November* 5. Reuter at Salonika reports that the French are strongly entrenched on the heights of the mountainous front of Rabrovo-Gradno-Demirkapu, and are holding the Bulgarians at a distance. The first British contingent reached Gievgeli on the 29th. '

FOOD FOR THE SERBIANS.

FRENCH COMMISSARIAT FORWARDS SUPPLIES.

(Received 8.40 a.m.) Salonika, November 5

The French commissariat sent via Monastir several train-loads of flour, corn, and maize towards the valleys in the Ochrida district to feed the Serbian population. Thousands of tons ,of corn have already been sent to Albania.

FRENCH TROOPS STILL LANDING AT SALONIKA.

(Received 11,55 a.m.) Paris, November 5. A communique says that the landings of French troops at Salonika continue without incident. (The High Commissioner confirms the above).

MORE LOUVAIN HORRORS.

NON-COMBATANTS FIRED ON BY AUSTRO-CERMANS. HUN ANGER AT SERBIAN RESISTANCE. \ (Received 8.40 a.m.) Berne, November 4. Austro-German correspondents admit that non-combatants suffered retribution owing to tbe alleged firing on them by the troops. Authenticated relugees’ stories are reaching the Slavonic Association of Switzerland of the awful butchery in the villages, the Louvain horrors being numerously repeated. Refugees deny that the villagers, who are mostly old, fired on the Germans but attribute the slaughter to tbe German anger at tbe Serbian troops’ desperate resistance.

AN UNRELIABLE REPORT.

GREEKS FIRE ON FRENCH. Amsterdam, November 3. 1 A Berlin wireless, says : The Greek army, excited, fired on French troops who were retreating to Greek territory before the Bulgarians. 1 '

THE LAMDINO AT KAVALLA ALLIES’ STRATEGIC MOVE. United Press Association. London, November ■(. The Globe, ('011111101111110; on the landing at Kavalla, says that it is the only offensive strategy the British have yet devised, except that in the Persian Gulf. Kavalla is a wide bay and the roadsteads offer anchorage for the whole Allied fleets. It is the terminus of three good roads, and the landing should oblige the Bulgarians to mass a division at Kskulje, anther at Lissa, and a third force at Demirhisar to protect the Struma valley. Otherwise the Bulgarians at Strumnitza will find their easiest retreat cut off. If the Bulagrians at Demirhisar violate Greek neutrality they could march to Doiraij and cut off the Franco-British communications with Salonika. There is only an antiquated quay at Kavalla, capable of accommodating four lighters simultaneously.

LINKING UP MOVEMENT BY THE ENEMY. SERBIANS RESISTING ON THE MORAVA. Amsterdam, November 3. - The Anstro-Germans have readied Uzice, fifty-five miles south-west of Taragnievanz. The Serbians arc offering stubborn resistance on both sides of the Morava. RUSSIANS POURING IN FROM BESSARABIA. Amsterdam, November 4. German newspapers state that many Russian troop trains are , arriving at Reni, in Bessarabia, where the Danube flows due south to Bulgaria. RUSSIANS CROSS THE DANUBE. Paris, November 4. Le Petit Parisien’s Salonika correspondent states that Russian troops, with guns and munitions, have already crossed the -Danube. Roumania is passive. AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, Nov. 3. An Austrian communique states: General Koevess is advancing between Caca and Kragujevatz. General von Gallwitz is attacking the height's east of Kragujevatz , and north of Jagodina.