TO-DAY'S NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 61, 10 November 1915, Page 5

TO-DAY'S NEWS.

For some time past persistent reports have come to hand regarding the food supply in Germany and Austria. At first, nothing wa s likely to he believed about the affair, because so many similar reports had been discredited. But of late, these reports have become persistent, and some of the German newspapers have been hold enought to complain, notably the Socialist paper Vorwaerts. Others have been suppressed, but it is only because'of the strength of the Socialist party in Germany that the Vorwaerts has not suffered the same fate. It seems logical to state that if the price of living has increased considerably in Britain and even in the Colonies, the state of affairs in Germany and Austria must be very bad, and some faith must be given to theso persistent reports from the Central Powers.

In the south, the French and British forces are continuing their success, and are giving the Bulgars a bad time. Details of the first fighting on the Vardar show that when the time came for a battle the French thoroughly defeated the Bulgars despite the enemy's valour. The French artillery surprised the attackers, who were terribly cut about by the shrapnel from the 7o's. The French General . Staff reports that they are pushing steadily northward, with the British co-oper-ating on the right. The danger to the Bulgarian army's flank is becoming more than a danger.

The news comes that' the Allies have landed 220,000 troops at Salonika for Serbia. It looks as if the Bulgars are up against a tough proposition in dealing with such a number of troops. Their own officers state, that although they have won victories, the army has been reduced by one-third in casualties. That means that the Bulgars are raced by superior numbers of men from veteran armies. The Russians are reported to have landed 80,000 on the Bulgarian coast. This needs definite confirmation, but, if it is true, then the Bulgars will have another front to face. Moreover, the Russians are reported to be sending torpedoers and destroyers up the Danube to attack the Austrian fleet which is convoying munition barges to Rustchuk. The Bucharest report adds that troops are being sent also. The writer cannot see the need of sending troops to Turkey, as the Turks have* plenty. Probably the troops referred to are th© escort. The presence of Russian ships will render the transmission of troops down the Danube a hazardous matter, if it does not stop it altogether. The advent of these Russian ships has another and a more important aspect. The attitude of Roumania must l)e very passive and favourable to the Allies. The Austrian Government recently informed Roumania that if she let Russia use the Danube, she would have to take the consequences. But Roumania rightly says that Austria and her Ally are themselves using the waterway, and are not justified in asking other po wor,s fco re fr' a,n ' ,om doing the same. The attitude of Roumania is-per-haps the best gauge of the Greek, decision. In recent times, | these two States have never "hit it," and in 1905, 1906, and as recent as 1910, have

severed relations over the eternal Macedonian question. There is the key of the Balkan mystery, and therefore the whole policy of all these States centres on Macedonia, regarding which district Bulgaria and Greece are to-day rumoured to havemade an agreement. Greece is to retain Kavala on condition that she helps Bulgaria to get Durazzo in Albania. Roumania is not lil?elv to tolerate this, and if the agreement realises, she is bound to go against Greece. In any case, passive neutrality to the Entente is something better than opposition to' the Russian movements. Of course, if Greece comes in on the Allies' side, that does not niean that Roumania will take the field against us, a s the position then will l>o"the question of the dismemberment or Bulgaria, and Roumania will want a reward. Her share would not be part of Bulgaria, but Transylvania, which she covets more dearly than part of Bulgaria j but still she would like to see Bulgaria crippled. In the meantime, Greece is being granted loans by France to the extent of £1,600,000 on the one hand, and entering agreements with our enemy on the other hand. It seems more than ever that the tangle will have to be cut in the manner that Lord Milner suggests as the only course.