CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 16 November 1915, Page 5

CURRENT WAR TOPICS.

The Greek position- : discloses interesting developments;* "which are* not unexpectedly of the - veiled threat: : w J; MWtag l; 'lnHitai*y' and naval measure's 7 'H6 iyrihg , iGreee& to 'ai proper sense of her'hbhorable 1 obliga- ' tions to Serbia/ The arrival bf Kiix-h----ener, which is reported by * the r ftews*- ; , . paper Patras,'of Athens, V 'evidently the source of the talk cf trie n'ear approach of af 1 straight-oat' backed by the Allied armies ah'cl tlie -squadron which lias steam l uri at Malta, such demand being very much akin to an ultiifatum. ','fie faithful to your Treaty with Serbia apd tight, or if you are not going to stand by , Serbia, demobilise, ;,or ; the consequences, from i our,, troops , and, .the Fleet which is even now off Biraeus." However, it is not anticipated that such a dastic'course will follow, but j the threat may be .necessary when diplomacy fails;- But .has . not yet failedy'land • TCarl Kitchener who unravelled i!l t'h'e *Ushoda tangle so well may ye't" show the< > world that his ability does ;j nbt end-at organisation and soldiering/* but that his straight hitting in diplomacy ■ may embarrass the Monarch who is trying the slow temper of Britain. One effect of the apprehension of firm insistence and demands for compliance with treaty obligations upon Greece is illustrated by the King's reply to the German and Austrian demands that the disembarkation of Allied troops at Salonika should be preyented, even by force." Constantiiie replied that Greece" will-remain neutral till one or other of the belligerents ceases to respect Greece's rights. Salonika being a free port, the diwm- , barkation has not constituted a transgression of neutral rights. That reply savours of a semi-dictated air, and i s non-committal. It sheds no light on the' scene. The Germans are. handicapped, inasmuch as they have i>- not a casus belli for Greece to use against the Allies. On the Allied side, there is the solemn treaty wherein Greece undertook upon her National honor, to stand by Serbia in the event ,of Bulgarian attack upon thafc country. The Allies are insisting upon compliance with this treaty, and Greece cannot get away from her obligations, ' although she is at present unwilling to act" up to them. In the meantime the landing of troops is being accelerated, and an Italian cruiser has arrived at Salonika.

Th(j military situation in Serbia is steadily developing in the favour of the Allies, and preparations, for a vigorous offensive are being made in the matter of securing the whole line from Kaehanik to Doiran. Roughly the Allied line runs in a north'-westerly direction .from Talandovo along the Vardar to the Baboun a Mountains where the Serbs, are weakly linked up, hut where they have put up a determined resistance that has been successful. From the north of Uskub at Kaehanik, the Serbs are strongly placed,' and are resisting the enemy from Mitrovitza, whence they are enA deavouring to reach Uskub, and the ' Bulgarians in the attempt to drive the "'". Allies into Greece. The Serbians report that a fierce battle is raging at Kaehanik, where they are making a desperate stand against a large force. The Serbians hope that they will be [ able to hold out long enough to enable the Allies to effect a junction. That j such junction is very close is shown by the fighting in the south where the Allies are threatening the Bul-

garian flank and Uskub, which [is only i about 20 miles■ from Kachanik and about the same distance from I tlie ' Allies. Therefore the fate of Uskub depends upon the staying powers of the Serbs against their opponents and the staying powers of the Bulgars against the A (lies. Ho\vevei»it is, expected 'the'Serb's" will do : what Ss tasked of and hold' !iip th4'eiiemj T 'even'if he beat t-nerii. There' is 'one danger to them that may : upset'. the affair' and it is the< presence \os Bulgarians iii Us'uib' whence they caii ; make' attacks and forces the Serbs to fight on fear also. But the operations of the Allies which Uskub hive probably removed,.the danger and drawn the attention,..of. the Bulgars vho are hard pressed. Apart from the undecided battle at Kachauik the news is good" and the result, of that iiglit is not yet ! known., , .. ' ~

The news from Russia is good ( and' from;all'appearances- php Rtrs-da'is Have the positjipii in their own hands and are going ,to.. make the., winter warm-foV'&ie H,uniy Desjjite comparisons, ''the lot qf the German* seems to that fell upon' NapoJeahV will take all' the modern transport and means of communication to remove in safety the million or two men who are getting snowed up as it were in the same manner as Napolean did. The Russian;are not going to mince matters, and as they themselves say, will move swiftly and suddenly with the unceasing vigour and spirit that h»is been bred from their, ill-fortune during the last | seven months.