In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 68, 19 November 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

ROUMANIAN POSITION. ' I _ PROGRESS OF RUSSIAN ARMY. United Pbebs Association. (Received 9.55 a.m.) Rome, November 18. II Secolo’s Bucharest correspondent says that an excellent impression was createdlin Roumania by M. •Sazonoff’s declaration that Russia had never faced the possibility of a Russian army traversing more than a small part of Roumanian territory without the Boumanian Government agreed.

TURKISH MINISTER OF MARINE. REVOLT AGAINST GOVERNMENT. 1 CO-OPERATING WITH ENTENTE. (Received 9.50 a.in.) London, November 18. The Exchange Agency, correspondent at Athens reports that Djemal Pasha, the Turkish Minister of Marine, whilst on a mission to Syria, revolted against the Government and induced Druses to join. The movement has spread to Arabia, where Djemal is co-operating with the Entente. A SYNDICATE OF KINGS. London, November 17. Dr. Dillon, in the Daily Telegraph, says that the Balkan Peninsula will remain the centre of political interest until the danger of further treachery from the neutral States has been dispelled. “I write,” he says, “with first-hand knowledge of the facts, not all of which are yet realised that a league of monarchs, prearranged by the Kaiser, was completed in principle before the war broke out, but the original conception was more comprehensive than the final achievement. The Germans formed a syndicate of kings, thus forestalling the unsuspecting Entente. “The Teutons are still uncontented, for they knew what slippery customers the . Balkan peoples are. I affirm that the Entente’s policy of chivalrous kindness and delicate tact is wholly misplaced, and the assurances of benevolent neutrality by M. Skonloudis are loss solid than those of M. Venizelos.* M. Skouloudis was not a ■spokesman .for the Parliament and the nation. He is a mere nominee of- a Prussian field-marshal, who x is systematically doing violence to Greece’s constitution and sacrificing her national honor in order to redeem a promise to his Prussian brother-in-law.

“M. Venizelos to-day is a mere private individual. If there Avere any truth or honor left in governing circles in Greece, M. Venizelos and his colleagues would hoav be in .poAver, but there is none. King Constantine is determined at all costs to create Germanophile Parliaments, hostile to the Entente. Even if Greece and her people again announce their determination to do' tlieir' duty, the Prussian field-marshal will still execute his bitither-in-laAv’s designs.” I ' ' WEST OF NISH. I 1 November, 16. ' Ah Austrian cqmnpiniquq | states: We have thrown back the last Montenegrin rearguards /across the Lim*, and General von Koevess in within half a day’s march of Raska, north-east of Novi Bazaar, ENEMY DIVISIONS ON THE MOVE STERN FIGHTING AT POINTS. Berne, NoA r ember 17. Three Bulgarian divisions, uvith thirteen batteries to each, are. proceeding to Baburia arid Kritchrivb,' with a view to occupying Pirlepe. The Bulgarians, despite a furious Serb resistance, are progressing tOAvards Sullagora. ; Herman battArids have been sent to Strurnnitza. ‘ 1 Athens, November 18.

It is reported that after affecting a junction at Tetovo an army of Bulgarians, under German officers, entered Prilep, and the Serbians retreated to Ochrida. Panic prevails at Monastir, which the inhabitants are preparing to abandon. Allied reinforcements have been sent to Monastir. There is ferocious fighting in Babuna Pass, where the Bulgarian vanguards and the Serbian rear-guards are fighting with knives. London, November 17. Salonika reports that the Bulgarians, after the French success, left the bank of the Cerna and withdrew northwards. The inhabitants of Monastir are panic-stricken, and are fleeing, owing to the Bulgarian advance from Gostwar, which is southwards 1 of Tetovo. Moreover, the situation on the Kachanik front is serious, inasmuch as the Bulgarians have been reinforced from Uskub. Sanguinary and desperate fighting in the Tetovo region continues, both sides being continually reinforced. It is stated that the Bulgarians, after enormous sacrifices, have retaken Tetovo. The Bulgarians, heavily reinforced, towards Uskub and Voles, have begun a frantic offensive in order to maintain their advances in this legion, and thus prevent a junction of the northern Serbian armies. The arrival of a Turkish regiment is reported from Veles. The Bulgarians have abandoned their attacks on our front on the left bank of the Cerna, west of Krivolak, and have fallen bock on the Arkangol heights, abandoning many dead. The Bulgarians lost four thousand men in three days. Our losses were slight. KITCHENER’S VISIT. London, November 17. Newspapers indicate a crisis in the Greek situation. Intense interest is attached to the probabilities of Lord Kitchener’s visit to King Constantine, which is increased by tbe enthusastic reception which has been accorded hm.

french minister ovationed. Athens, November 18. The public filled the station hours before M. Cochin arrived. The crowd included veterans of the Legion and 'Greek volunteers who were recently fighting in France, carrying a laurel wreath bound with the French and Greek colors. There was a hurricane of cheers as the train steamed in. Crowds patrolled the streets till midnight, shouting: “Vive la France!” 'and “Vive Cochin 1” 1 M, Cochin, the French Minister, I lengthily interviewed the Greek Minis]ter at Rome, and also Signors Salandra and Soniuo.- It is believed that at 'an important council of Ministers it . #as decided to send an Italian expedition to the Balkans! fVThe Turin Sta'mpa says that M. Cochin has informed Greece that an Anglo-French fleet is at Malta, ready to make Greece pay dearly i for her treachery. N I II Secolo states that the Piemonte’s bombardment of Dedeagatch is the fore-runner of earnest Italian participation. j The Paris Journal, in an authoritative statement, says that Italy accepts 1 the task of saving the Allies from the grave consequences of unprecedented treachery, which may be daily : expected in the Balkans.

MISCELLANEOUS. United Press Association. m I '\ November' 17. The Salonika correspondent df the Paris Journal says that the Balkan expedition is a critical one. Our enemies have.jdecided to pipithe;. Entente’s offensive in the. bud. Gednan submarines have been quintupled in strength, and when mans and Turks reach the Greek frontier Greece N will riot hesitate longer. She will decline, tp,,,continue' the neutrality hitherto accorded the Entente. “Let no appearance deceive us,” says the correspondent. “The situation requires deeds, not words.” London, November 17. The Times’ correspondent at Bucharest says that Austrian torpedoboats are removing Serbian mines from the Danube. An Austro-Ger-maii flotilla arrived at Shishtova with troops and munitions. ,•; \ A German wireless ? nuvssage states: that 54,000 Serbians; w-ere • taken prisoner during the recent , operations, in addition to 40,000, already taken by the- Austrians. T‘he‘ Serbian army Jcistl 478 cannon in Macedonia, j This will prove another Gallipoli for the AngloFrendhd ( >’!.;!'• / j/; I / A correspondent at Athens wires that the Russian JNljni&ter states that the Enteirttel does* riqt intend tqj di;qw , Greece into the war by deliberately entering her territory.';lit is- certain that if an entry should happen the Greek policy would not oppose the interests of the Entente. Greece is in an unenviable position between the hatrimer rind the anvil', but so long as the' interests' of the -Entente are not prejudiced there’is ho‘reason to believe that the Entente contemplates proceedings’rigaifaSt Greebh. Uu ' ’Thousand of men -are building roll-ing-stock in ManchuriW/ aiid‘- there is an endless procession of trains carrying’ dapaUesle snd Arheiicdu* ihunitioris to feussia. * '