In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 100, 3 December 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

GREECE AND THE ALLIES.

VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY. ■ V l , ’’ ;

United Press Association.

London, December 1

Tho Daily News’ Rome correspondent states that Greece has notified the Allies that their demands that Greece should evacuate Salonika and that the Allies assume surveillance of the coast are unacceptable, and practically amount to a violation of Greece’s neutrality. : >

The correspondent adds that Greece’s hesitation is due to tho.Aus-tro-Qcrman threat that the territory occupied (by the Anglo-French w ould eb considered enemy territory l ii Greece acceded to the Allas’ demands. V / cheek Assurances to allies. ITALY WILL SPEEDILY ASSIST SERBIA. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Romo, December 2. Baron S. Sonnino, Minister of Foreign Allies, states that Greece has given the Allies the assurances, and Italy will speedily assist Serbia.

CONFIRMATION QF, GOOD NEWS. SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH GREECE. I ITALY’S TRADITIONAL POLICY RE-AFFIRMED. SERBIA'S INDEPENDENCE INDISPENSABLE. THE CONDITION (JF PEACE. (Received 12.55 p.m.) Rome, December 2. A crowded and expectant Chamber received with loud applause Baron Sonnino’s important statement on the position of the Entente’s negotiations with Greece, and Italy’s own relations with Sorbia, which had hitherto been shrouded in mystery, Baron Scnnino said Greece’s attitude at ona time gave rise to anxiety, but the situation had

happily been cleared up. Greece had given the required assurances, and there was every reason to believe a satisfactory settlement had been reached regarding the safety and freedom of movement of the Allies in Macedonia. . The presence of tbe Italian flag on the other side of the Adriatic would constitute reaffirmation of Italy's traditional pohcy, including the maintenance of Albanian independence and the strategical defence of the Adriatic. Another pivot in Italy’s policy was that Italy had signed an agreement net to conclude a separate peace. Serbia’s independence was of the greatest importance to Italy, as her absorption by Austria' . would constitute a danger. “Italy,” he continued, ’’can- ' ■i t 'I-; ■ | ; j|iH ' :, i :, r i not remain deqf to Serbia’s appeal, and Will speedily do every- *•: .■ . !ii • ■ ■ . x X 1 r thing possible to assist the Seri fian Army. agroament wth thd Allies, vvehad laid the j complete restoration pf Serbian independence as an indispensable condition of. the termination of the war.” Great, cheering and cries of “Viva La Serbia” fojlowcd. . Baron Sonnino concluded, with. >: an impressive declaration that Italy would 1 pursue the war with , all her strength, at all costs and every sacrjfice. i, .1 I .'lf' j :'U ' ' < russiak Invasion of buko- ‘ fii WINA.

Rome, December 2. II Corriere della Sera states that the Russians have invaded Bukowina and captured Hadagora and Mashala. The Russian concentration on the Danube continues. .The Roumanians are concentrating more troops on the, Austrian frontier. MEETING THE MOVE. Rome, December 2. Reports from state that the Germans have withdrawn large forces from Bulgaria and Serbia to meet the Russian offensive in Galicia and Bukowina. Several battalions of Bulgarians have been sent to Gallipoli, instead oi Germans as was originally planned. A BULGARIAN REPORT. Sofia, December 1. A communique says: Wo captured seventeen thousand prisoners, the remains of the Serbian army, and took fifty field guns and howitzers and much material. This will probably end the campaign against Serbia. BRIBES TO ROUMANIA. London, December 2. From Athens, Mr Donohoe reports that despite M. Bratiano’s reiteration of the neutrality of Roumama, it ' H believed that the* renewed AustroGerman influences have in some degree been successful, as a result of tho tempting territorial offers dangled before M. Bratiano. AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, December 2. An Austrian communique states; We are attacking the Gradina heights south-east of Metalka ridge. Oui columns stormed the border ol tho plateau for ten kilometres north of Prevlije, which the Montenegrins stubbornly defended.