In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 8, 13 December 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

SERVIA'S KING AND GOVERNMENT. ARRIVAL IN ALBANIA. ECHO OF THE SERAJEVO MURDER. TRAGIC TALES OF FLYING SERVIANS' SUFFERING. [United Press jTshoiiiation.l (Received 10.50 a.m.) Rome December 12. King Peter, his ; Government, the Servian headquarters and two divisons of the army have arrived at Scutari. The rest, comprising . 20<V 000 troops, encamped on the slopes of the Albanian mourn-i'iis fucs."g tJ.<e Adriatic between Scutari and I'oiazzo, where :hey mav be reviciuali'-d by Italv. The Servians were foicecl to abandon their field guns, hjuum, and all -their carts and waggons, as the mountains were only passable to horses and mules. Among the killed at Kragujuvatz, was the famous comitadji leader, Ta'nkossick." who was accused of organising the murder of the Archduke at Seraievp. Tankossick assisted in the desperate defence of Belgrade, and finally fell with the last of 200 volunteers.

There are tragic tales of the suffering of the retreating civilians, famished dogs, wolves and vultures preying on the bodies of men, women, and children dying on the mountain pathway. The wives of several Serbian members on the Cabinet tramped to the Greek frontier afoot. ITALIAN TROOPS DISEMBARKING AT VALONA. Rome, December 12. The have oeen continually disembarking ! troops at Valona for three days. . - •* AN ENEMY OF VENIZELOS. CABINET FEARS EXPRESSED. (Received 8.40 a.m.) i London, December 12. The Observer's Athens correpsond;ent state* *hat ,M. hatred of M. Veni»elos know s ,no bo'umhs, is so incensed at M. Venizeios' recentimanifesto that; he p/or posed'his arrest'on the igrouhd* of [being disrespectful to his King. Gounaris' colleagues rejected ;the proposal, . fearing an • increase of Venizelos' prestige.

IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES. London, December 12. Though diplomatic circles at'Athens Relieved -yesterday morning than Greece had at last given the Entente a plain and favourable answer, later reports indicated that this view is over-sanguine. It appears that the Greek attitude is unchanged, but the Entente are more impressed by the latest assurance.

mai#qt§t*tions were outstand-ing—roilitai-y, j||a political. ."' The latter must be/settled when the/Allies decide; hold or ieave Salonika, but the military problem brooks no delay. In view of a dramatic and sudden turn of events on the Anglo-French front the Entente Ministers have again urged M. Skouloudis to give a prompt reply, intimating that the War Council in Paris viewed with displeasure the dragging out of profitless pourparlers. These representatives were backed up by communications from the Anglo-French Governments. The first reports stated that Greece had accepted the demands, but soon afterwards Reuter's Athens correspondent cabled that M. Skouloudis had made the usual reply that Greece is willing to allow every concession, provided she was not affected in sovereignty or neutrality, but it was stated, on Greek official authority, that the Entente Ministers, at a subsequent cTiscussion, recognised the Government's sincerity in,seeking a satisfactory solution, and informed the Premier that coercive measures would coase.

There the negotiations stand at present.

Italian advices from Athene state that General Sarrail is proceeding to Athens to confer with King Constantino and staff regnrding the tacilities at Salonika. The Allies have constructed telegraphs and telephones, but need further liberty of movement. King Constantino seemed better disposed towards the Allies.

B*iTrutuT nv cv.nDCEif

:n 1 DT CA PREMIER.

London, December 11

The Times correspondent at Athens gives particulars of an important statement by M. Venizelos, which wa s submitted to King Constantino and published with his permission, though the King is not in personal agreement with it.

M. Venizelos states that it is uot a fact that the Greeco-Serbian i treaty

exonerated Greece from rendering assistance if Serbia Ava s attacked by other Powers in addition to Bulgaria. The treaty was absolutely binding for Greece. It was a political mistake of great magnitude to abandon Serbia to her fate, a»<it leaves Greece at the mercy of a strengthened brutal Bulgaria. Greece had a great opportunity at a small risk of liberating the Greeks in Turkey and of building up a greater Greece, including parts of Asin, Minor. Thraro, and Cyprus. King Constantino doubtless felt the ■danger wag too great, but the conI

stitution does not give the King the right to overrule his Ministers and Parliament. "ft is untrue to say I favor a republic," M. Venizelos' adds. "Fiftythree Venizelist deputievS are with the (colors, and twenty-five Ministerial deputies were also mobilised. The ,Venizelists were offered six da>V loave at election time, while the Ministerial deputies were given full leave. Consequently the Venizelist majority was extinguished immediately after the elections. The Government also offered their supporters in the army leave to vote, while refusing it to my supporters. Hence the comedy was too great, and I and my party were obliged to protest by our absence at the elections."