In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 11, 16 December 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

GREECE AND THE ALLIES. A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. RELIEF IN GREECE. [United Pbehb .Association.) Athens, December 14. The Greeks have now withdrawn from the whole lirte of the Allies' retreat, leaving the roads clear for guns ajul transport. jtTliere is some uncertainty as to wfether the Bulgarians, in addition to the Germans, will endeavour to follow the Allies into Greece, but the German forces, without the Bulgarians, are too small to create uneasiness. The release of Greek ships detained at Entente ports has caused intense relief in Athens and the Piraeus, for the shortage of coal threatened a stoppage of the gas and electric companies, while a bread famine was momentarily feared through the nonarrival of grain ships. . >.,- .-, ■■ '.:••!!- ~- ,1 iU Uii'; -,• ' ■ RUMOURS OF AN AGREEMENT. .ULL. 1 ': • :!' I' \A\ ■■ Salonika,' December ■ ! 14. Athens newspaper's indicate that an agreement with the Entente is imminent, involving semi-demobilisation. Salonika!, tJec'ember" 14.' :ii Following the occupation of | .)Ghe,vgeli, ; the Bulgarian's to-day entered Greek territory in a south-westerly direction. Paris, December 15. Le Temps says that the Bulgarians who are crossing Greek territory in a south-westerly direction cam e from east of Lake Dorian.

STATEMENT BY GENERAL SARRAIL.

London, December 14

The Times' Milan correspondent says that General Sarrail, interviewed .by Italian' correspondents, stated that the order to retreat was' given on Decem,b§r 2. He had insufficient forces |to advances, but simulated pre-' parations far an advance to\ya/jds jthe Ishiib. Taking; possession ,of a bridge-head he left the Vardar, and easily effected the evacuation of Krivolal£*> .deposits oft ma'terials ' in" the Kava'd'br sector reSquitcd time for removal; I but' the retreat to Demirkapu was effected with the loss of twenty men and no material. The bridges at Vetcharno and Gradsko were blown up, and Demirkapu was evacuated on the Bth. The tunnel and railway bridge were blown up, and the railway destroyed from Krivolak onwards.

The BntwVWeWatWcEed mously superior, forces in the DoiranKosturino sector, and wore in gravi* danger of envelopment, but were fortunately savef; by •new division from 'Salonika. - ' 7< " ( | . A BULGARIAN COMMUNIQUE. .Amsterdam; December 15.; A Bulgarian communique states. The enemy is everywhere beaten, and there is not a single enemy soldier on Macedonian soil. The French ignited the barracks and hospitals at Ghevgheli and blew up the Vardar bridge. They fought more bravely than the British. We fought against 97,000 French and.73,ooo.British, who ;had 600 field guns and eight heavy howitzers. Pursuit is now stopped.

ROUMANIAN POSITION. '.) ■ < '•'■ ? • '-• ' A POETICAL TiALE.i , , London, December 1.4. The King of Roumanja, on being asked by the poet Estill, whether he would have time to complete a drama before Roumania's intervention, characteristically replied: "Finish your labor tranquilly; you have until April." r .; The Paris press intejvjfewedj 4 M. Filipescu, who said that Roumanian confidence in the Allies was ' stronger than ever. Roumania could exercise a decisive influence, but the Germans had exerted the most violent pressure on Bucharest, threatening to attack it. The interventionists are greatly satisfied with the Allies' decision to remain at Salonika, as a retreat'would have profoundly affected the Balkans. The interventionists are faced ' with new difficulties since Serbia was overrun, and it is necessary, for the Allies, including Russia, to pour in troops to the Near East. .'» '' '

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MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. London, December It. King Constantine perused (he ru« port of the interview with him published in the Times, and requested the following amendment; "The K-ii'g emphatically denies the existence of a Graeco-Bulgarian treaty. Greece lefuses to be dragged into war, even against her hereditary enemies." The Turco-German press at Athens says that the Military administration at Monastir has been handed over to Austro-German and Bulgarian officials. The civic administration is by a commission of citizens. The Greek flag ha s been added to those of the four allies over the town. The Greek flag alone flie s over the railway station, which, with the section of the line from Monastir to the frontier is now recognizer! as purely Hellenic property. Railway traffic has been reI stored.