In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 14, 20 December 1915, Page 5

In the Balkans

POSITION OF THE CREEKS. . « ATTITUDE TO CENTRAL POWERS VlKtlJ 1 ( 1 [Unitkd Prww Association.] London, December 17. Repter’s Athens correspondent says that the situation in Greece is again acute. The nature of the reply which Greece gave to Germany is naturally kept secret, but there is reason to believe that Greece will adopt a firm attitude towjards the Central Powers, while insisting on the Allies confining their defensive measures to the limits of the' present understanding. Athens, December 17. M, (Skouloudis (Premier) and M. Gounavis visited the German Minister, and, explained that the entry of German and Bulgarian troops into Greece ' would raise questions that might place Greece in a’ position of difficulty. The German Minister states that owing tp the Allies’ fortifications Germany will be compelled to invade Greece. Greecje. will address to the Entente a formal protest against the fortification of Salonika, in terms somewhat similar to. th e protest against the Allies’ landing. The French occupied the heights of Sariguel, near Kilkis, and blew up part of the Karasuli-Ghevgeli railway.

til : I" ' BULGARIANS BARRED.

• {United Press Association.] /■ London, December 19. M. Scouloudis states that the Bulgarian troops will not be allowed to enter Greece.

The Times adds that the AustroGerman forces alone are insufficient.

Owing to the abstention of the Venizelists from to-morrow’s elections there will only ho 450 candidates, the majority of whom favor neutrality.

A CLEAR FIELD FOR BELLIGERENTS. [United Pbbbs Association.! Salokina, December 19. Although anticipating that the Austro-Germans will not enter Greece hut transfer their activities to Albania against the Serbs and Italians, the Greek Government states that even in the event of an invasion of Greece, the Greek army will withdraw, leaving a dear field to the belligerents, the Greek Government placing the railways leading to Central Macedonia in the Allies’ hands. 80,000 ITALIANS IN ALBANIA. Rome, December 19. Great satisfaction is. expressed at the landing of the first Italian expedition of eighty thousand men in Albania, with the loss of only one transport and one destroyer, and. a total of forty-three lives.

SUBMARINE V. TORPEDOERS. ITALIAN V. THREE AUSTRIANS. (Received 9 a.ra.) •Rome, December 19. Iluring the Italian landing in Albania many attempts were made to attack the convoys. An Italian submarine had a thrilling encounter with three Austrian torpedoers. The first tried to ram the submarine, which dived and rose close to the second torpedoer. She re-dived to avoid ramming and re-rose fifty yards from the third, which fired. The torpedoer missed the submarine. The latter also fired, but missed. The three torpedoers then closed round the submarine, which dived deep and stole away, but a mine or a torpedo seriously damaged her, but the bow’s compartments saved her. She was repaired under water and rose at night time and reached the base.

MUSSELMEN EXCITED Tp MASSACRE. INVADING FORCES RESPONSIBLE ■ 1 1 if” ' i (Received 8.5 a.m.) i u t. , i t * Scutari, December 19. ;A • Serb|an official statement, shows that during the Serbian retreat i the Austrians! armed the, Musselmen. who were-.found in the, provinces imiNew I'Serbia i and- excited them ,against, the civilian population, Nupierqus .massaicresl f off owed; accomr paniptd by unprecedented lerueßy,' ex-, ceases, and terrifying 1 crimes, recalling the worst atrocities of the Bulgarian bands before and during the war. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

i i Rome,. Deceihbdl- 18. i«t A 1 message from states 'that the Serbian Parliament, which is partly in Scutari and partly in Salonika, ’ha's been ‘wdeTodr Jbu 1 reassemble, in ‘ltaly’ to resume legislative functions. 11 r il'ilUHil A Serbian conrtounique says that the Atfsti o-Bulgarian claims of prjfr oners 6f war and booty are greatly exaggerated and pass all bounds. The t Serbs did 1 not leave a single intact gun.: Everything that was not saved was destroyed, the guns resembled scrap iron, and motor cars were wrecked and buried. Salonika, December 18. British transports are still landing troops and material, including armored motors and heavy guns. The installation of the Allies heavy artillery has commenced, and trenches are being constructed similar to those on the West front. The enemy are hurriedly repairing the railway and other works, and are concentrating on the frontier, but their heavy guns have mot arrived. The Austro-Germans arrived first, and the Bulgarians are following as reinforcements. It is reported that the^ Turks will replace the Bulgarians.