In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 41, 24 January 1916, Page 5

In the Balkans

MONTENEGRO'S POSITION.

THE AUSTRIAN DEMANDS.

[United Puess Association. 1 London, January 22

The Daily Telegraph's Milan correspondent reports that since Serbia's defeat King Nicholas' Auscrophile councillors gained the upper hand and persuaded King Nicholas to surrender in order to avoid Serbia's fate. The King listened unwillingly, and sent General Martinovitch with the last resource to defend the approaches to the capital, promising that if the defence proved' futile he would negotiate for peace. General Martinovitch's efforts were foiled by the want of sincere co-opera-tion, and he was unahle to muster more than 1200 men. ' The King was stunned at Austria's exorbitant demands, which would reduce Montenegro to vassalage. Meanwhile General Martinovitch resolutely opposed capitulation and retreated towards Scutari.

King Nicholas was now between two fires-—his political advisers and the military resisfers. Finally he sided with the army and rejected the terms of surrender.

Paris, January 22

The Petit Journal's Rome correspondent says that the recent interruption is due to King Nicholas's adroitness, and he is utilising the occasion

•to send away useless youths us a protest against the army's retreat. General Martiuovitcft has repulsed the Austriaus at Berane. AN AUSTRIAN REPORT. Amsterdam, January 22. The Austrian Proas bureau stuuc j that Montenegro lias great diliicuity in I carrying out disarmament, owing to the great distances, bad roads, and the absence of telephones. Some pore-ions oi the army and the population have not yet clearly understood the necesi sity tor capitulation. DISARMAMENT INSISTED UPON. Zurich, January 22. Austrian newspapers are mystified, and are asking whether King .Nicholas i,s playing a double game. The Munchen'er'Nachrichteg insists on Montenegro's disarmament proceeding rapid- . ly. ANOTHER STORY ABOUT THE KING. Paris, January 23. A Montenegrin official despatch says that King Nicholas arrived al Brindisi, en route to Lyons. General Vukovitch, ex-Premier, commands the army and is endeavoring to effect a junction with the Serbians in Albania. AN UNENVIABLE SITUATION. i . London, January 21. Mr Jefferies says there have b«?en great, changes at Athens during the last few days, and there is anxious expectation from the King downwards. King Constantino's position is unenviable. He feels that Germany is losing, and he occasionally regrets not having joined us; then he suddenly widens the breach in order to persuade himself that it was always possible, to do so. The German attitude has greatly changed, and is alternatively audacious and terrified'. Recently two small Anglo-French war craft came into harbor, and immediately the whole posse of enemy Consuls took refuge in. the Legation, with precious papers and handbags, until the vessels departed. FIGHTING CONTINUES. London, January.2l. The Daily Telegraph's Home correspondent reports that fighting is genual throughout Montenegro. King Nicholas has traversed the country encouraging his troops. Virtually guerilla warfare has commenced. The old men, women, and children are concerntrating at Scutari. GREECE'S DILEMMA. THE OCCUPATION OF CORFU. Athens, January 22. King Gonstantine is quoted as sayings "I agree with martial law in Corfu, with a view of preventing the Greek papers from appealing to foreign countries to intervene with Greece's sovereign rights." The Evening News correspondent at Athens says that the Entente representatives and M. Skouloudis have reached satisfactory arrangements regarding Corfu. BRITISH CONSUL'S ARREST AT SOFIA. Home, January 22. Sofia advises that Mr Heath, the British vice-Consul, has been arrested, despite a protest by the American Charge d'Affaires, in whose home the Consul took refuge whei- Bulgaria at- , tempted reprisals for the arrests at I Salonika. ROUMANIAN OPINION. A CABir».TER'S VIEWS. London, January 21. A Roumanian correspondent of the Paris Matin interviewed a prominent | member of the Cabinet, who said that negotiations had been completed and had had an excellent effect on the country. The Government decision conforms with the national sentiment, which is summed up in the words. "No Mar, or war on the side of the Allies."

"We first require," said the Minister, "a favorable economic and stra-

tegic position securing us against a disaster. Wo have 950,000 men, of whom 600,000 ore armed, but Ronmania's help will only produce its I'ull effect if thrown in the scale at the right moment." htCHT ROYAL BANQUET, "FILL'EM UP AGAIN!" AiiisUTiK.iii, January -'--'• King Ferdinand, in proposing the lealth of Hi" Iv user at a i>euqun ;h N'ish. on January IS, concluded lus >eceh : "Hail, Emperor Caesar and Cing! Thou art the victor, and ail jorious in ancient Xish. All the peo,ies of the ICast salute thee as reWerner, bringing to the oppressed Kosperity and salvation." The Kaiser, in replying, said: "We ,ave been challenged by our enemies, ,vho endangered the future of the .vhole of Europe. We have had a mrd fight, winch has spread further, tider you, Czar Ferdinand, Bulgaria ::is added one other sublime leap to ■■lory. With God's gracious help our ;rcat deeds will lie accomplished, and ' vith the firmest confidence we will pursue our aim." OPERATIONS OF THE FLEET. Zurich. January 22. II Corriere della Sera says that the Vilied fleet is conducting important operations on the Bulgarian coast. Various submarine liases have hen discovered. Koine, January 22. During the evacuation of Gallipoli die cruiser Tremonte rendered valuable services by policing the Bulgarian littoral and keeping off Austrian and German submarines. For this the British naval commanders specially thank the Tremonte, which ship also wrecked a long convoy train near Dedoagatch and : co-oper-ated with Allied ships. In a later bombardment several train-loads of munitions and two large barracks .vitli enemy reserves were battered to pieces. THE NEW WHEAT SUPPLY. SECURED FOR THE ALLIES. PORTION OF LAST YEAR'S CROP FOR GERMANY. | (Received 8.35 a.m.) London, January 23. The Times' Balkans correspondent states that Rouniania's wheat has been purchased by Britain and will remain in Roumania pending the opening o! the Dardanelles, and will be deliverable in April, 1917. The greater portion of last year's crop has been sold, including half a million tons which were secured by Germany. The total amount realised was £13,800,000. KINC NICHOLAS JOINS HfS FAMILY AT BRINDISI. GOVERNMENT ORGANISES THE DEFENCE. (Received 9.20 a.m.) Rome, January 23. The Montenegrin Consul-General confirms King Nicholas's arrival with Prince Peter at Brindisi, joining the Queen and Princesses at Lyons. General .Mirks, with three members of the Government, remains organising the defences. BULCARS' DISSATISFACTION. THE VISIT OF THE KAISER. ARMY ALMOST WITHOUT BREAD (Received 9.10 a.m.) Salonika, January 23. The Kaiser's visit to Nish has not inspired the Bulgarian troops' equanimity or energy, and they prefer less rejoicing and more food. Deserters state that the army is almost without bread. AUSTRIAN ACTION TO COMPEL SURRENDER. THIRTY-SIX HOURS' GRACE. (Received 9.10 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 23. The Koelnische Yolks Zeitung states that owing to the Montenegrin Minis ters quitting Cettinje, Austria cannot negotiate and has ordered all arms to be surrendered within thirty-six hours otherwise the military will Lake further steps.

UNSYMPATHETIC YANKEES. TING'S APPEAL FALLS FLAT. (Received 8.0 a.m.) New Vi.ri:. January L'3. King Constantiue's appeal to the i. uiteii States nas fallen flat and the newspap r- ;.re iiiishiypathet:e, reminding him that tb(_' Allies came virtually at Greece's invitation. I "AT GREECE'S REQUEST." ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE SALOJ'iIKA LANDING. US£ OF THE COASTS HY THE ALLIES. (Received 8.5 a.m.) London, January 23. A French wireless communique, commenting on the Associated Press New York's interview with King Constantine, points oul that the Allies went to Salonika at Greece's request, and adds: During the last i'ew months the Greek Government allowed their neutrality to be violated by Germans and Austrians, who used the coasts and islets tor submarine bases. An entire German staff was found at Corfu on the eve of the French disembarkation. From these coasts and islets the pirates wvvo sent out, who sank the Ancona. THE TURCO-BULCARIAN TREATY A SWORD AT TURKEY'S THROAT. THROAT. BULGARIAN ASPIRATIONS. (Received 8.5 a.m.) Paris, January 23. Signer Ihero a Spanish publicist, in an article in the Echo de Paris, quotes a prominent official of the Turkish Foreign Office as saying that the Turko-Bulgarian treaty was signed ivith a Bulgar sword at Turkey's throat. The tveaty provides for the eventual Bulgarian occupation of Salonika, while Turkey is to be compensated with the country on the Aegean ■oast to Kavalla, inclusively, besides the retrocession of recently-ceded territories. The Bulgarians, nevertheless, still dream of becoming masters >f Constantinople. STARVATION POLICY FOR MONTENEGRO. "IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY.'' (Received 8.5 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 23. The Cologne Gazette, which recently haughtily commented on England's efforts to starve the Empire stretching from Arras to Bagdad, says that the King of Montenegro will find means of compelling his rebellious soldiers to acquiesce ,in the surrender, and adds: The effectual auxiliary is starvation, however modest the'Montenegrins' claims in the matter of food. AUSTRIA AND THE CAPITULATION. ENFORCING THE TERMS. (Received 8.5 a.m.) Amsterdam, January 23. Austria professes to regard the .Montenegrin surrender as a fact, and las notified the Montenegrin comnanders that the Austrians have bermi a march to the interior to disarm the troops as a preliminary to further peace negotiations, and threatens penalties. THE ENEMY'S DISCOMFITURE. COLLAPSE OF NEGOTIATIONS. (Received 9.20 a.m.) Amsterdam, Jamie; y 23. The Frankfurter Zeitung admits that some difficulties have arisen in :he progress of the negotiations, and ither journals are gently breaking the lews of the collapse.