In the Balkans

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 42, 25 January 1916, Page 5

In the Balkans

AUSTRIA & MONTENEGRO. 1 THE CAPITULATION LIE. United I‘kkss Association London, January 23. The Montenegrin Consul-General at Roam states that there never have been peace negotiations with Austria, and he emphatically denies the capitulation lie. EXPLANATION OF THE MYSTERY I Rome, January 23. •The Montenegrin Premier’s communique, explaining the Montenegrin mystery, says that the exchange of communications with the Austrian jarniy became necessary after the fall of Lovtchen and Cettinje. The negotiations for the suspension of hostilities had the solo object of giving time to assure tbe retreat of the Monte.negrins and their evacuation towards jPodgoritza and Scutari, while ’t also avoided the other Montenegrin forces being impeded on distant fronts and gave the Serbians a chance to teach Alession and Dnrazzo. Thus Austria was delayed ,-for at least a week. Tbe Montenegrins under General Vukotichs continue to struggle with the enemy, with the object of joining the Serbian army. Lyons press correspondents state that the loss of Lovtchen was due exclusively to the want of food and munitions. Austrian submarines blew up the transports. The negotiations for an armistice enabled King Nicholas to organise the final resistance. A DOUBTING PRESS. ' Rome, January 23. The press advises caution in accepting Montenegrin assertions, pointing 'out the extreme smallness of the casualties at Lovtchen. King Nbuolas has not yet given proof of Ins actual intentions. Vienna is officially silent, but unofficially claims the ultimate success of the pro-Austrian party m Montenegro. They suggest that Montenegro and Serbia should be a joint kingdom under King Nicholas. Tarions European capitals describe Aus-tro-German attempts to raise up n pro-Austrian party in Serbia. The torpedoing of tile transport Brindisi, in the Adriatic on January •12 was a crowning disaster, as the vessel was the Montenegrins’ last hope. She was bringing a million francs of gold and ranch food and ammunition. Had she arrived she would have prevented the capture of Lovtchen. All American passengers, and also 400 Montenegrins, were lost. GREECE’S NEUTRALITY. KING CONSTANTINE’S VIEWS. London, January 23. Mr G. Crawfurd Price had an interIview with King Constantine, who said he was displeased at Greece being a battle ground for foreign arms, Mr Price asked: Do yotij-njjt admit a certain justification for our recent actions, however distasteful they may be to you ? . King Constantine: Yes and no. Yon could choose some other place in jwhich to re-form the Serbian army rather than violate the neutrality you guaranteed, like Belgium. I am willing to do all 1 can to help the Serbians, provided I am approached m a proper manner. T object to you ovci - riding us roughshod. We would have got rid of the consuls if you had asked us. I recognise the necessity for the 'destruction of the Demirhissar railway in the event of a hostile advance, but there is no object in the present icutting off of our military communications. There has been a studied attempt to do everything unpleasantly, and our treatment has been m every way unjustifiable. 1 have given nij I personal word that there would be no hostility to the Allies, and therefore *a further assurance is -not demandj able, as neither the Government noi The army will do anything without my authority. 1 Mr Price adds: Germany has protested against the seizme ‘of Corfu, and is holding Greece responsible for the taking of the Kaiser’s palace. King Constantine is squeezed ■on both sides, but is unlikely to depart from his policy of neutrality. THE SERBIAN ARMY. equipping for new offensive I London, January 23. 1 Milan reports that the American Minister m Serbia, in an interview, stated that within six months the Serbian force "ill be ready, and splendidly equipped for an offensive.

THE UNCONQUERABLE SERBS

London, January 23. Mr Donohoe, in he Daily Chronicle, states that he interviewed M. Passitch at Corfu. M. Passitch said that Serbia was unconquerable, and would never he beaten while a dox.en Serbs remained alive to handle rifles. “The Austro-Gormans and Bidgars,” he said, “have combined to trample out mir national existence, but f can tell our enemies that they cannot beat Serbia although they slay our people.”