The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1915. GREECE AND THE BALKANS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 280, 20 August 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1915. GREECE AND THE BALKANS.

(With which is incorporated The Talhapo Post una Waimarino New®.)

Evidences ar e not wanting- that German intrigue duplicity has miserably failed in the Balkans. WRh a wife that is sister to that arch-fiend, the Kaiser, the King of Greece has proved the most vulnerable spot for Germany’s methods of attack, but with all carefully laid plans and schemes it will be found that Kaiser agents have received their notice to quit. Tihe life of the King in following, urging and insisting on a war policy that is diametrically opposed to that held almost universally by his people, cannot have been one of blissful serenity. With the Kaiser pulling through his sister on th e one hand and the threat, oning voice of his people on the other, it has practically devloped into the King having to take his choice of two things, either to give up Greece for Germany, or to give up Germany for Greece. He has wisely chosen the latter; ; he has, in accoranc e with the voice of his people at the elections, dismissed the Premier, held in power solely by his will, and has sent for Venezelcs, the leader of the Opposition, a patriot and leader that any nation would be proud of, and a genius in that respect that only comes to a people very occasionally. Venezelos has formed a government, and cables say, definitely, that there is complete understanding between ihim and his King. It is indeed very certain that Premier Venezelos has not betrayed the trust of the Greeks, therefore ■tjiis complete understanding means that the King has been compelled to conform to the determined wishes of his people, hut if it is supposed that the Kaiser will now refrain from intriguing, costjly mistakes will he made. It will be realised that best conditions remain for the German spying system to flourish, and unless exceedingly drastic precautions ar e established, the King of the Greeks will find himself in a position that is by no means enviable. The, greatest enthusi-. asm prevailed at ' the opening of the Grecian Assembly on Tuesday, and as Venezelos walked into the Chamber h e was cheered to the echo. AH this portend;, well for the Allies’ cause, and

) many v, ait, almost with bated breath, not only among' the Allies, but also among their enemies, for the first open. Ij definite indication of the policy that is to be foliowed. Cables also tell with no uncertainty that the best of feeling prevails amongst ail the Balkan States. The late war in that quarter left many heart-burnings that had naturally to be assuaged and disappointments that had to be rectified b.v negotiation before an absolutely friendlj and satisfactory basis was reached for all to co-operate with confidence, enthusiasm and determination

against the peril that is menacing their very existence as separate nations. To realis e that all differences have been overcome it is only necessary to turn I to what is transpiring in Bulgaria, Roumania and Servia, The Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria has left that. country a disappointed man; he no | longer shows his former confidence 1 and serenity. H e say s that he is not yet convinced that Bulgaria will join the Allies, but at fch e same cime he advises Turkey to prepare at once for

: all eventualities, and place herself in readiness for a attack. The Bulgarian Ambassador in Rome says Bulgaria has never been in a position of greater delicacy, and that his country’s decision cannot be long delayed When this decision does come Turkish resistance must soon end for the Turks admit that it would be impossible for their armies to defend their j land against a Bulgarian attack. They | are, however, feverishly fortifying that portion of Adrianople upon which

initial hostilities would be directed. Bulgaria has in the meontime been preparing and setting her war house in order, and it is said Hiat she is now ready even to the edging-up of the last sword. Roumania has, as is well-known, openly hissed at German threats, and while hungry Germans .still hang ground RtcSlmanian back-

[ ways buying up at thrice its market value any little lots of foodstuffs poor Roumanian farmers may be tempted to sell, Germany has taken no steps towards carrying out her threats to pass through to Turkey with, or without permission. Servia, it seems, has consented to the return to her neighbours territory,which,by population and situ. ion are theirs, but which wer e arbitrarily allotted her in the Balkan War Settlements. The Allies may now view with confidence the ultimate of the trend of events in these long restless Spates, and Turkish 'fears and nervousness are only what might b e expected after the alternate Bullying, coaxing find bribing that Bulgaria and even Greece hav© been subjected to by Germany and her unspeakable Ally.