The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1915. BALKAN PROGRESS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 290, 3 September 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1915. BALKAN PROGRESS.

(With which is incorporated The TaJhape Post una 'Wuiinarinu News.)

The attitude of Bulgaria is perhaps the most engrossing aspect in tihe war : just now. It seems that a repetition ' of what took place between Italy and Austria before the former's declaration of war is being enacted by Bulgaria and Turkey at the present time, while Germany is contributing as in the former case all the coaxing, bullying and threatening to bring Bulgaria into her j clutches. As in the case with Italy re-' ports make it appear that Bulgaria vac- ' illate s between the two, that is favourable to Germany one day and to th e Entente the next. It is just the same c2a?s of procedure all over again, but what we are intensely concerned about is whether the final result will be the same. That it will, ther e are good reasons to hope, for almost all sources of information strongly suggest tihat Bulgaria fully realises what Turkey's and Germany's promises are worth, and even King Ferdinand must feel that the realisation of his kingly ambitions would be altogether impossible under German domination. The Kaiser touched a weak spot on the Bulgar King's armour when offering a free hand against Servia, but we are assured by the great, if not the greatest Balkan authority, Sir Edwin Pears, that Ferdinand is a born diplomat, and that bedng so he is not so likely to

fall a prey to the mendacity of a power tliat he would, in turn, have cause to fear. Much as the Allies desire the intervention of Greece and Roumania, it hear s no comparison with . the need they [have of Bulgaria's as-1 sistance at this present moment. Her decision to intervene on the side of I the Allies would remove a load of concern for our position at the Dar-

danelles, and contribute more to the shortening of war than almost any ,o'he" happening could do. The Aus 1 - tro-Germans have already commenced operations near -the Bulgarian frontier, on the Danube, which can only be for f->rciri T a. decision in their favour. On the other hand a late cable advised that th.p, Entente Avere about to force a decision, in fact, so many reports and rumours are being cabled to this side of the world that th€jy tend to.cloud rather than ehiaidato the issue, Germany fi^ f reported that Bulgaria k&3

signed a protocol with. Turkey, and yesterday had to eat her words and to admit that no such protocol had been signed, but, as is quite probable, one was ready for signing. Berlin says that it was not signed because the Entente would regard it as an unfriend, ly act. How naive! Of course they would, just as Germany will regard Bulgaria's action as unfriendly when she ccin.es to terms wit;a the Entente. It is suggested that Bulgaria favours th a circulation of such a report, hoping that 'it will hasten Scrvia to make early and adequate concession. Never- j theless it is apparent, says the mess-

age, that Bulgaria will reserve liberty to negotiate with the Entente when Servia's intentions are known. Witfhout doubt the diplomatic conflict has reached it 3 height. Venezelos, we are -o'd by the '"Times' " correspondent, is a great power in- the Balkans, and he majy succeed-in bringing about, conciliation. Tho question may- not now be definitely decided, and it is probable that the whole question will be left to the Allies to decide finally at. the close of the war.. Indications are yet favourable to the view that Bulgaria will ph'wt.ly be ranged on the side of tti9 Entente.

j Tliera is a by-product I'rcm eueer.emaking- tliat is known and sole- ?.s whey butter, and it seams evid< n: from questions asked iii the House that there are those who would risk the good name of New Zea'aid butter on foreign markets by exporting this? byproduct of cheese factories a:; butter, if has been announced, however. by the Minister for Agriculture, that this whey butter must have Us nature indicated en the brand if it is intendjed for export, but no siich provision j is to ba made for that which is sold in New Zealand. We may, therefore, expect to soon find whey butter beiug sold to storekeepers and the public as butter. But why the people of New Zealand should net be notified of this chemically produced stuff is not quite understandable. As a matter of fact tb e Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald. referring to this matter in the House, said What Jviarious cheaJß'© Victories; liavej been given permission to brand whey butter as "factory butter" on condition that a good standard was* maintained. But tMa condition had 'npt been fulfilled, and since it was absolutely necessary that exported butter should be properly described, the department had issued instructions that in future tiae product must be branded as whey butter. This branding be it understood, only applies to that Vine- exrrHed; cheese factories are nermitted to brand it as "factory butter" and to sell it as such within the Dominion.