THE BALKAN TANGLE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 29 October 1915, Page 5

THE BALKAN TANGLE

ALLIES rIN TIME TO SAVE OVEB-MAXCHED SERBS CREEK DUPLICITY FEARED - KIM PETER'S: PATHETIC SPEECH ITALY SUSPICIOUS OF GREECE RUSSIA STILL VICTORIOUS BRITISH CRUISER AGROUND

THE BALKANS.

SIX HOURS' BOMBARDMENT,

MONITORS AND CRUISERS

LONDON, October 28,

Admiral De Robeek directed the Dcdeagatcli bombardment for six hours with monitors, destroyers, and some Bruisers. The first shots hit the barracks and the soldiers scurried outside, where the destroyers' fire harried them. Every building of military importance was razed, the railway torn up, and trucks containing black powder ignited. The church was the only lofty building left standing.

BRITISH-SERVIAN EXPEDITION

WHAT IS GREECE ABOUT.

ITALIANS SUSPICIOUS. i ROME, October 27. Italian political circles are sceptical as to the Greek denial regarding the existence of a Gireco-Bulgarian agreement, arid believes this concerns Macedonia. Proof of its existence, they declare, can be found in the present concentration of Greek forces. It is expected that when the Servians are beaten the. Hellenes will occupy Monastic.

FRENCH HI-PING SERVIANS'!

WESTERN CAMPAIGN.

STRICKEN SERBIA.

PRECARIOUS SITU ATION.

THE ENTENTE REBUKED. BELATED RESPONSE TO CALL

LONDON. October 28

A Serbian mission to Rome comments on the Entente's faiXire to have troops ready to meet the situation in the Balkans. They insist that ample warning was given of Bulgaria's intentions. The opinion is expressed that the Serbs alone cannot prevent the functioning Of the hostile armies, thus opening the road to Constantinople.

KING PETER'S MESSAGE

WILL NOT SURVIVE DEFEAT. LONDON, October 2S. 'King Peter of Servia has issued tlie following army order: "I no longer have strength to lead you to death or victory. I am but a frail grey-headed man. I can only ask God to bless our arms, but I swear that should defeat or disgrace be our lot, I will not survive the fali of our dear land." BULGARIAN MTJTINY. SOFIA. October 27. Reports state that the Bulgarian troops have killed'twb' of"their own generals. There are numerous cases of Bulgars refusing to obey Gcfhvhn officers.

BULGARIAN THREAT

GREEK (NEUTRALITY JEOPAR:i DISED. ■••-■:■ (Reed 10.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Oct yvr 2? German newspapers state that Bulgaria has notified Greece that if Bulgarians drive Servians into Greece Greek neutrality won't be respecter'.

SERBIANS HITTING BACK.

ADVANCING, FROM TELES. BULGARS ? PRECARIOUS HOLD. (Roc. 12.25 a.m.) ATHENS, October 2S. The Serbians at Veles are advancing on Istib. The Bulgarians' hold of Uskub is nrcparious.

ANGLO-FRENCH AT SALONIKA. '. AMSTERDAM. Oct. 27. A Berlin communique says: The occupation of Ku in a novo, r.skuß, and Voles by the Bulgarians makes Servian communication with the Anglo-French impossible. We do Wot know tlie'" destination of the Salonika troops, but they are too late to save Servia : -or surprise us elsewhere. }

THE NEW COMMANDER/; ;-. :: , It is officially stated that Major-Gen-eral Sir Bryan Mafton is the commaader of the British-Servian expedition. _■;■,<

LONDON, October 27.

The Hon, ■ H. J. Tennant, Under-Sec-retary of War, speaking in the House of Commons, announced that British forces,,in Greece were already co-'opei;-ating with the' French on the G;reg% Servian frontier. y :

AUSTRO-GEPvMANS WAVERING.

PARIS. October 2S.

In the -Journal, M. Man (.lea u states that the positions of the.. Germans ''on the southern front are precarious. They liave lost equivalent to an army corps in a fortnight.. If the disorderly retreat, on the Styr is followed by the loss of the Stokodt line they will be compelled to abandon, the whole of PolisteV The Austro-Germans are evidently'.beginning' to waver. Their situation is nowhere brilliant, and at points extremely ticklish.

FRENCH SUCCESSES.

HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED. PARIS, October 25.. A communique states: We exploded south-east of Neuville and St. Vaast some mines, wrecking trenches and entanglements, and occupied the craters. We repulsed counter-attacks with enemy losses. We repulsed renewed attacks eastward of Rheims, despite the enemy's extensive use of poisonous gas. : AUSTRIAN REPORT. sUND,RY. SUCCESSES. . t ;; r Vn:i • AMSTERDAM. Oct,, 28. An Austrian communique states: We captured the heights on the frontier village of Dobla and bayoneted the enemy out* of the heights at Topula. The Germans along the Morava Kav2 taken the heights southward of. R'ica and are now. advancing up the Mlnva. A detachment entered Brzpalnka. . ' ■•■■ • ■ GENERAL BIRDWOOD PROMOTED. (Rcc. .12.50 a.m.) : ' ( "' LONDON, October 28.-' Genera!! Birdwood has been appointed temporary Lieutonant-Genornl for. distinguished services. SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT (Rec. 12.55 a.m.) LONDON. October Sir John French states: Since the last renort the situation on our front lis unchanged. There lias been mining activity on both sides, but with unimportant results. Enemy artillery .wus active oast o? Yptgs. and south of La lessee canal, but our reply was effective.

BRITISH CRUISER AGROUND.

DARDANELLES OPERATIONS.

A HUGE BLUNDER. LORD BRASSEY INTERVIEWED. GALLIPOLI A FORTRESS. FIRST-CLASS AND MAGNITUDE. (Reed 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. : Lord Brassey, interviewed by the Australian. Press Association, on. his return from the Mediterranean; and the Dardanelles region, said: "I never met any officer, naval or military,'who was net of the opinion that operations contemplated at the Dardanelles, from every viewpoint, was a huge mistake. We were forced to undertake the Dardanelles expedition on account of pressure by Russia,,who said: 'We are fighting Very hard; you must try and open the Dardanelles.' The Foreign. Office felt the justice of Russia's representations, and no doubt they urged, the Admiralty to act. Lord Churchill was a; dashing' administrator, but he did not know how difficult the operation would be. Orders were accordingly given for the fleet to underta.w the task." I (Reed 9 a.m.) LONDON, Octooer 2«. Continuing,Lord Brassey said: "Having failed in the first attempt oy na\al means alone, it decided lat„? in -lie day that there should be comhinea naval and military operations. This look considerable time, to prepare rfewards both forces. Germms ' wero officering tho Turks and bad full tinv: to prepare and when the second attempt was made they were ready. Gal b'poli was a fortress of the first class 'and magnitude. It was absolutely impregnable. We tried to land rr-jn ar three of tjhe least-prepared places, y,jtn fearful sacrifices. . Sir Tan Hamilton. '\vho has a high reputation, vis exceedingly anxious to carry out th<; utterly impossible task placed upon hi at by the Government. He appealed for rvii> forcements. Egypt was deplete:! of Australians and New Zealanders, who t:"ed to penetrate the peninsula of G>. ,; ipoli, which had represented an insurmount able obstacle to moving artill ??y. (Reed 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. Lord Brassey further stated, "From what I saw it was perfectly impossible to get guns into positions for bombardment. Attack after attack was made, hoping against hope. One doctor told me he saw men climb up difficult slopes where invisible gunners were at the top waiting till they came in view: they were then mowed down. All this happened again and again. He considered the Government should, much earlier, have realised the futility of the attempts, and have stopped fine useles s slaughter. When I was at Lenmps a ship was sent there by the Red Cross, full of supplies, but there was no person in authority to distribute them. In that extremity the captain asked me to help with clothes for Australians, and many others who needed them sorely. We got together pyjamas and such other things as we could provide, and so they were temporarily relieved.

TOTAL LOSS FEARED. (Reed 9.15 a.m.) LO(NDON, October 28. The cruiser Argyll grounded on the coast of Scotland. It is feared poe will be wrecked. AH aboard were rescued. Tlie Argyll is an armoured cruiser, displacing 10,850 tons, 45 feet long, 20,500 horse power, with a speed of 22.3 knots. She carries 55 officers and men, and cost £900,000 to construct. ADMI RALTY'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports, under date London, October 28th, 3.15 p.m. The Admiralty annuonces that H.M S. Argyll grounded this morning on the East Coast of Scotland. Owing to bad weather, it is feared she may becojue a total wreck. Officers and crew were saved. FRENCH CABINET CHANGES. M." VIYIANI RESIGNED. PARIS, October 28. M. Yniani. the Premier, lias resigned, and M. Briand has been asked to form a Cabinet. M. Viviani becomes Minister of Justice. GAMBLE ON A THRONE. LONDON. Oct. 2<5. Underwriters have accepted a rat' of five guineas against King Ferdinand remaining on the throne on 30th June next.

CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

THE CAVELL MURDER

WILL THE MURDERER PAY!

LONDON, October 27.

RUMOURSD RESIGNATION.

OF MR. CHURCHILL.

ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

PETROGRAD. Oct. 2.8.

THE KAISER'S COMMAND.

WAR PROFITS.

LORD BERESFORD CRITICISES. LONDON, October 28. Lord Charles Beresford, in a letter to the Times, denounces the Government's conduct of the war. The country wants a Government that will govern. Owing to the indecision and vacillation of the Governmnt on every important occasion they had be"en too late. The mismanagement . was the. result of amateur strategy and political control of the executive. He instances the .Dardanelles, and says only one -member of the Cabinet " understand anything about war.

A German semi-official report declares that the BeJgiana Councillor and the American- Embassy distorted- -rh«r details of the Uaveil easel "' , QUESTIONS IN THE~COMMONS. ~..'.. ~., .LONDON,- October 27. In reply to a question regarding reparation for Nurse Cavell J s execution. Lord Cecil said Mr. Asqnirh's assurances on the oth May applied with two-fold force to this savage murder of a noble woman under legal forms. It would not serve any useful' purpose to declare the Governor-General of Brussels personally responsible, ns they were not yet sure who was the chief offender.

In the House of Commons, Mr. McNeill gave notitce of his intentioon to ask Sir E. Grey whether he has taken steps to convey to General von Bissing (German Governor of Belgium) when an opportunity offers, that he will be held personally responsible for the quasi-judicial assassination Of Nurse Cavell.

LONDON, Oct. 2S. It is rumoured that Mr. Churchill is resigning;. It is noteworthy that he was absent from the House of Commons when Mr. Molteno's question to him was put h<quiring what he referred to in his Trafalgar Day letter when he used the words: "Through our long delays the enemy has seized a new initiative in the Near East.

GERMANS REPULSED ON DWINA.

A communique states: We repulsed German attacks at Ikskul. also at Neuselburg, north-westward of Jaeobst"dt. At the village of Medveja the Russians threw back the Germans, taking

some prisoners. South-west of Olvk the Russians moved forward, capturing the village of Konstantin and- enemv trenches.

"NOW OR NEVER." RUSSIANS MUST BE BROKEN. A FORLORN HOPE. "Kaiser Wilhelm is constantly rushing along the fighting line day. and night.'' writes Oregon Petroff in the Russokoye Slovo. quoted by the Petrograd correspondent of the Central News. "Everywhere he is attending meetings of generals. Night alarms are made for his advantage, and night reviews of troops are held. "Wilhelm does realty" see everything in the army. He has issued an order to the effect that nothing must be disturbed on'the scene of a big battle until he lias arrived, the field of dead, the lines of trenches, the damage to fortresses, all must remain as if was at. the end. of the fight until the Kaiser himself appears. He travels very swiftly. For example, at Novo Georgievsk, he arrived six hours after the capture of the fortress by the Hermans. " 'The first stages have been worked for and many-heroic, deeds have been accomplished here recently.' he said, 'but the last act remains unfulfilled, and if you wiM not do this your former efforts and sufferings will be brought to naught. Destroy the Russian army now or the attempt after j will be impossible.

(Rec. 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 2S. The Hon. E. McKenna has accepted :in amendment extending the margin ! of profits from £IOO to £2OO before exi cops profits are taxed. Mr. ,T. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., carried I his reeTuiting mission to the Waverley I vaceccmrse on Monday. With the approval of the raeing e offieials lie spo"ke ! for ten mimites. The ir.novvitioo was ' well received.

LAND TOR SOLDIERS.

ME. G. P. DONNELLY’S OFFER. A suggestion and a generous offer have been made by Mr. G. P. Donnelly of Hawke’s Bay. in connection wiGi the settlement of returned soldiers ore the land. Writing to the Prime Minister, Mr. Donnelly suggests that the present Land for Settlement Act should be so amended as to allow of the creation of a Military Board, consisting of the Minister for Lands, the. Crown Lands Commissioners, and flvo or six independent landed proprietors. One district might extend from tho Tauranga, Rotorua, and Taupo districts to the Manawatu stream, thn» including large areas at the present time lying practically idle and unproductive. ....

Mn Donnelly suggests the names of farmers who might serve on the board. The-first—step should bc-the establishment of a military depot, and for th>« purpose-sottie private land might be • purchased and worked in conjunction with several large blocks of Crown land in the Petane district. The board would collect funds and gifts of sheep. cattle, and horses, and would arrange to have farms ready stocked and fit for occupation by the men returning' from the front. The soldiers would have the opportunity then to become; prosperous settlers. Their effort* would increase the resources of the Dominion and. hasten its development, and eventually would relieve the general community of a heavy burden of taxation. There seemed to be no reason why men who had suffered partial disablement should not be found useftit and profitable work on the land under wholesome conditions. The Imperial Government had settled soldiers on the land in the Auckland district after the Maoris wars, and the system had been highly successful. A similar work was most successfully carried out by the Hon. J. D. Ormond when superintendent of Hawke's Bay. All the bush lying between Takapau and WdodviUe was cleared by the settlers, and they not only cleared their own lands, but also made their own roads and assisted in building the railnvays. He thought he was safe in saying; that in both Islands a sum of a quarter of a million would be subscribed for the returned wounded soldiers* and he also felt certain that every farmer, runholder. merchant, and storekeeper would help by giving something to go towards stocking, grassing, and fencing farms, thus saving the Government from the necessity of imposing taxation. If his proposal were carried out, he "would be prepared to give, £I,OOO cash and 1,000 two- and four-tooth ewes (when- required), 15 rams. 50 two-.year-old heifers,. 1 shorthorn or Polled Angus bull, 1 thoroughbred stallion, 5 mares, 1 boar, 2 sows. 5 turkeys, 1 gobbler, 10 purebred fowls. 1 rooster, 1 sheep dog, and about £SO worth of station stores. ■ , ..■ In order to carry cut the scheme, it would be necessary to have good stor-age-room, arranged for in all the principal centres of both Islands, in chargeof an officer and staff, to receive all goods, and the military camp depots to have a similar staff to receive all stock when required. He would suggest that the area of land given to cadi individual should be in aceordr»r«'c with his rank, viz.: '

Privates, area when fenced and grassed to carry 1,000 breeding, ewes. Xcn-coms., area when fenced and grossed to carry 1,700 breedingewk. Rub-lieutenants, area when fenced and grassed to carry 1.400 breeding ewes. Captains, area when fenced and grassed to carry 1,500 breeding ewes. Colonels, area when fenced and grassed to earry 1.700 breeding ewe*. Generals, areas when fenced awl grassed to carry 1,700 ewes. The majority of Cue land would be second' and third-class. He also recommended that the ballot be done invay with and every seetion drawn

for to ensure every man getting a bloclc.