A GRAVE SITUATION

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 7 December 1915, Page 5

A GRAVE SITUATION

GREEKS GROWING IMPUDENT GERMANS MARCHING ACROSS BULGARIA mi 1 ■■■■■ ALLIES COUNTERING THE CHARGE BALKANS STILL A MYSTERY TIE DARDANELLES SUCCESSFUL NAVAL ATTACK TURKISH LEFT AND CENTRE SUFFERS

GREECE GROWS IMPUDENT. OFFERS TO PROTECT ALLIES’ RE-EMBARKATION. LONDON, Dec. 6. The Central News’ correspondent at Paris states that Greece continues impudently to offer to re-embark onr men under the protection of Greek to ops. ALLIES’ REPLY TO GREEKS. NOW * UNDER CONSIDERATION. LONDON, Doc. fi. The Allies have replied to the latest Greek Note formulating fresh proposals. Greece is considering the reply. Many Servians have entered Greece. They have not been disarmed. TIME FOR ACTION ARRIVED. DR. DILLON’S VIEWS. ELOQUENT APPEALS USELESS. LONDON, Dec. 6. Dr. Dillon states that Rome regards with consternation Greece’s refusal to give the Entente guarantees, and the conviction that the Allies’ prospects of success are vanishing, ’s growing throughout Greece. Eloquent appeals to their national interest are now usless unless they are stiffened by an irresisible military and naval force. The Greeks are quick to sift bluff from business. They do not believe that the Allies are capable of swerving from hesitancy in their councils and driblets in their military measures. If the Allies sent 40,000 men* to the Balkans they might gain a million, including the Servians 150,000 and Greece’s and Romnania’s forces. The Allies ought to deploy in force on an impressive scale. The policy of pinpricks is merely mischievious.

IMMEDIATE REINFORCEMENT URGED. LONDON, Dee. G. The Daily Chronicle says the situation in Mesopotamia should be quickly retrieved. Mesopotamia can be reinforced easer and quicker from India than from Constantinople. OLE PRESTIGE MUST BE MAINTAINED. LONDON, Doc. The Morning Post says the maintenance of our prestige in the East is ample justification for the Mesopotamia expedition. It hopes there will be no delay in giving General Nixon sufficient forces to carry out his offensive. | The Daily News emphasises the importance of pushing on to Bagdad, which would be an immense blow to Turkish and German influence in the East. BULGARIAN ARMY RESTIVE. "** I SALONIKA, Dec. (i. There is some unrest in Bulgaria, fearing non-fulfilment of the promise that the troops will be allowed to return to their homes by Christmas. ARABS PROVE TRAITORS. AMSTERDAM, Dec. <!. The Vossiche's Constantinople correspondent says that the miscarriage of the British plans in Mesopotamia was due to the participation of Arab tribes whom the British believed to be faithful, but who sided, with the Turks when the British prospects wore not favourable.

BULGARIA’S ARMY. SALONIKA, Dec. fi. One hundred and forty thousand Bulgarians are in the field. GERMANS LEAVING SERVIA. AUSTRIANS AND BULGARIANS. CAN WHIP ANGLO-BRITISH. (Reed. 8.15 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, December 6. Telegrams declare that as the Austrians and Bulgarians are able to defeat the Anglo-French in Serbia, Germans are withdrawing and proceeding to other fronts. GERMANS CLArivl CAPTURES. SALONIKA, Dec. 0. A German communique asys: We captured several hundreds during the fighting near Plevlje. The Bulgarians arrested the Servians retreating southward of Prisrend, defeating them and capturing over 100 guns and great quantities of war material, including 200 motor-cars. INVADERS ENTER MONASTIR. CORDIALLY RECEIVED. SALONIKA, Dec. (5. The population and authorities of Monastir cordially received the entry of German and Bulgarian detach--ments. THE ALLIES IN SERBIA. 80.000 STRONGLY ENTRENCHED. SALONIKA, Dee. (i. The VossiSche Zeitung estimates the Anglo-French on the Balkans front at 80.000 occupying strongly defended positions, and centreing .on the Vardar Pass near Krivolak. THE INVADERS IN SERBIA. SALONIKA, Dec. 0. It is believed that the Austro-Ger-

mans in Servia now number 70,000. AUSTRIAN'S AT NISH. . LONDON, Dee. 0. It is reported that Austrian armies are concentrated at Nish. THE BALKAN RAILWAYS. NISH-SOFIA LINE RESTORED. LONDON, Dee. 0. Sofia officially announces that the Nish-Sofia railway has been restored. WILES OF THE SERPENT. CONCILIATING, THE SERBS. LONDON, Dee. (i. General Von Mackensen has issued a proclamation to Serbia seeking to gain the goodwill of the people, whose country has been laid waste. He declares: Wo have beaten the Servian army, and will continue to fight them as long as they resist, but we are not fighting the Servian people, whose lives and property are safe. He rc . commends refugees to return to their homes, resume business, and submit to the military orders. Thus they wiir enable the Germans to help -them to regain their former prosperity. BULGARIAN ATTACK FAILS. THEIR BATTERIES DESTROYED. SALONIKA, Doc. 0. The Bulgarians vainly endeavoured to dislodge the Allas from their positions at Doiran. The Allies bombardment destroyed Bulgarian batteries.

VOICE FROM HINDENBERG. ALLIES DO,N’T WANT ' PEACE. NOT SUFFICIENTLY SHATTERED. ENGLAND, ITALY AND SERVE A. MUST BE PUNISHED. (Reed. ‘10.15 a.ra.) AMSTERDAM, December 6. Hindenburg interviewed, confessed that the entente did not desire peace, they were not sufficintly shattered, he must therefore continue to press them. The German tactical situation was excellent. He believed the Russian reserves which had now been called up could not create new armies. He hoped there would be no peace till the chief culprits, England, Servia and Italy were punished as they deserved. A German communique states; there is artillery, mine and grenade fighting in the West. Two English aeeroplanes were shot down at Bapeaume, the occupants being killed. A Russian attack west of Riga collapsed.! The Russians had severe losses south of Genica. Northeast of Ipek, Montenegrin and Servian detachments were thrown back.

INTERNED GERMANS. TO B'E COURTMARTIALLED. HOW TIME IS PASSED. (Reed. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. Three Lients. —Hertzog, Seydltiz and Langeback, war prisoners, are about to be courtmartialled at Donningten Hall. Hertzog is accused of striking a non-com. who barred the entrance to a dining hall at a prohibitive hour. The Others are charged with defying the regolatiou in not surrendering their civilian clothes. As several escapees were found well provided with English money, prisoners are now paid in aluminium tokens in three values—sixpence, shilling, and half-crown —which are only honored at the canteens. Prisoners at Donnington devote themselves to study rather than to athletics; they have classed in chemistry and metallurgy, and even a class in English. Naval men devote themselves to naval construction and the effects of gunfire. A very popular pastime is map drawing wherein a remarkable knowledge of the. contours of British lines is displayed. Airmen make models of aircraft., Some have not forgot their duelling days, but as the Germans are poor with their hands and fists, biting and scratching are not nncommon in settling disputes.

ITALIAN TERRITORY. ASSIGNED FOR PAPAL STATE. BY TURKEY, AUSTRIA AND GERMANY. LONDON, December 6. (Reed. 8.15 a.m.) The standard states that three Spanish newspapers, one- belonging to Mannesmanns, a German pioneer in Morocco, says that the Premier of Bavaria, at a private sitting of the Finance Committee of the Diet, stated that Germany, Austria, and Turkey were, pledged to assign Italian territory for the revival of the Papal State. German Roman Catholic newspapers represent Germany as championing temporal power. A TURKISH REPORT. ADMITS BRITISH NAVAL ACTIVITY. AT THE DARDANELLES. VIGOROUS MILITARY ATTACKS. (Reed. 10.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 6. A Turkish communique states that the Brtiish successfully retired toKutelemara. It also admits the Allies naval activity at the Dardanelles, and of vigorous attacks by the British against their centre and left. GERMAN SOCIALISTS. SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT. FOR ADVOCATING PEACE. (Reed. 8.35 a.m.) GENEVA, December 6. Three leading German Socialists — Waslscher, Poetsch and Thetmeyer—have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for inciting the public, and declaring that war ought ia be stopped before more valuable lives are sacrificed. Another, named Cans, was sentenced to nine months for declaring that German militarism caused the war, and that he longed for Allied victory.

FORD’S PEACE CAMPAIGN. SYMPATHY IN NORWAY. (Reed. 8.15 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, December 6. Ford’s ship first calls at Norway, where peace meetings will be permitted provided there is no Interference with .Norwegian interests. ’Ford claims that the King has written to him sympathisingly. Denmark has also allowed meetings. BELLIGERENTS ARE SICK, WAITING FOR PEACE ADV°U,*TE. FORD’S MIXED FAREWELL. SOME FERVEjNTLY BLESS. OTHERS “GOTT STRAFFE.” (Reed. 8.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 6. Ford's party had a mixed send-off. Mr. Bryan and Edison gave a fervent blessing, on the other hand German workers on the quay farewelled them with cries of “Gott Straffe.” Twenty-three of the party are women, forty-four are pressmen, and three are biographists. Among the most prominent members are Bethea, Lieut.-Governor of South Carolina, and Senator Robson. Ford told an interviewer that some persons seem to feel sceptical of the success of his plans, but he thinks they will change their view. All he knew i s that belligerents are sick of waiting for a disinterested party to step in with an offer as mediator. TURKS CLAIM FURTHER CAPTURES. AMSTERDAM. Dec. C>. A Turkish communique claims that the Turks have occupied Baghela, to the west of Kutlmarna, and captured three tugs and a 250-ton lighter laden with ammunition. WINTER IN THE TRENCHES. NOTHING COULD BE MORE DREADFUL. ALLIES’ ARTILLERY SUPERIOR. Received 8.45 p.m.,. Der. 6. LONDON, Der. 6. Mr. Philip Gibbs says: It is difficult to imagine more dreadful weather than that in which our men have settled down for the winter campaign. They are,, often knee-deep in water, with howling winds and gusts of rain. When the wind drops a whitish fog creeps out of the ground, and a horrible coverlet of moisture settles upon everything. Rifles become clammy to the touch. The enemy is invisible through the veil of vapour, and are not likley to attack while the battlefields are a quagmire. A bayonet charge would be clogged aFer the first jumped over the parapets. It is a sheer impossibility to bring up artillery. Therefore it will for some lime bo “stick in the mud” warfare, but. not restful, because the shrapnel bullets are mixed with the. raindrops. The Tommies are grinning and bearing the discomforts in the same wonderful way. The Germans are living in even more miserable conditions, which are demoralising, and are resulting in increasing numbers crawling into our lines and surrendering, telling pitiful stories of hideous mi. series. There is much talk of elaborate dug-outs with electric fittings and pianos. These few are for the officers only. Our constant shellfire to-day resembles the daily fnightfulness which we formerly suffered almost silently, having only a few whizz-bangs at Jour jdfepßoajJ’. r position is now partly reversed. Heavy guns and high explosives are still arriving. This must not lead to false optimism. The Germans are busy building cupola forts commanding a sweep of country ahead, and enabling them to keep fewer men in the trenches.

THE POPE APPEALS FOR PEACE. WAR OP EXTERMINATION. CANNOT BE PERMITTED. (Reed. 9.25 a.ra.) ROME, December 6. The Pope in secret consistory made a stirring appeal for speedy peace. He ■ declared that modern nations could not be permitted to conduct a war of extermination. Nevertheless peace must be just, lasting, and not favouring any particular group. SWEDISH VISIT TO NORWAY. REVENTLOW REGARDS WITH MISGIVING. (Reed. 9.25 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, December 6. Wallenberg has departed Ch.iitsae.ia wards. It is assumed Ms leaving is connected with political co-operation which is the outcome of the three Kings’ meeting at Maknoe. Wallenlierg enjoys the confidenca of Norway and Denmark. Heventlow regards the mission with misgiving.