THE ALLIES IN GREECE

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 11 December 1915, Page 5

THE ALLIES IN GREECE

ft GENERAL RETIREMENT BEGUN SOME HARD FIGHTING EXPERIENCED RUSSIANS MOVING AT RENI >. i ADVANCE INTO BULGARIA EXPECTED GERMAN REIGHSTAG OMEETING , A SURFEIT OFIKULTURED BOAST

SUBTERFOGE

The allies in Greece, a general. retirement BEGUN. (Received Dec 11, 9.55 a.m.) LOjNDON, Dec. 110. R'euter's Salonika, correspondent states, the Allies' general retirement xom the front has begun. BLOCKADING GREECE. PRELIMINARY STEPS TAKEN. )Recd. 2.30 p.m.) PARIS, December 9. The "Echo de Paris" states that preiminary steps were taken this week 'or the suspension of exportation from 'Yance to Greece. TRENCH REPULSE ATTACKS. LONDON, Dec. 10. Last night's Paris communique recorded violent attacks at different oointS-JB the French front. All were repulsed with, heavy losses. Fighting continues * our bridgehead at Graletz, where a railway tunnel was olown up. The Yardar bridge was lestroyed. > FRENCH WITHDRAWAL IN SERBIA.

LEFT FLANK'S WLNTER QUARTERS.

(Reed. 12.10 p.m.) . LONDON, December 9. Reuter's correspondent with the Briish headquarters in Macedonia writes jnder date of December ;7 that the French left, which was flung out to a jreat length in a desperate effort to unction with the Serbs while the lat:er were making their last stand at Babuna Pass, has fallen back on the jentre. The venture failed solely because the task was greater than was humanly possible considering the resources and the time available. Consequent on the Serbian defeat ;he French were compeled to readjust :heir lines, shorten their front, and ;ake up easier supplied winter quarts. These considerations dictated :he French withdrawal from positions lorth of Demirkapu Gorge and the ibandonment of the Krivolak Road.

It is rumoured that the Demirkapu unnel and bridge were blown up by ;he French, whose withdrawal was ;ar'ried out gradually and in perfect order, all material being saved. HARD FIGHTING IN BULGARIA. 3RITTSH AND FRENCH ATTACKED REPORT OF FRENCH SUFFERING. (Reed. 8.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 10'. The Times states, if the Bulgarians lave really annihilated a French bat;alion at Petrovo they were well be- j lirid the French There is risk that ■ they may cut the railways whereon the I main body of French are defending. ! i cannot be denied that both Britisii I and French are to have great, lifficulty in ■ extrk"ing themselves.! Martin Donohue writing from Ath- j m s says the Anglo-French, on Wed-1 lesday, fiercely attacked a large Bulgarjiorce oft' Blagueha plateau. The enemy attacked the French flank and i be latter charged the front to meet j h onslaught. The Bulgarians eneouii-' «red the British at Salaad'pvs where j he British repulsed four' attacks, de- ■ rimating the Bulgaria Heavy reirJj crcements in the evening threateM ;d the British right. .. M

BRITISH ATTACKED BY BULGARS BRITISH MAXIMS DO DEADLY WORK. THE ENEMY BEATEN OFF. SALONIKA, Dee. lft. The Bulgarian attack was continued on Wednesday. The fog lifted, disclosing the Bulgars within easy range. The British maxim-guns inflicted extremely heavy losses. The British loss was under 200. The infantry attacks lasted all day long. The Bulgarians seemed determined to break through, but the British positions were excellent and gave them a great advantage. BRITISH REPULSE BULGARS. LONDON, Dee. 10. The latest Salonika cablegrams state that the Bulgarian attacks on the British troops have ended. They lasted nearly three days. Our casualties were under SOO. The enemy's losses were enormous. NEW LIGHT ON FRENCH RETREAT. NOT SO BAD AS REPORTED. A SrCCESSUL AFFAIR. LONDON, Dec. 10. The Daily Telegraph's Salonika corespondent reports that the falling back of the French army occupied 10 days. It was executed in two stages, and successfully terminated on Tuesday with the slightest losses. This voluntary retirement resulted in reports to the eect that the Allies werein full retreat. When the gunfire was heard at Ghevgeli and the surrounding villages on Tuesday the inhabitants became apnic-stricken, rushing the trains at Ghevgeli. Those unable to escape fled on foot. The fugitives' stories intensified the alarm, which spread the belief that the Allies had met with disasters.

General Sarrail is optimistic. He is satisfied with the manner of the retirement, but the position on the British front was more serious. The enemy had developed a decided offensive. The battle raged on Tuesday, increasing in intensity. It espeeially severe in the neighbourhood of the village of Ortanli. The British held well-concealed positions, an important Bulgarian force which attacked them losing heavily. They made frequen* charges, their objective apparent Vv bcirig the occupation of Rabrovo junction, and the roads leading westward of Strumnitza and southward of Dovian. There was an unconfirmed report that the Bulgars had occupied Rabrovo. which was quickly subdued. RUSSIANS' IMPORTANT SUCCESS. PETROGRAD, Dec. 10. A communique states that the Russians occupied Sultan Butag Pass, between Teheran and Hamadan, after routing gendarmes and German mercenaries, led by German and Turkish officers. The road to Hamadan .is now or)en. v (Hamadaa is 10 miles north-west of; Teheran and is the centre of converging routes from Bagdad, Erivan, Teheran, and Ispahan.) / DAILY BULLETINS. {.. . . LONDON, Dec. 9. ' In .the House, of Commons Sir John Simon -said that in orSei* to .sri'fe more news of the war in the West a dr.iiv 'rjrcm.'jmque- would foe issued.

HOW HENRY FORD HELPED RECRUITING SCHEME. LONDON, December 9. Henry Ford's employees at Manchester, headed by a band, marched to the Army Office and enlisted. IN MESOPOTAMIA. DEFENCE OP KUT-EL-AMABA. A TURKISH COMMUNIQUE. AMSTERDAM, Dec. X A Turkish communique states that the Turks continue to Strongly press the British force defending Kut-el-Amara. Some of the British columns lost heavily while attempting to escape. THE DTJPONT OUTRAGE. POWDER FACTORY DESTROYED. MORE ATTEMPTS EXPECTED. RICHMOND. Dec. 9. The fire practically destroyed the Dupont powder factory. The town of Hopewell, erected for the purpose of accommodating workers at the Allies munition and powder plant, was not reached, but it is believed that another pro-German outrage will be attempted. Riots occurred necessitating calling out the militia to suppress them. MUNITION FACTORY DESTROYED. AFFECTING ALLIES' MUNITIONS. MANY PEOPLE ARRESTED. (Reed. 9.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 10. The destruction at Hopewell, Virginia, rendered 25,000 homelss. The infuriated people lynched a negro caught looting. Martial law has been declared, and suspected persons with German sympathies have been arrested. The Allies' muniton shipments will suffer heavily.

RUSSIAN ACTIVITY. 0)N RUMANIAN FRONT. NEW FIRCES AT RENI. (Reed. 2.30 p.m.) BERNE, December 9. Telegrams from Bucharest report great Russian activity in B'essarbaia. The Unghen frontier station has been closed and also Reni Harbour, on the Danube, where fresh troops have ar- ' rived. i GERMANY'S GREAT FLEET. CRUISING IN KIEL CANAL. * A GROTESQTE PICTURE. LONDON, December <). A Yossische Zeitung representative describes the German Navy at sen, | obviously with the object of befool- ! ing the German people. He speaks of a naval cruise, declaring that the j fleet is ready for action day and i night, and he glowingly depicts t!io ■ gallant officers and seamen at the | Kiel Canal, minimising sleep in ; watching and engaging the enemy. SURPRISING RUSH OF RECRUITS. LORD DERBY REPORTS ; TO-MORROW. (Reed. 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, December 10. j A surprising rush of recruits throughout the country is largely attributed to the procrastination of eligibles until the eleventh hour, and in a minor degree to the serious outlook in the Balkans. Scenes in Birmingham and Glasgow were unprecedented, where there are a large proportion of attested and munition workers. Lord Derby states that his report will be handed to Mr. Asquith on Sunday, j . _ i BULGARS PUSH BRITISH BACK, j LONDON, Dec. 10. | A War Office communique says: After a heavy bombardment on the 6th, I the Bulgarians attacked us west of Lake Boiran. Small parties entered our trenches, but were immediately driven out with the bayonet. On the morning of the 7th the Bulgarians again attacked, when flic weight of superior numbers drove out our troops from their positions. Wo withdrew under cover of darkness to , a new line. Reports of our losses have not been received. The British successfully repulsed all , attacks on the Bth, and withdrew in ! the evening to a new position, conforming with the general alignment, j I THE CITY TEMPLE. j j REV. HUGH BLACK DECLINES. CRecd. 10.20 a.m.) j LONDON, December 10. | The Rev. Hugh Black declined the pastorship of the City Temple on the ground that America demanded his services. \

THE CROWDED REICHSTAG. PEACE DEBATE ANTICIPATED. HOLLWE&'S ENTENTE TIP AUK. THE WOOING OP B PEG A ETA. AMSTERDAM, Dot-. 9. The galleries of the Reichstag were crowded in anticipation of a momentous peace debate.

Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, commenting on Bulgaria's intervention, said that the Entente had since the commencement of the war made increasing efforts to induce King Ferdinand to join in with them, promising him most liberal portions of AustroHungarian and Turco-Greek territory. "The Entente." he declared, ''not only gave away enemy and neutral territory, but did nor spare Serbia, for whose menaced integrity Russia unchained war. for .. whose liberation the Entente pretends it is fightingThe. Entente asked Serbia to make territorial concessions. Serbia was disinclined to agree, and thus our enemies remained at variance. The Bulgarians' justifiable national demands were after the last Balkan war considerably restricted in favour of Serbia.

Continuing his speech, the Chancellor said that Russia had left Bulgaria in the lurch, despite the fact that the latter had borne the main burdens in the Balkan war. Bulgaria thus saw the fruits of her victories going to Serbia, and the latter given preference just because she was the advanced Power against Austria. King Ferdinand had now redeemed his pledge made at the end of the second Balkan war, namely, that the Bulgarian colours, which after glorious fighting and severe disappointments had been furled, would yet fly over her lost territories.

Serbia, instead of seeking an understanding in order to save the country from the sacrifices involved by a fresh eamapign, decided not only to oppose a united Austro-German attack, but also to attack Bulgaria. Gaining an open road to the tc-'.v est milestone was. from a military viewpoint, of such value that i! could not be oveidooked. From an economic standpoint it allowed the welcome arrival of Turkish products into Germany. Thanks to King Ferdinand 's far-seeing policy, a strong bridge had been constructed between the Central Empires and the Orient, which would be used after peace was established, for the universal work >jf Kultur.'

Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg strongly attacked the Entente's policy in regard to Greece. He reproached England four using her fleet to support a breach of Greek neutrality. England had managed to impress the world with the idea that she mast punish Germany for violating Belgium's neutrality, but now they knew that England was tied up with France without, the British Parliament's knowledge, so that Sir Edward Grey was forced to join in the war. voluntarily or otherwise, before the question of Belgium's neutrality ever arose. England was no Longer ]ust\fied in denouncing German militarism, when she' played such a hypocritical part with Greece, which the world now knows. The present world-slaughter was being continued to please England. All the reports to the effect that" Germany was seeking peace were foolish legends which the Entente were spreading in order to cover their military failures. He could not discuss terms now, but the longer the Allies forced the war on Germany, the stronger she became, and therefore the more severe would the peace terms be, France had demanded the regaining of Alsace and Eorraine, and England the crushing of German militarism; but the Entente had found on the battlefield that both these demands were impossible terms. Germany's future must «be secured. There was enough food, and possibly an ovcrsupply- Cotton was coming up the Danube, while the supply of copper and rubber was sufficient. Germany was prepared to carry the Avar into other fields.

Germans and Austro - Hungarians were occupying well-consolidated and strong defensive positions. In Russia, Germany was always ready for a further advance. It was true that the French and British, with the greatest contempt for death, had squeezed the German front on the West, at som*. points, but their efforts to "break t h rou gh—which w«s to lie forced at ariy C ost—had failed like their previsions attempts. The Austro-Hmiga-rians firmly held their defensive positions. Italy hod been repulsed, and the continual Italian attacks had been carried out with gigantic Toss of life. AMERICAN BOATS SEARCHED. BY FRENCH CRDLSER. GERMAN FIREMEN SEIZED. WASHINGTON, Dee. D. A French cruiser stopped t'U"o fcv •> American steamer's Coamo "-id Cr-x-> liita ©it'Poito Bi'eo, adzed 'fotr <?Vrmt'i firemen, aad - marched the-cargo. It is understood th&i the »Jriv,l i

THE GERMAN REICHSTAG. PEACE PROPOSALS DISCUSSED. MERE. BOASTFUL VERBIAGE. (Reed. 5.15 a.m.) LONDON, December 10. In the Reichstag Scheidemann, in a moving interpellation to the motion asking the Chancellor to state the conditions whereon he was prepared to enter into peace negotiations, said moderates evidently were not desirious to embarrass the government. EHe said socialists were strongly opposed to making this war one of conquest, but they were unanimous in the determination to defend the country and would not bear the separation of Alsace and Lorraine.

The German people desired war not a day longer, but the country starvation plan had failed. Germany had twenty million pigs and as many potatoes as she was able to use. It was criminal if hostile statesmen endeavoured to delude the nations into thinking the situation could change to Germany's disadvantage. Germany was able and determined to defend her own hearth. Socialists, therefore, desired the first decisive step towards peace to emanate from Germany. FToliweg, in replying to the interpellation said an offer of peace by Germany would follow while her enemies would maintain their hypocrisy and ignorance. All disgusting talk must first be dropped. If their enemies brought proposals proper to Germany's dagr nity she was always ready to discuss them. Germany in full consciousness of her successes, declines responsibility for the continuation of the distress which is filling Europe and the world. Nobody could say that she deli sired to prolong the war for the sake of conquest. He was unable to say (what guarantees Germany would demand as regards Belgium, neither with respect to east or west. We must, while her enemies hold the means of invading our country, whereby they threaten us more strongly than before the war, also safeguard our economic developments. This war throughout had been a. defensive war of the German nation and its future. (Reed. 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 10.

Hollweg in replying to Scheidemann began by saying: We have gained gigantic successes and have deprived our enemy of one hope after another. 1 When the road to Turkey was opened, threatening the most vulnerable point of the British Empire, our enemies must have recognised that they had lost, their time. If I am to speak about peace conditons I must first see our enemies' conditons. Their ambitions were apparently unchanged despite what had happened. In recent speeches in the House of Lords they found hardly an echo in the British Press. Mr. Asquith at the Guildhall said the war's objects were the same as at the beginning, including the freedom of small states, but small* states who believed that Avere iioav cured of that belief. Since they had England to fight for them they had fared badly. The destruction of Prussian militarism means the finishing for ever of a great state Avhose development filled their enemies with envy and distrust. and England's Allies took up this battlecry. Such cries and talk of restoring Alsace and Poland and conquering Constantinople Avere merely bluff. Enemy peoples had been fed on false hopes and they now find that victories had not been gained and that they had suffered many military and diplomatic defeats and sacrificed a hecatombe. Yet we stand far Avithin their territories, we have opened a way to the southeast and hold valuable sec-n- 'ties. But the enemy cannot up the delusion that Germany must be crushed. They have noAv placed their hopes in a Avar of exhaustion; they will find our provisions sufficient. Concerning the exhaustion of our men, we have not gone as far as Russia. We do not intend to extend the age limit, as they have done; our losses are smaller than those of the French. The depth of our enemy's hate is shown in the Baralong case wherein a British warship murdered the crew of a helpless German submarine. The Britsh press hushed up this. The British have'' been proud of their navy's spirit but; they cannot reply to this murder, which will remain a black stain on their navy's history.

Lansburg, spokesman for the Socialists, said they were ready for an honourable peace safeguarding them against frivolous attacks. Whoever attempts to carve up Germany would encounter a united people. The debate was adjourned. A TURKISH REPORT. VIGOROUS ARTILLERY FIGHTING. AT THE DARDANELLES. AMSTERDAM, December 10.. A Turkish communique states that ill 3 enemy's resistance oa the Tigris is decreasing. We gangufsSxiiy repulsed British' ssrties. "v 7 igr>vAn« artillery figL'tmg •oo:aiinu«?g &t the DapSrvneJles.

THE SHANGHAI REVOLT. ORDER RESTORED. , • • LQNDON, December 10. (Reed. 10.20 a.m.) Exchanges from Tientsin state that order i s restored at Shanghai. It is alleged that Sun Yat Sen, who in Ja> pan, was the organiser of the revolt ~by rebels has been captured heaving Ja panese firearms. r 1 LOCALS.