THE ALLIES' BALKAN CAMPAIGN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 145, 22 June 1916, Page 5

THE ALLIES' BALKAN CAMPAIGN.

130,000 SERBIANS READY. A MAGNIFICENT RALLY.

Received 12-40 a.m., June 22. NEW YORK, June 21

Advices from Salonika state that the preparations of the Allied forces indicate that the original intention was to launch the offensive in May. The Servian army, however,, was in a far worse plight than was supposed. It entirely needed re-equipping. General Putnik was physically unable to command, and many of the leading officers were too worn by liardhips to continue on active service. A new set of officers was therefore chosen. Instead of! making the first stride in the Balkans to draw the German reserve from the west front, while decisive action was nlanned in France, it was decided that the .Macedonian offensive should coincide with the Allied offensive on all fronts. It is generally supposed this has been timed for midsummer. One hundred and thirty thousand first class Servians are in readiness to take the first line positions on the frontier. Objection was first raised that they had suffered enough, and every stalwart man was needed to reestablish the annihilated race, but the Prince Regent asked: How can we recruit the Fatherland except as conquerors? Of what avail would it be to perpetuate the race if we are content to let others do our fighting? The offspring of a Servian who has been a hero will be worth a hundred of those who are able to fight but stopped at home. All the old and unfit have been weeded out, and the remainder are tried and capable. Most recent advices state that. 3.50.000 British and French troops are at Salonika, the majority being British. Transports continue to arrive with new French trops. Experts estimate that 2 00,000 men are avail-

able in Egypt