THE BALKAN TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 177, 13 December 1912, Page 5

THE BALKAN TROUBLE.

THE ATTITUDE OF AUSTRIA. IS IT BLUFF? By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, December 11. Some papers indicate that Austria enters the Ambassadors' Conference with a reservation. They belittle the Vienna warlike news, and state that the mobilisation is restricted to two corps. There are only 550,000 men under the flag. A SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE. London, December 11. Mr. Angus Hamilton, a newspaper correspondent, has returned to London. He tails an extraordinary story of his treatment after capture. The Bulgarians refused to believe he was a correspondent. He was bound with ropes, and was without food for hours. Officers stripped him and spent an hour examining his I body for marks which would prove that he was a Turkish officer. They finally whipped a boy across the face, and compelled him to identify Hamilton as a Turk. It was several days before the pi oofs of his identity were accepted. THE PEACE CONFERENCE. London, December 11. The Peace Conference will open on Monday. Sir E. Grey, in the House of Commons, said he hoped the Ambassa- . dors would meet next week. The fact that the consultation would he noncommittal was an indication that the Powers were uncertain that the solution of all their difficulties was in sight. On the other hand, the agreement to consult was evidence that the solution was not regarded as impossible. SERVIA'S ATTITUDE. Received 13, 12.10 a.m. Paris, December 12. M. Poincare received M. Novakovitch, the Servian peace delegate, and he was afterwards interviewed by Le Temps. M. Novakovitch stated that Servia insisted on the possession of a port on the Adri- \ . atic. The Servians were unable to explain the puzzling and disquieting attitude of Austria-Hungary. Despite the Austrian menace, Servia was leaving her troops in Turkey.