The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1915. THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1915. THE BALKANS.

What action, if any, the various Balkan States will take in the war seems to be still beyond comprehension. On the one hand, it is staled that friendly conversations have been renewed between Servia and Bulgaria, and, on the other hand, Bulgaria appears to be lirmly bent on taking no action unless Servian Macedonia is given back. Apparently, the position at present is that Servia absolutely refuses to give up her Macedonian possessions, even for a compensation three, times their value. As between Bulgaria and Oreeec, the question at issue is the Aegean port of Kavala. Bulgaria hankers after this port, as well as its hinterland, and if M. Ycnizelos returns to power as Creek Premier (here is little doubt that the cession will be made. According to J>r. Dillon, Bui garia's co-operation would give the Allies Constantinople within it mouth, but Bulgaria will not march without the cession of South-eastern Macedonia, and ■Dul'iaria holds the key of the position. Being situate! between Hoimiania. on

the <.n.' side. Jin.l Sorvia and Creoee, on (lie oilier, ;,!». ha- sin appreciable con-tr-Hiii- influence, besides bciii« (he only State bavin;,' a frontier with Kuropcan Turkey. The one ray oT hope iliat the Balkan State-; may l,e induced (.. dike a'ction rests on whether Germany «ill now turn her attention to Italy anil Sprvia, with the object of relieving the Turks and rowanling Austria with t he Servian territory and possibly bribing Bulgaria wltfi Macodoua. This would. inevitably, cause ructions in the Eal-

kans. It is well known that German ambition is in the direction of converting the Adriatic into a German lake, and Turkey and Asia Minor into a great Asiatic Empire, giving the Germans control of all Russian outlets, besides a road to the East, by way of the Persian Gulf, as well as the control of the Red Sea. The attack on the Dardanelles threatens all their hopes, hence it is not at all improbable that the German forces lately employed against Russia may be transferred to the Balkans, en route for Constantinople. This, probably, accounts for the landing by the Allies of new forces north of the Gulf of S'aros, thereby forestalling the German move to the assistance of tbe Turks. According to M. Risticih, Bulgaria has fully decided to maintain her neutral 'policy, except in the event of an attempt by the Austro-Gcrman forces to traverse Servia on their way to help the Turks, and he considers that, should such a, move take place, the whole of the lialknn Stales would conic to the rescue. That, as we, liave already pointed out, is the one ray of hope affecting tile whole question, This new complication seriously affects the Allies, as a German invasion of Servia would necessitate a very large and well-armed force being despatched to effectively deal with the enemy on the new theatre of action, ami it also 1 implies the urgent need for making speedier progress on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The truth of the statement that the wa.r is only just beginning is becoming more , and mdve'Kpriareni , Th'eVe isrno cause for any undue feeling of alarm, but it'ls evident that the Allies will want to draw heavily on their resources of men and munitions The 'possibility, if not the probability, of an enlarged scope of action has to be faced, hut we may confidently trust in the high military authorities who are directing the Allies' forces to take the most effective steps for defeating our enemies. There U a disposition to be .impatient at their slow progress, but they only are in a position to know when and how to strike with crushing effect.