BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1915, Page 5

BALKANS.

4 GREECE MOBILISES AS A MEASURE OF PRUDENCE. Athens, Sept. 24. A Royal decree orders the mobilising of classes 1892 to 1911 as a measure of prudence in view of the Bulgarian mobilisation. Paris, Sept. 24. Official: A decree for the mobilisation of the Greek army has' been issued and the Greek Parliament summoned for Saturday. London, Sept. 24. t The Greek Legation in London states that Greece is mobilising owing to Bulgaria's action. Twenty classes have been summoned in the Bulgarian order. GREEKS JOINING THE COLOBS. Received Sept. 27, 12.40 a.m Athens, Sept. 20. The reservists are coming up en masse, and there are scenes or the greatest enthusiasm. Many thousands are already uniformed, and it is expected that the majority wil! have joined the colors by Monday.

ENTHUSIASM IN GREECE. SPOILING FOR A FIGHT. Received Sept. 20, 2.5 p.m. Athens, Sept. 25. King Constants and M. Venizelos have agreed to the necessary steps to meet the Balkans' situation, including the maintenance of Greece's treaty obligations with Servia.

A decree has been promulgated convoking the Chamber for Wednesday to pass martial law, and give the Government control of the railways, and prohibit the transport of merchandise. The National Bank of Greece will deposit fourteen millions sterling. The mobilisation announcement has everywhere been received enthusiastically. All, Greek steamers have been requisitioned.

FEVERISH EXCITEMENT IN ATHENS •Received Sept. 25, 5.5 p.ra. """ London, Sept. 25. The Daily Chronicle's Athens correspondent, telegraphing on Thursday, says that the city, is full of excitement, various rumors increasing the popular interest in developments, though none are expected of momentous decision. Special editions of the newspapers which were circulated in the streets, and rushed, in the forenoon, confirmed Bulgaria's action in practically mobilising her entire manhood.

When the seriousnesa of the news was realised the excitement grew to fever heat, and the populace crowded the cafes at midday. '

A COUNCIL OF WAR. M. Venizelos immediately summoned Cabinet, who decided that it was necessary for Greece to take similar action. In the afternoon M. Venizelos motored to the Palace and informed King Constantino, who expressed complete agreement. The Minister of War, in full uniform, also visited the King, and his passage through the streets gave the crowds the first impression of the eminence of mobilisation. Crowds gathered at the Foreign Office and cheered.

The 1912 class and three others are already under arms, and with twenty classes now mobilising the total is three hundred thousand.

COMPLETE}' UNITY. Greece does not desire war and will not be an aggressor, but if Bulgarian ambitions force a war the Greeks will fight with a valor and determination unsurpassed in history. There is a feeling of relief that something definite has been arrived at after such long uncertainty. The King, Cabinet, and people are fully united, and are aware of the tremendous issue. It is reliably reported that Germany forced Bulgaria's hand. BRITISH MINISTER CHEERED. Received Sept. 27, V 2.15 a.m. Athens, Sept. 2«, An immense crowd frantically cheered the British Minister as he was proceeding to visit M. Venizelos when the new decree of King Constantine was made known. PRESENT GREEK ARMY. Athens, Sept. 24. Up till now only four classes in Greece have been under aims. (The classes refer to years of enlistment. Thus twenty classes having been called up means all men from 20 to 39 years. Bulgaria is reported to have mobilised 27 classes, which would be equivalent to calling up all men between 19 and 45.)

ASTONISHMENT IN GERMANY. BITTER FEELING AGAINST ROUMANIA. Received Sept. 27, 12.5 a.m. Amsterdam, Sept. 25, The mobilisation of the Greek army lias produced profound astonishment in Germany where it is feared the move may neutralise and prevent a Bulgarian attack upon Serbia. Bitterness is expressed against Roumania. The Cologne Gazette says: "Roumania is played out and her role as a link between Austria and Turkey is ended. We shall pass through Sofia and that will teach Roumania not to side with our foes."

BULGARIA'S REASONS. SEMI-OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Received Sept. 27, 12.50 a.m. Sofia, Sept. 20. Semi-official: Bulgaria's mobilisation was due to the recent changes in the political and military situation. Bulgaria has not the slightest aggressive intention, but is firmly resolved to defend, fully armed, her rights of independence, following the example of Holland and Switzerland at the outset of the war. Bulgaria is obliged in view of her neighbor's movements of troops and the danger threatening her from an AustroGerman offensive against SeTbia, to proclaim an armed neutrality, while continuing pourparlers with representatives of the two belligerent groups. \ "

A STATE OF UNCERTAINTY.

BULGARIA NOT ANTI-BRITISH. Received Sept. 20, 2. 5 p.m. London, Sept. 25. Reuter learns from diplomatic quarters in London that in the continued absence of definite news regarding Bulgaria's policy« great uncertainty still exists as to the meaning of the latest developments in the Balkans. l The rapidity of the events occasions much surprise, although it is considered that tlie Greek mobilisation is merely a corollary to the Bulgarian action. Moreover, it is pointed out that there is no anti-British feeling in Bulgaria, where Britain's single-minded conciliatory policy in the Balkans is fully recognised.

The Times' Sofia- correspondent say 9 that responsible quarters hold that Bulgaria's mobilisation must not be regarded as an indication that Bulgaria's intentions are warlike. It is necessary for Bulgaria to take precautions with a view to the near approach of the war theatre. Her negotiations with the Entente will proceed as before.

BULGARIA NOT AGGRESSIVE. SOME ANXIETY IN RUSSIA. Washington, Sept. 24. The Bulgarian Premier has cabled the Legation here that Bulgaria, does not intend to enter the war. Her mobilisation has not been ordered with any aggressive intention against her neighbors, but simply to preserve her neutrality, Petrogrod, Sept. 24. . M. Gutchkoff, President of the Slav Committee at Moscow, telegraphed, to MM. Daneff, Gueschoff, and other Bulgarian statesmen that the Russian people cannot believe that the. Bulgarians, whom Russia liberated, are about to take up arms against their brethren,

THE BULGAR ARMY. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) "London, Sept. 24. Colonel Repington estimates Bulgaria's fighting strength at 250,000 rifles, GOOO salbres, and 72 guns, to which reserves and Macedonian bands will provide a further 100,000. THE ROAD THROUGH SERVIA. 1 If it is assumed that the reported attacks really presage an invasion of Servia, with the object of bringing relief to Turkey through Bulgaria, with the consent of Bulgaria, which alone would make such a plan reasonable, then Semendria is the starting point. Further east the direct route to Bulgaria is much shorter, less than forty miles; but this bee-line crosses almost alpine country. Semendria is at the mouth of the valley of the Morave, along the banks of which the Belgrade-Sofia-Constantinople railway runs; and another railway, through Semendria, follows the river and joins the main line about thirty miles to the south. This railway and river valley form the only practicable main route for an invasion having the special objects in view. The operations liere must, however, be accompanied by others carried out along the whole northern and western frontier on a scale such as to occupy the maximum number of Servian forces.

SERVIA'S STRENGTH. The Servians are not. now fighting single-liandcd. There is in position along the river frontier a force of British soldiers ' and sailors under Admiral Troubridge. They are provided with heavy guns and ample ammunition. Servia, during the long rest which followed her wonderful victory over the Austrians in December, has recuperated. With the assistance of the Allies (thanks again to sea power) they have been supplied with artillery and other equipment, and it is probably no exaggeration that as a fighting force the Servian Army is more formidable now than when the war began. Eighty miles or so of river valley, flanked by mountains, blocked by at least two fortresses (Nish and Pirot) and defended by a well-prepared people, cannot be negotiated in a dav even bv the Germans. .