THE ORIENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1915, Page 5

THE ORIENT.

AMMUNITION SHORT. DIRE SITUATION AT CONSTANTINOPLE. London, Oct. 12. The Daily Telegraph's Rome correspondent says that the situation a* Constantinople is disastrous. There is on absolute shortage of ammunition, and the Government requisition of metals has become the wildest pillage, the police removing railings from mansions and villas. Enver Pasha U certain that the German arrival is imminent, and lias authorised the commandant at the Dardanelles to use the remaining ammunition, expecting early supplies. Turkish newspapers announce that the Allies are preparing to evacuate (Jallipoli. / THE DARDANELLES. (MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WANT ) TO KNOW. Received Oct. 13, 11:3tj p.m. r London, Oct. 13. A number of Liberals in the House of Commons tabled a motion calling for a select committee to inquire into the initiation and conduct and position of the Dardanelles campaign.

BALKANS. ROUMANIA WITH THE ALLIES. THE BULGAR ATTACK,. RUSSIA READY WITH TROOPS. Home, Oct. 12. Jf. Bratianu, Premier of Roumania, has given Italy to understand that Ronmania's co-operation with the Entente is certain, but that she will choose her own time to take the field. London, Oct. 12. The Bulgarians begun the attack on Serbia at Uariboghaz, near Kniaslievatz, on Monday at noon. The Serbian Legation announces iliat the Bulgarians since last night have been attacking in the direction pf Ylasina, eastward of Vrania. All the attacks were heavily repulsed. Berlin, Oct. 12. A communique says: We are making good progress on the entire Balkan front. We stormed the town and fortress of Semcndria (30 miles east of Belgrade) yesterday. Paris, Oct. 12. SI. Viviani announces that the Russians will throw troops against Bulgaria to-morrow. If Britain, France, and Russia are -in complete accord, ample troops will be available. London, Oct. 12. King Ferdinand, at a banquet, proposed the health of the Kaiser and the alliance with Germany. He smashed the glass jiter drinking, and everybody imitated him. Paris, Oct. 12. An official wireless message states that the Austro-German attack on Serbia has already caused heavy losses to General Mackensen's army. It is a clear gain to the "Entente when the enemy multiplies his battle fronts s.t the very moment when effectives are beginning to be exhausted. SERBIAN REPORTS. SUCCESSES AROUND BELGRADE. Paris, Oct. 12. The Nish correspondent of Le Matin says that the Serbians on Sunday morning regained the advantage, seh'.ed some excellent positions, and threw back the Germans into the suburbs of Belgrade. The Germans threw fifty thousand sheik into the town, not sparing the hospitals cr churchc3. They destroyed the Synagogue, burying hundreds of Jewish families whp were taking refuge in the vaults. The British heavy guns inflicted severe losses and sank two monitors. Fighting continues on the hills about Belgrade. French artillery is co-operating with the Anglo-Serbian guns. Nisli, Oct. 12. A communique says: Our troops are admirably resisting the Austro-German onslaught. Our offensive-, between the Mlava and Morava threw back the enemy across the Danube. A detachment which reached Smedereyo was annihilated, and the few who endeavored to escape were drowned in the Danube. We repulsed all the German attacks on the Drina and Save fronts. SERBIAN CAPITAL ALLIED TROOPS AT SALONIKA. London, Oct. 12. It is expected that the Serbian capital will be removed to Monastir. The Allied troops have not yet departed u'oin Salonika. x ITEMS FROM THE TIMES. OPINIONS OF REPINGTON. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Oct. 12. Colonel Repington says that, judging from reports, General Mackensen's Danube group of armies is entirely composed of Austro-Germans withdrawn from the Russian front, totalling nearly 300,000. They hope with the aid of the Bulgarian army to finish Serbia before the Allies intervene. Serbia's chances of a successful resistance 4 re n °t great unless 300,000 Allied troops speedily come to her aid. If Greece and Roumania side with us, the failure of the attack is assured: otherwise, Germany will get the best of the deal. It would perhaps be unwise to submit to the dictation of the German initiative to open a great campaign in the Balkans. The decision of the war rests on the French and Russian frontiers. Even if Germany were installed at Constantinople with the Balkan States under her heel it would not profit her if we were victorious in the, main theatre. Should Germany's ambitions tempt her further east, under the treaty of Japan she would have to face a fresh enemy. BULGARIA AND THE ENTENTE. 'i-i:; it'.'l'TUlili COMPLETE. '.Times aud Sydney Suu Services.) Piiris, Oct. 1:?. The Journal dc-s Debats states that the Bulgarian cavalry, officered by Germans, is concentrating at Kustendel. The rupture between and the Allies is complete. BULGARIA'S ARMIES. WATCHING THREE FRONTS. (Times snd Sydney Sun Services.) Jjondon, Oct. 12. The Times' Bucharest correspondent , states that eleven Bulgarian divisions, forming three armies, are under the command of Prince Boris. The first, under Bogaceff, is to cut the railway from Nish to Salonika; the second, under Tonceff, is watching Greece: and the third, under Tcotiocoff, whose objective is Sumec, is watching Roumania. GREECE AND THE WAR. ARMED NEUTRALITY. Reeeived Oct. 13, 8.5 p.m. Athens, Oct. 12, The Serbian Minister ofl'ivially advised i M. Zaimis of the opening of a Bulgarian offensive, and M. Zaimis replied that Greece remains in a position of armed neutrality,

BULGARIA'S SUPREME FOLLY. BREAKING HER OATH. ... RUSSIA LANDING TROOPS IN BULGARIA. ENERGETIC ACTION BY THE ALLIES. Received Oct. 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. 12. The Chamber of Deputies met in a state of feverish anticipation, thi3 reflecting that the public at large felt the uneasiness, which has 'been increased by the rumors that the negotiations of the Entente are still incomplete, and the certainty that there is no evidence of effective unity of action among the Allies. The Deputies listened to the Premier's (M. Viviani) speech in the tensest silence, which was broken by loud cheers when the Premier announced that Russia was landing troops in Bulgaria. M. Viviani, said that owing to the grave circumstances the country was entitled to a clear statement regarding the Balkan crisis. This had been engaging the Allies' attention before the war. The Treaty of Bucharest had left a feeling of deep rancour in Bulgaria, and neither the King nor the Bulgarians were resigned to the loss of the fruits of their sacrifices in the Turkish war, nor to the burden resulting from an unjust war waged against Greece and Serbia. THE BALKANS FOR THE BALKANS. M. Viviani continued: "The Entente Powers, therefore, guided by a policy in the spirit of generosity and justice, tried to restore union among the Balkan peoples, with a view of satisfying their principal national aspirations. An equilibrium, seconded by mutual sacrifices, and freely assented to by each Power, would have been the best guarantee of future peace. Notwithstanding the persevering efforts, to which Roumania, Greece, and Serbia repeatedly lent help, we. Were unable to obtain sincere collaboration from the Bulgarian Government. DIFFICULTIES OF NEGOTIATION. "The chief essential difficulty was negotiating at Sofia. Bulgaria was advancing her claims on all frontiers at the expense of her neighbors. We had reason to hope that Roumania, Greece, and Serbia would finally consent to sacrifices, for which they would receive compensation. Our efforts in Roumania were not without success. The state of semi-mobilisation in which she is holding her troops would enable her to repel aggression and keep close watch on the frontiers. Roumania knows,, moreover, that only the victory of the Quadruple Entente will assure her independence and satisfy her national aspirations. The equivocal attitude of the 'Bulgarian Government led Greece to maintain a policy of expectation. KING FERDINAND'S DUPLICITY. "At the moment when the Quadruple Entente announced the extensive eoncessions to which Serbia had consented, King Ferdinand signed an agreement with Turkey, and bound himself definitely to Germany. .To friendly intentions he replied by the mobilisation of the army. From moral and military standpoints we were unable to consent to the isolation of Serbia and tile interruption of communications with our friends and allies. Our action must We energetic, to correspond with the effortß of our enemies, who, dominated by the Allies on the Western front and checked in Russia, are now seeking speccss in a new field. "To help the Serbians it was necessary to pass through Salonika, and as soon as Bulgaria began to mobilise we entered into negotiations with the Gneek Premier. These negotiations were natural, in view of the treaty betweien Greece and Bulgaria. It has been said that we violated the neutrality of Greece. Some even dared to compare our action with that of Germany in the violation of Belgium, when she disowned her signature. The conditions under which we went to Salonika, and the reception accorded us, sufficed to prove the inanity of the accusation. Energetic action has been taken in Britain and France, in agreement with their allies. "We have weighed its difficulties, and our own special duty is to double one of our chief preoccupations, which dominates all other considerations; that is, the defence of our front and the deliverance of our territory. We must devote our strength and sacrifices of blood to secure a victory on our own soil, but, without weakening our own front, it is our duty to perform the mission which is affecting our interests and honor. The understanding between Britain and France is complete, and we are now fully agreed to help Serbia, who has asked for our assistance, and also to ensure for the benefit of Serbia, Greece, and Roumania respect for the Bucharest treaty. Russia has expressed anxiety to help Serbia, and to-morrow her troops will light side by side vit'd ours." CONFIDENT OF VICTORY. "Gentlemen," said M. Viviani, "with our allies we have done our duty. Never has accord between us beten so complete and close, and/never have we been more confident of our common victory."