THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

FAIR WARNING TO GREECE. ALLIES' : WIIJj NOT TOLERATE TRICKERY, London, Nov. 15. The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent says the Entente will soon be liking important decisions in Greece. France has now determined not to tolerate temporising from King Constantine. "I can state that the slightest proceedings ot a non-neutral nature by Greece at Salonika will meet with severe measures." Petrograd newspapers prominently discuss Greece's attitude. The consensus of opinion is that if King Constantine's advisers contemplate fresh manoeuvres against Serbia the only course for the Quadruple Alliance is to remind M. Skouloudis that Athens is not beyond the reach of the Allies' Aegean* fleet.

SERBIANS' DEFENCE. KING IN THE FIRING LINE. Received Nov. 16, 9.55 p.hi. Borne, Nov. 15. The Serbian army saved all their artillery and locomotives, and are preserving sufficient ammunition to enable them to prepare for a great offensive. They continue a heroic resistance, with unimpaired morale and exemplary discipline. King Peter is constantly in the firing line, exhorting the soldiers to hold out until he himself dies. The situation at Monastir is critical. ' THE HUNNISH RULE. DISSATISFIED BULGARIA. - Received Nov. 18, 9.5 p.m. Salonika, Nov. 15. The death penalty will be imposed by the Bulgarian authorities on anyone attempting to inform the people that Bulgaria is fighting against Russia. The lower classes are completely ignorant, and travellers declare that in the event of a Russian invasion the Bulgarians will not oppose it.

NOTES FROM THE TIMES. BTJLGAR MASSACRES. GERMANS IN GREECE. LANDINGS AT SALONIKA. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Nov. 15. A French medical officer wit!) the forces writes:—We departed from Salonika for the Serbs' front on the morning of October 18, and arrived at Strumnitza in pouring rain and oceans of mud. A Serb troop train was rushing northward. Strumnitza is in a basin between mountains and the Vardar railway line passes by a defile. The houses have been given up to the Serb soldiers. We saw shells falling in Valandovo as we were returning to Strumnitza. Intense firing barred the high road as we returned. The roads were deserted, and from the villages numerous fugitives and barefooted women were fleeing southward. It was a horrible spectacle to see them overburdened with their belongings. We saw a Serbian cemetery with 200 newly-made graves. The Serbian wound ed had all been massacred by the Bulgars. One night later the Bulgarians made a strong attack and a serious struggle ensued. The wounded arrived from everywhere, and the situation was grave, as we were an isolated division Four German officers, including Baron Falkeghausen. Prince Bulow- 3 son, arrived at Salonika, observed the work of t the Anglo-French forces, and motored to Zeitcnlik, where the Allied troops were encamped. The attention of a high Greek officer was drawn to the matter and the Germans subsequently departed for Athens in a Greek torpedo boat They constitute a special German mission for the immediate establishment mder German tutelage, 0 f active relations between the Cabinets of Constantinople, Sofia, Bucharest, and Athens They bear King Ferdinand's explicit declaration to King Constantino of the friendly intentions of Bulgaria, which are guaranteed by Germany. Another message states that Roumaflia is remaining neutral. The Allies' landing at Salonika has been carried on since November 1 with feverish haste. Enormous quantities of war material and many troops have W landed,

ON THE BULGARIAN COAST. ITALIAN CRUISER TAKES A HAND. Heceived Nov. 10, 9.5 p.m. Salonika, Nov. 15. The Italian cruiser Piedmonte bombarded Dede-Agatch, setting on fire the railway station and destroying two trains. She silenced the shore batteries and, cleverly manoeuvred, escaped a submarine. She fired on the submarine, whose fate is uncertain.