THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

THE CAMPAIGN IN SERBIA. IMI'OKTAiN T DEVELOPMENTS. London, Nov. 10. The French ejected the Bulgarians from the Ccrna river. The Serbians recaptured Tetovo. The latest Salonika news of the Serbian army is almost alarming. The Bulgarians, considerably reinforced, attempted a flanking movement westward ol the Babuna Pass from the Tetovo region, and are threatening Perlepe and thus eventually Monastir. It is reported that the French have been compelled to retire at two points at Gradski. It is evident that the situation in Macedonia, is developing rapidly and requires urgent counter-measures, foreign diplomatists in Serbia are proceeding to Scutari instead of to Monastir. The baltle on the river Ccrna, between the French and Bulgarians, lasted 3G hours. It was exceedingly hot. Some three Bulgarian Divisions were repulsed with hca\iest losses after a fruitless and desperate effort to pierce the French centre. This was an undoubted French success. GREECE IMPRESSED. NEUTRAL ZONE TALKED OF. Athens, Nov. 16. In response to representations by the Entente, M. Skouloudis has offered to place the Serttians on the same footing as the Entente in the event of a retreat into Greece. There is some talk of establishing a neutral zone. Altogether 100,000 Allies have landed at Salonika. They have greatly impressed the Greeks. NO FOOLERY FROM GREECE. ITALY'S STANDPOINT. Received Nov. 17, C.50 p.m. Paris, Nov. 10. The Echo de Faris' Rome correspondent says that public opinion in Italy approves of the viewpoint of the French press, namely, that the Quadruple Alliance should not be fooled by Greece, and, should need arise, that vigorous measures are essential to compel Greece to take up a definite attitude. GREEK NEUTRALITY. OPINION OF THE TIMES. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Nov. 16. The Times' Athens correspondent says the question of the possible retreat of Serbian and Allied troops into Greece is creating much excitement. The German pretensions that Greece may disarm these troops are occupying the Government's serious attention. Friends of the Entente consider that Greece's assurances of extreme benevolence, even after the disembarkation at Salonika, exclude the possibility of unfriendly action, but an exchange of views continues with the intention of positively fixing Greece's attitude. The correspondent of the Echo de Paris says the question of the disarmament of the Allied troops is prominently before the Skouloudis Cabinet. After examining decisions in the past the Cabinet believes that the Allies should recognise Greece's decision to disarm any retreating army. M. Skouloudis has been converted by anti-Venizelist colleagues, who under M. Gonnaris are holding the helm. The Venizelists may not offer candidates at the elections. Ninety Venezelist deputies of military age applied to the War Minster for leave of absence, which was refused. The Times, in a leader, declares that it does not think there is a serious basis for the statement that Greece intends to interfere with Serbs who cross the frontier. The position of the Allies is clear. They sent troops on the invitation of Greece, and obviously Greece is unable to vary the permission, which 'includes egress as well as ingress. We assume the Allies have made known to the Greek Government their sense of potential gravity of the issue Iby getting definite and explicit guarantees.