THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

A BLIZZARD RACING. SEVEREST WINTER FOR TEN YEARS. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 2S. A terrific blizzard is raging in the districts of the Balkans where the Allied headquarters are. A correspondent states that the snowis lying deep, and the men have plunged abruptly into a fierce winter. Only a few can ho billeted in the mountain villages, and the remainder are compelled to shelter in the trenches, a few tents, and dug-outs. "Whore the tents are exposed they are blown to pieces. _ The blizzard has made transport more difficult. Neither side can see the others in the trenches across the valleys. This in an early winter, and the most so ere for ten years.

BRITISH IN THE LINE. A VIVID CONTRAST. Received Nov. 29, 5.40 p.m. London, Nov. 28. Mr. Ward Price, cabling from Salonika, says that the Britishers are now in the first base lino and face the enemy in a country as different from the pollards in Belgium and the slag heaps at Lens as the Potteries district in England is to the Highlands of Scotland. The French, early in November, after a stiff encounter, drove the enemy up a ravine across the valley northward, and "were making a good position along the crest above the village when, on the night of the 10th, the Bulgars attacked with considerable energy, creeping down the gullies on their side of the valley noiselessly, and scaling the steep slopes opposite, their feet being shod with leather moccasins. The French trenches were of an elementary character, the rocky soil making digging almost impossible, and they had no entanglements in front of their position. Three hundred dead Bulgars were lying under the crest next morning. They had been killed by the bayonet while trying to rush the low parapet. The valleys are strewn with yellow maize, which the peasantry have been forced to leave to rot. "Partridges, hares, and woodcock abound," says Mr. Price, "and you only need to see the British in this unfamiliar setting to realise why we are a great colonising race," THE MATTER-OF-FACT BOYS. "Neither the grandeur of the scenery nor the sombre history of the country distracts them from setting about .their matter-of-fact military duties. Already they have made well-beaten paths on the hillsides where the inhabitants never before troubled to make a track. From the railhead we have the best road in Macedonia as a line supply. "Men from Gallipoli, who have been suffering from heat and flies, find it an almost unbelievable contrast. Until now ten thousand Bulgars have been facing us, and have been satisfied to leave us alone. They apparently hold a scattered line, of trenches, block-houses and hangars along the ridges parallel to ours. Their patrols occasionally meet ours in the valley at night time, the enemy frequently seizing the opportunity to surrender owing to shortness of food.

ON THE RAILWAY LINE. , TUNNELS DESTROYED. Received Nov. 29, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Nov. 28. The Serbian Minister of War states that all tunnels, of which there are many from "Kisli to the Bulgarian frontier, have been destroyed and the line cannot -be repaired rapidly. THE CAMPAIGN IN SERBIA. BULGAIiS ABANDON MONASTIR. Paris, Nov. 28. Le Journal says that the Bulgarians have abandoned Monastir in order to concentrate their efforts on the lower Cerna towards Fardar, against the French, which is a menace to large forces. A BRITISH SUCCESS. Paris, Nov. 2S. Le Petit Parisien says that Bulgarian attacks on the British at Valandora melted under the powerful fire of the British batteries. Our aviators bombed the Bulgarian encampments at the "village of Strumnitza and also at Ishtip. In view of tile present situation of the Serbian armies our troops on the left bank of the Cerna have withdrawn to the right. The movement was accomplished without difficulty. LOSSES AND GAINS. Salonika, Nov. 28. The Austro-German advance compelled the Serbians to relinquish the offensive in the Katehanik and Uskub districts. Their only hope of a junction with the Anglo-French is via the Dibra height?. The Serbian force which was victorious at Loskovatz was obliged to abandon the ground conquered, and is retreating under difficulties. On the other hand the Monastir detachment progressed towards Perlepe. The Bulgarians at Uskub are awaiting AustroGerman reinforcements. There are persistent reports from Constantinople of daily increasing discords between the Turks and the Germans. A German regiment outside Chatalja is awaiting authorisation to enter Constantinople.

MONTENEGRO. GERMANS ANTICIPATE A CONQUEST Amsterdam, Nov. 28, German newspapers state that the Austro-Gennans will soon undertake the vigorous conquest of Montenegro. It is anticipated that Montenegro will soon be without ammunition. Rome. Nov. 20. A Montenegrin communique states that the enemy is lnisy reconnoitring', lint is concealing the direction of the main action, which has 'been preparing lor some days. WILL DIE HONORABLY. GERMAN OVERTURES REJECTED. Received Nov. 30, 12.25 a.m. Rome, Nov. 20, The Milan newspaper II Secolo' states that General Pasitch lias communicated General Mackensen's overtures to the Cabinet, saving: "Ouv way out is marked. We will be true to the Entente and die honorably." It is understood that General Mackcn?eu made similar overtures to Montenegro, and King Nicholas replied that he would send an army to die with the Serbians at Kossovo. Cetigne, Nov. 20. King Nicholas' proclamation exhorts the people to remain calm and face ilie danger that is threatening Montenegro. The Serbians have been forced to withdraw to the Montenegrin mountains, where the forces of both kingdoms will fight valiantly from mountain to mountain.