The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1915. THE BALKANS CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1915. THE BALKANS CAMPAIGN.

The only portion of the war area that is attracting attention at the present time is the Balkan?. It was consideied that all anxiety as to the attitude of Greece in relation to the Allies' operations had been fully set at rest, but there is a recrudescence of anxiety consequent on symptoms of the likelihood of Greece again breaking faith with th» Allies and if not actually committing acts of hostility, deliberately trying to hold up the advance of the British and French forces. Fortunately Greek treachery is so much a matter of pro» bability that it can be fairly assumed provision has been made to checkmate any unfriendly action. Britain lias the sea power wherewith to coerce Greece into complete submission, and if .the necessity arises for using that power it will be a woeful day for King Constantino and his unforlunaU aubjects. There is every reason to bptie.e that the Allies dominate the situation '.xi Greece, and though it would be \-ili great reluctance that they would resort to force, they are prepared to do so if occasion demands; consequently there is little, if any, justification for anxiety, for under no circumstances can Greece be permitted to thwart or hinder the Allies' plans, an important detStil of which is the use of adequate railway facilities. Greece is in the desperate

position ox being iu fear of .the Germans and :n fear of the Allies, and it is her king who has Drought the nation to this ignominious position. So far as Serbia is concerned she seems to be having a comparatively quiet time after her terrible struggles and sufferings. The Allies are still advancing from the south; communication has been opened westward; apparently the Serbo-Allied forces in Southern Serbia are stationary in view of a probable attack. The fact that the Bulgarians have withdrawn from the region of Monastir in view of a combined Austro-Germau-Bulgar attack o'li the Allies accounts for the latter making preparations for what should prove a determined struggle, An Athens cable to Paris states that 125,000 Anglo-French troops have landed at Salonika, abundantly supplied, and that many more thousands are en route. Such a comparatively small force could hardly be expected of themselves to win a decisive engagement, but it is extremely likely there is a considerable force of Serbians ready and eager tu fight with desperation to avenge their defeats. On the other hand it is quite conceivable that the enemy is extremely anxious to over-run Southern Serbia and drive out the Allies from their base. Unfortunately the winter season haß set in with unusual severity, but that nmy assist the Allies if they decide on a defensive policy at the present time, while it would certainly hamper their advance into Northern Serbia. Much will depend on the result of the expected attack by the enemy, but far more on a prompt advance by the Russians into Bulgaria. It is well known that the Bulgarian troops are not to be relied upon to fight against the Russians, whom they still regard as liberators. It follows, therefore, that a Russian invasion of Bulgaria would materially affect .the whole situation, for it would cause the Bulgarians to retire, and would certainly give plenty of occupation for the Germans and Turks in the region of the Black Sea. With Russia's assistance an advance could be made by the Allies along the Saloruku-Constau-

Unople railway and this could not fail to be fruitful of important results. Roumania is still neutral, or professing neutrality, but it is difficult to reconcile that on .the one band she allows munitions and food to be sent via the Danube towards Constantinople, and yet, on the other hand, refuses to permit AustroGerman troops to pass below .the Bulgarian port, of Rustchuk. There are good grounds for assuming that the presence of a strong Russian force in Bessarabia lias had a marked effect on the Roumanian authorities,-and it would appear as if they were waiting until Russia was prepared with a sufficient force to march through Roumania to Bulgaria in order to take the long expected plunge into the vortex of the war. Possibly the Roumanians cannot be unduly blamed for their policy of being sure rather than sorry, but had they joined the Allies earlier the Bulgarians would long ago have received a crushing defeat. Germany claims to have established communications with Constantinople, but as the Serbians destroyed the railway tunnels, which are very numerous, thu communication must only have been by water, and by the sufferance of Roumania. The position in the Balkans to-day is decidedly better than it was for the Allies, and especially for Serbia, whose army is still in existence and should be able to render good service with the Anglo-French forces. The result of the impending battle may have considerable effect on future operations.