THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

GREECE NOT TO BE TRUSTED. DR. DILLON'S VIBWtS. AN UNSATISFACTORY POSITION. London, Nov. 29. Dr. Dillon, writing from Rome, states that Greece's alleged acquiescence in the Allies' demands is only satisfactory while the temptation to break the. engagement is less strong than the deterrent experience which taught that lesson. Since she repudiated her solemn obligations to Serbia, Greece is bankrupt in honor and cannot Ibe trusted. Confidence cannot be. felt towards a country which oscillates like a pendulum between fear of Germany and fear of the Allies. The Exchange Company's Athens correspondent states that Greece is re-dy to discuss the Entente's propositions and satisfy !ajl demands which wilt not compromise her neutrality.

GREEK PORTS OPEN. FOR THE ALLIES. Rome, Nov. 29. The newspaper II Corriere della Sera states that Lord Kitchener obtained Greece's consent for Allied troops to land at ports other than Salonika. Paris, Nov. 29. Athens cables state that 125,000 Franco-British troops have landed at Salonika, abundantly supplied. Four thousand men are landing daily. COMPLIANCE PROBABLE. VENIZELISTS STAND ALOOF. Received Nov. 30, 9.5 p.m. London, Nov. 30. The Daily Telegraph's Bucharest correspondent says that three Austrian regiments have arrived at Rustehuk. Mr. Stevens, cabling to the Daily Telegraph from Athena, says that he belives a reply will be given to-morrow, and he understands that explanations will be asked of the intentions of the Allies in the Balkans, but the general opinion is that full compliance will be given. Some people consider that the compliance will be made under pretest. Theugh the crisis is the absorbing topic, the Venizelos party is standing aside.

THE SERBIAN CAMPAIGN. HORRORS OF THE RETREAT. GERMANS STILL PURSUE. London, Nov. 29. Mr. Shepherd, writing from Salonika, states that the horrors of the flight of the hapless Serbian people are growing with the arrival of each contingent. Refugees state that the road from Prizrend to Mona3tir is lined with human corpses and the carcases of horses and mules. Thousand of old men, women, and children are lying on the rocks and in the thickets beside the trail, exhausted, foodless, and awaiting the end. Hordes of Serbians and Albanians and fifty thousand Austrian prisoners are moving through desolate country. In some places, like vultures, they stripped the flesh from dead animals to appease their hunger. The women and children are ill-clad and numbed with the cold. They cower pitifully about meagre fires in file mountain shrub throughout the night and resume the weary march to Monastir in the morning. When Monastir is captured they will be at the mercy of the inhospitable mountain passes. Among the refugees who had reached Salonika are Dr. Findlay and his wife, Lady Sybil Findlay, daughter of the seventh Earl of Kingston, who, with English doctors and sixteen English nurses, trudged on foot for seven days in the Albanian mountains with only a little bread. Fifteen of the twenty of their pack mules died from hunger. Britishers in Greece are making heroic efforts to alleviate the distress. Twenty motor-cars, loaded with flour, are fighting their w t ay through the bllizzard towards Diibra. The remnants of the Serbian army are retreating towards El Bassan, thirty-six miles south-east of Durazzo. Berlin, Nov. 29. A communique states: The pursuit of the Serbians continues. We have captured 502 guns during the campaign, including many heavy cannon.

KING AT THE FRONT. A NOTBLISrS SUICIDE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Nov. 30, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 29. It is reported that King Peter was present at the battle of Pirot. He advanced, sword in hand, to the firing lino and urged Mb soldiers on. At the end of the day he was exhausted, and fainted. The Serb novelist, Mylan Uskokovich, committed suicide. He left a letter stating that he was unable to survive the Serbians' death. Their fate was too unjust, and they deserved a better lot.

THE BATTLE AT KOSSOVO. ! HEAVY FIGHTING. London, Nov. 29. The Times' Paris correspondent says that the British' have taken over tiie Doiran-Kutchorino section from the French, and that the Serbians arc concentrating in the Kossovo region. Rome, Nov. 29. The battle at Kossovo continues. The Bulgarian losses are colossal, and fugitives affirm that 30,000 wounded have reached Sofia. King Peter, despite his grave illness, has insisted on going to the fighting line several times, and declares that he will din by his own hand. All the State archives have been burned. A fresh struggle for the possession of Krushevo has begun, and, being reinforced, the Bulgarians are attacking the harassed Serbians. Salonika, Nov. 29. German cavalry have appeared before Veles. Advices from Jlonastir state that on Thursday the situation was improved. Four thousand recruits have joined the garrison, and a French battery had arrived, co-operating with the Serbians in the direction of Ferlepe,

REPORTS FROM BUCHAREST. GREEK CONCESSIONS. Received Nov. 30, 0.50 p.m. London, Nov. 30. The Daily Telegraph's Eome correspondent reports that at Bucharest there is an intense interventionist agitation, and a fresh demonstration in the capital against Austro-Germany. The correspondent adds: We must not yet believe reports of Kussian operations against Bulgaria. It may be necessary to wait a month, as Russia can only operate with colossal forces. A further l. r >0,00(!) Russian's are marching to the Roumanian frontier, where there are already five army corps. The correspondent also reports that the Greek Cabinet discussed the second Note from the Allies, and resolved to propose .that the military concession should be examined by a Greek and Franco-British commission. The King has approved of this, and meanwhile Greece is not sending troops to Salonika.

NOTES FROM ATHENS. FRIENDLY SETTLEMENT EXPECTED. SNOW ON THE FRONT. Received Nov. 30, 7.50 p.m. London, Nov. 29. A semi-official message from Athens states that Greece has replied lo the Entente in friendly terms that are expected to pave the way to the desired settlement. Negotiations continue. The Bnlgars are marching to Monastir and have crossed the Carrason River. Snow has stopped operations on the Franco-British front. ROUMANIAN PARLIAMENT OPENED. THE KING'S SPEECH. Received Nov. 30, 9.50 p.m. Bucharest, Nov. 30. King Ferdinand, in opening Parliament, said: "The war which is now drenching the world in blood continues with increasing bitterness; Our duty is *o unite, in our efforts for the defence of Roumania's interests. Parliament must face the present difficult conditions. I have full confidence in the future of Roumania."