THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

TANGLE STILL UNRAVELLED. GREECE'S PRO-GERJIAX REPLY. Received Dee. 1, 8.55 p.m. ' London, Nov. 30. All the European capitals are preoccupied with the Balkans tangle, and anxiety is intensified by the publication of the Greek reply to the Entente. This declares that Greece will maintain a benevolent neutrality so long as her sovereign rights are not infringed, and no restrictions of a military character will Ibe imposed; but it contends that Salonika and its railways arc in the hands of the Allies, and the Greek forces are therefore deprived of their only provisioning base. German newspapers are publishing extravagant articles, showing the attitude of pro-German Greeks.

A POLITICIAN'S BLUFF. A leading Athenian politician, interviewed, stated that King Constantine and General Dusmanis consider that Italy is even more dangerous than Bulgaria. Italy wants Epirus, and it is better that Turkey should hold Constantinople than Russia. If the FrancoBritish are driven back they will certainly be interned. There will be plenty of highly-placed personages in the army capable of being used as hostages, and if the Allies bombard the coasts of Greece we can shoot so many British and French officers and execute a certain number of soldiers for every Greek ship sunk. Enough Britishers will be captured to save Greece from bombardment.

ROUMANIA PATIENTLY WAITING. , TO COME IN WITH THE ALLIES. There is eevry indication that a crisis has been reached in Roumania, Diplomatic circles are optimistic that she will soon enter on the side of the Allies. The Bucharest correspondent of Le Temps states that the' Roumanian Government is only in disaccord and opposition as far as dates and methods are concerned. M. Bratiano is as convinced as M. Filipesco that Roumania must partake in the conflict. Experts at Rome have come to a similar conclusion as a result of the King of Roumanian speech, and believe that Roumania has decided to mobilise directly Russia moves.

MONASTIR ABANDONED. FRICTION BETWEEN BULGARS AND TURKS. THE SERBIAN RETREAT. Salonika, Nov. 30. The civil authorities abandoned Monastir on Saturday. It is reported that the Austi/j-Germans from Mitrovitza have jointyl up with the Bulgarians, and are now advancing on Monastir, where only 20 gendarmes and three army officers remain. The Serbians are retreating in good order. News from Sofia states that the assembling of Turkish troops in Thrace is viewed askance. Various frontier incidents are already reported between thfc Bulgars and Turks.

London, Nov. 30. The Daily Mail's Salonika correspondent says that the Serbian army at Kossovo has scattered. A portion has been captured and the remainder has reached Montenegro. The Serbians retreating to Monastir encountered enormous difficulties, chiefly from the comittajis (irregular Bulgarian forces).

Salonika, Nov'. 30. Nearly 80,000 Serbian troops have taken refuge in Montenegro and Albania and are preparing to reconstitute their forces. It is hoped that 30,000 will make a junction with the Serbians in the Monastir region.

THE RETREAT FROM MONASTIR. PITIABLE CONDITION OP REFUGEES STORY FROM MR. DONOHOE. Received Dec. 1, 8.55 p.m. London, So v. 30. Mr. Martin Donohoe, from Athens, announces the fall of Monastir. The Serbs are withdrawing without fighting, in order to avoid useless bloodshed. The Greek and Roumanian Consuls, the Greek Patriarch, and the Bulgarian Exarch, who have been appointed to negotiate the surrender, have gone to Bulgarian headquarters.

The Freneli on Sunday were fighting at Gradsko, cast of Krivolak. The Serbs are retreating' in good order, in two bodies, one heading for Albania and the other for Montenegro. Heavy snowstorms continue.

Fiorina is crowded with refugee?, who are in a pitiable state, mothers carrying their infants who have died from cold and hunger.

The Greeks have sent urgent appeals to Salonika for food and clothing for the destitute refugees.

RUSSIAN INVASION. OF BULGARIA, A WARNING TO GREECE. Bucharest, Nov. 30. The impending Russian invasion has caused consternation among the people of Bulgaria. Four German battalions are at Rustchuk. Bulgarian troops at Varna and Dedeagatch have returned to the Do'brudja frontier. Athens, 'Nov. 30. The Government journal Neonasti states that the Central Powers have declared that they will consider whether they ought to respect Greece's neutrality, in the event of M. Sltouloudis yielding to the Entente's demands.

NOT VERY LIKELY. A STORY FROM BRISBANE. Received Dec. 1, 10.50 p.m. Brisbane, Deo. 1. The Governor announces that he has received a cable from Mr. Bonar Law to the effect that Germany was not going to continue war against Serbia,