THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

THE GRECIAN SITUATION. ALLIES' DEMANDS NOT ACCEPTABLE. A VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY. Received Dec. 2, 7.20 p.m. London, Dec. 1. The Daily! News' Pionie correspondent states that Greece has notified the Allies that their demands that Greece should evacuate Salonika and that the Allies assume surveillance of the coast are unacceptable, and practically amount to :i violation of Greece's neutrality. The correspondent adds that Greece's hesitation is due to the Austro-German threat that the territory occupied by the Anglo-French would be considered enemy territory if Greece acceded to the Allies' demands.

RUSSIAN INVASION BEGUN. TWO VILLAGES CAPTURED. Received Dec. 2, 8.5 p.m. Rome, Dee. 2. II Corriere della Sera states that the Russians have invaded Bukowina and captured Hadagora and Mashala. The Russian concentration on the Danube continues. The Roumanians are concentrating more troops on the Austrian frontier. AN AUSTRIAN REPORT. REMNANTS OF SERBIAN ARMY CAPTURED. CAMPAIGN CONCLUDED. Received Dec. 2, 7.55 p.m. Sofia, Dec. 1.

A communique says: We captured seventeen thousand prisoners, the remains of the Serbian army, and took fifty field guns and howitzers and much material. This will probably end the campaign against Serbia. BRIBES TO ROUMANIA. THE GERMAN TEMPTER. Received Dec. 2, 7.30 p.m. London, Dec. 2. From Athens, Mr. Donohoe reports that despite M. Bratiano's reiteration of the neutrality of Ronmania, it is believed that the renewed Austro-German influences have in some degree been successful, as a result of the tempting territorial offers dangled before M. Bratiano.

TROUBLED WATERS. THE FEELING IN ROUMANIA. Bucharest, Dec. 1. Mines are being laid in the Roumanian waters of the lower Danube, While reading his speech to Parliament the King was obliged to pause, owing to Opposition members crying: "Down with Germany and Hungary; lead us into Transylvania." Ministerialists tried to drown the shouts with cheers. ITEMS FROM THE TIMES. TURKS TO DEFEND BULGARIA. Time 3 and Sydney Sun Services. Received Dec. 2, 5.5 p.m. London, Dee. 1. The Paris press has received reports from Salonika that German aviation stations have been organised along the Bulgarian coast, and learns authoritatively that 120,000 Turks will be sent to the defence of Bulgaria. BLUFFING ROUMANIA. Fifty thousand Austro-Germans are arriving at Rustehuk, where a concentration is intended to impress Roumanin, who has closed the Danube to the Bulgar frontier, claiming the right to police the river. The Times' correspondent at Bucharest says that large supplies of munitions have arrived at Rustehuk, in seven rtucks drawn by locomotives. Quarters have been prepared for the Austro-Ger-mans in schools and public buildings. Roumania insists upon Roumanian pilots boarding vessels.

RELIEF OF ARMENIANS. Tlie Berlin press snvs that the General Staff has assured the Germans that Christians will make humanitarian efforts to relieve the Armenians. CONFLICTING REPORTS. There are conflicting messages from Bucharest. The Danish press asserts that Roumania has notified Russia of her earnest wish to remain neutral, and consequently will not allow the Russian navy to enter the Danube. She further emphasises the'danger of mines. Pro-Germans in Roumania are forming a so-called patriotic league, the programme 'being the conquest of Bessiara!bia and joining the Central Powers. M. Maghiloman and other ex-Ministers have joined it. The Paris press asserts that there tS every reason for optimism that the entry of Roumania with the Allies is assured.

I Le Temps' correspondent at Bucharest states that the German Minister recently remarked: "I am less considered liere than the representative of Montenegro."

Other telegrams announce that Port Kola is being enlarged, and a shipment of munitions to Roumania is beeing arranged; also the transportation of Russian munitions and goods across the railway. ;