ORDERLY BRITISH RETREAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1915, Page 5

ORDERLY BRITISH RETREAT.

ARTILLERY IN GREEK TERRITORY. GERM ASS OCCUPY A TOWN, Received Dec. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec, 11. The war correspondent, Mr. M. Donohoe, cabling from Athens on the evening of the 9th, says that the Allies continue to retreat in good order. A quantity of artillery is already in Greek territory, and wounded in large numbers are arriving at the frontier station of Ghcvgeli. The fighting is of a most severe nature, the Allies repulsing furious attacks. The French rearguard heavily engaged the attackers, including German cavalry. Heavy German concentration is reported to be in progress at Uskub, Philipopolis and Salonika. It is reported that General von Gallwitz with Germans occupied Ghevgeli on the morning of the 10th. Amsterdam, Dec. 11. A Bulgarian communique says: "We captured ten British guns southward of Strumnitza." ITALIANS LAND AT VALONA. Paris, Dec. 10. Advices from Rome state thai the Italians are busy landling troops- at Valona, in Albania, to proceed to the .assistance of the Serbians. HEAVY FIGHTING. London, Dec. 10. Mr. Donohoe writes from Athens:— "The Anglo-French on Wedneaday fiercely attacked a large Bulgar force on the Blagucha plateau. The enemy attacked the French flank, but the iatter changed front to meet the onslaught. The Bulgarians encountered the British at Salandovo. The British repulsed four attacks, decimating the Bulgars. Heavy reinforcements .in the evening threatened the British right." GRANNY TIMES AGAIJT. London. Dec. 10. The Times states that if the Bulgarians have really annihilated a French battalion at Petrovo they will ibe behind the French, and there is a risk that they may cut the railway on which the main body of the French is depending. It cannot be denied that both the British and the French are likely to have great difficulty in extricating themselves.

ELECTIONS IN GREECE. TRICKING OF VENIZELOS. ' KING EXCEEDS HIS POWER. Received Dec. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 11. The Times correspondent at Athens gives particulars of an important statement by M. Venizelos, which was submitted to King Constantine and published with his permission, though tlTe King is not in personal agreement with it. M. Venizelos states that it is not a fact that the Graeco-Serbian treaty exonerated Greece from rendering assistance if Serbia was attacked by other Powers in addition to Bulgaria. The treaty was absolutely binding for Greece. It was a political mistake of great magnitude to abandon Serbia to her fate, as it leaves Greece at the mercy of a strengthened brutal Bulgaria. Greece had a great opportunity at a small risk of liberating the Greeks in Turkey and of building up a greater Greece, including parts of Asia Minor, Thrace, and Cyprus. King Constantine doubtless felt the danger was 1 too great, ; but the constitution does not give the King the right to override his Ministers and Parliament.

'Tt is untrue to say I favor a republic, ' M. Venizelo3 adds. "Fiftythree Venizelist deputies are wit'; the colors, and twenty-five Ministerial deputies were also mobilised. Th? Venizelists were offered six days' leave at election time, while the Ministerial deputies were given full leave. Consequently the Venizelist majority was extinguished immediately after the elections. The Government also offered their supporters in the army leave to vote, while refusing it to my supporters. Hence the comedy was too great, W . and m y P ar ty were obliged to protest by our absence at the elections!"

UNCENSORED DESPATCHES,

GREECE PREPARING FOR RESISTANCE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. T . London, December 10. Uncensored despatches from Greece emphasise that Greece i s preparing military resistance to the armed Allied compulsion if necessary, also resistance to the blockade. Reports agree that preparations against, a commercial blockade have been carried out with the utmost rapidity and on the largest scale. German agents state that the chief Greek commercial sea routes are thoroughly protected by submarines. The seizure of Captain Wilson and Colonel Napier was probablj intended as a dramatic coup which would revive the waverin° Greek confidence in the campaign bv German submarines, which Greek treachery and espionage are rendering possible.

The pro-German press in Athens is teeming with Austro-Oerman interviews with General von Hindenberg and other military men, promising that England's turn to feel the weight of German anger lias now arrived. These factors have combined to render Greece less anxious to agree with the Allies' requirements. King Constantine and M. Skouloudis are temporising until the German preparations make it safe for Greece to come in on the German side, while every possible aunoyance is placed in the way of the Allies at Salonika. Messina, the Adriatic coast and Sicily are alive with submarines, who are stopping Greek steamers between Patras and Mussina and arresting British travellers. The first British subjects captured on Saturday are likely to lead to diplomatic intervention. German spies in Athens undoubtedly succeeded in ascertaining the status of the travellers and the loute of their steamer, communicating the information to the enemy's base. A submarine was waiting in the steamer's tra?k 120 miles from Patras. The submarine's action in the case of the Spetzia was utterly illegal, as there is no blockade existing. A big German iubmarias 1» flying the Austrian