THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

ANGLO-FRENCH. DECISIVE BATTLE SHORTLY. London, Dec. 12. Reports continue to arrive describing the and Austro-German concentration on the Strumnitza for one of the most decisive battles of the war, in which the enemy is making a supreme effort to drive tack the Allies or compel a retirement by encircling them. Meanwhile the situation on the AngloFrench front is unchanged. A French communique states that the Bulgarians, on the 10th, attacked the entire French front, particularly on the extreme left. All the attacks failed. Some German newspapers profess to question the wisdom of advancing on Salonika, declaring that it will cost several army corps. The enemy shouM be content to wait outside Greece, but advance if the Allies attempt an offensive from Salonika. Eeuter's Athens correspondent states that it is considered 50,000 men would I suffice to hold Salonika, if it is lield merely to close the outlet to the Aegean.

SHATTERED SERBIAN ARMY.

WAITING FOR ASSISTANCE. Home, Deo. 12. King Peter, the Government, Serbian Headquarters, and two divisions of the army have arrived at Scutari. The rest of the 200,000 troops are encamped on the slopes of the Albanian mountains facing the Adriatic, between Scutari and Durazzo, -where they may be revictualled by Italy. The Serbians were forced to abandon their field guns at Ljuma and all carts and waggons, as the mountains were only passable for horses and mules. Among the killed at Kragujevatz was the famous eomitadji leader Tankossich, who was accused of organising the murder of the Archduke at Serajevo. Tan,kossich assisted in the desperate defence of Belgrade, and finally fell with the last of 200 volunteers. Tragic tales are told of the sufferings of retreating civilians. Famished dogs, wolves and vultures are preying on the bodies of men, women and children, who have died on the mountain pathways. The wives of several Serbian members of Cabinet tramped to the Greek frontiers on foot.

A BULGARIAN REPORT. OP GREAT SUCCESS. London, Dec. 12, A Bulgarian communique states that the Franco-British, though desperately resisting, are hastily evacuating their position under great pressure, and we are pursuing on both banks of the Vardar, We have arrived southward of the railway station at Mirovos and are advancing southward of Kostuaino, having reached Hudovo, which was formerly General Sarrail's headquarters. The French burnt the railway stations at Hudovo and Mirovos. We captured much French material, five British ma-chine-guns, and many rifles. Our losses are insignificant, but those of the enemy enormous. The enemy took with them in their retreat the entire population.

THE SPOILS.

AH/STRIA AND HUNGARY DISAGREE Zurich, Dec. 12. The question of administering occupied territory is causing dissension between the Austrian and Hungarian Governments, which is accentuated by rumors that the Austrian commander at Belgrade has ordered the Hungarian standard to be taken down. Count Tisza, questioned in the Hungarian Parliament, said he considered that Austria should administer Russian Poland and Hungary administer Serbia. M. VENIZELOS. HIS ARREST SUGGESTED. London, Dec. 12. The Athens correspondent of the Observer says that M. Gounaris, whose hatred of M. Venizelos knows no bounds, was so incensed by M. Venizelos' recent manilesto that -he proposed to arrest him on the ground of disrespect to the King. His colleagues rejected the proposal, fearing to increase M. Venizelos' prestige. GREECE AND BULGARIA. ! SALONIKA NOT TO BE ABANDONED.

Received Dee. 13, 9 p.m. London, Dec. 13. Reuter definitely announces that- the Allies will not quit Salonika. Mr. Donohoe, reporting from Athens, learns from the highest source that Greece is prepared to go to any lengths to prevent the Bulgarians, who are hereditary enemies, from setting foot on the -acred soil of Greece. Salonika reports that further British troops landed on [Friday.

A BULGARIAN OFFENSIVE. VIOLENT ATTACK DEVELOPING. Received Dee. 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 12. A Paris message declares that the Bulgarians are violently attacking the Kos-turino-Doiran sector, developing the attack on the Bong-Petrovo-Strumnitza-Hudovo line, and also against the eastern line held by the 'British.

THE BRITISH RETREAT.

SEVERE CASUALTIES. Received Dec. 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 12. The War Office states that the Tenth Division successfully retired towards Vaxdar, being forced to leave eight field.

AGAINST HEAVY ODDS.

GALLANTRY OF IRISH REGIMENTS. Received Dec. 13, 7.40 p.m. London, Dec. 12. A War Office communique states that after sustaining violent attacks by the enemy the Tenth Division, which was reinforced, retired in conjunction with the Allies to a strong position from Lake Doiran towards the Vardar Valley. The Division fought well against heavy odds, and the success of the withdrawal was largely due to tne gallantry of the Munster and 'Dublin Fusiliers' and the C'onnaught Rangers. Owing to the mountainous nature of the country it was necessary to place eight field-guns in positions from which it was impossible to withdraw them during the retirement. Our casualties were 150 Q.

FINE BRITISH STAND

IN DIFFICULT COUNTRY. Received Dec. 13, 10.40 p.m. London, Dee. 13. The difficulties of the fighting in Macedonia are described by Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters. Last week he visited Hill 516, embracing ten miles of the 'British front. The hill marks the junction of the Franco-British positions, the British being east of the (Doiran-Strumnit.za road, which is the only motor thoroughfare, the remainder being a goat track through hilly scrub country. The difficulties are illustrated by the fact that it took two hours to reach men a mile from the track. The French destroyed the tunnels, railway and bridgea as they withdrew. The Bulgars' first attack was not vigorous, but the second onslaught was more severe, and was made under cover of a dense mist, which prevented the accuracy of our long range field-guns. The Bulgars used mobile mountain guns, opening a murderous fire at close range. Exposed to this hot gruelling, and being threatened on the flank owing to the French retirement, our position was soon untenable, and the Irish division was withdrawn to a prepared second line. There was. much havonetinsr. wherein the Connaughts, Munaters, and Dublins were unsurpassed. Arrain and again the eenmy were driven off in a series of close encounters, but the enemy's superiority in numbers could not fail to predominate. While we were retiring to our second line the French abandoned the bridge-head at Gradetz and Hill 51fi. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of our stand. Had the Bulgarians pushed through they would have cut off the retreat of the main body of the French and British. Our new positions are now of great strength.

SALONIKA TO BE FORTIFIED. NOTICE TO GREEK GOVERNMENT. (Received Dec. 13, 11.30 p.m. 'Paris, Dec. 13. _ The French troops on Friday night retired, without fighting, on the SmokgieaDoiran line. Several Bulgarian attacks on 'Saturday were repulsed. The French newspaper L'Opinion states ,that General Sarrail has notified the Greek Government of his intention to fortify Salonika immediately. THE POSITION IN GREECE. CONFERENCES PROCEEDING. Received Dec. 13. ").5 p.m. *" London, Dec. 12. Conflicting reports continue to come from Salonika. Reuter transmits a sensatioHal statement published in Salonika that the Greek Staff officers are conferring with General Sarrail, and have informed the latter that in the event of the Bulgarians crossing the Greek frontier in pursuit of the Allies, trie Greek army would retire before the Bulgarians in order to avoid dangerous contact. An official communique published at At'henS to-day states that the pourparlers at Salonika between the Entente's and Greece's military leaders are now definitely approaching a satisfactory solution.

THE CLOUDS CLEARING,

IMPORTANT ANGLO-FRENCH AGREEMENT. EXPEDITION WILL NOT BE ABANDONED. Received Dec. 13, 7.20 p.m. Paris, Dec. 12. A highly important statement in Le Matin suggests that the clouds are clearing in the Near East. The AngloFrench have reached a complete agreement regarding the conduct of the campaign. Identical instructions, signed by Sir Edward Grey and M. Briand liave been sent to the Allies' representatives at Athens, and identical military orders, signed by General Joffre and Lord Kitchener, have been despatched to the commanders of the Anglo-French Eastern armies.

Le Matin comments upon this as a precedent of great importance. Never before in history have the Anglo-French acted as a single nation. There is no question of the Allies abandoning the Balkans expedition. King Oonstantine has already given proof of sentiments of a more reassuring nature, and only asks the Entente to permit Salonika to preserve its Greek character. If that is granted, King Constantine is willing to leave the field open for Anglo-French operations. GREEK PERIL CEASED. ALLIES' CONCESSIONS. The Entente has accepted King Constantine's point of view, noting liis assurances. It is certain that the railways will remain at the Allies' disposal. In view of the fact that the Bulgarians will probably not resist the temptation to secure reparation for the 1913 losses, in the event of their crossing the Greek frontier, it appears that the Allies considered it unwise to insist upon Greek demobilisation. The Allies, in return for the concessions, will permit the free resumption of Greek commerce between Greek and Allied ports. Le Matin declares that the Greek peril now ceases to exist. The British Ministers concerned have accomplished valuable and faithful work. Athens niewspapers announce that partial con-