THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

AT A NEW THEATRE. ALLIED TROOPS ARRIVE. Athens, Jan. 3. "ho press reports that thirty transports, full of Allied troops, have arrived in the Gulf of Orphano, in the Aegean Sea, on the southern coast of Macedonia, and have begun to disembark. THE CONSULAR ARRESTS. GREECE ALARMED. Salonika, Jan. 3. The Allies 'continue to make numerous arrests of Germans. Athens, Jan. 3. The Government is embarrassed at the Consuls incident, inasmuch as the Central Powers have threatened to demand the j'C]:!Vs< natives' passports unless full satisfaction Is obtained from the Allies. The Chamber has been hurriedly convened for January 17. The air raid and arrests of the Consuls at Salonika have caused a commotion. It is regarded as a commencement of hostilities in Greek territory. It is expected that General Maekenseii will succeed in persuading the Bulgars to enter Greece.

PROTECTING SALONIKA. USE OF SERBIAN ARMY CONSIDERED. Paris, Jan. 3. The Allies are taking action to prevent air attacks on Salonika. The utilisation of the Serb army here is being considered. It is reported at Sofia that as a reprisal for the arrest of the Consuls at Salonika tile Government has decided to arrest the officials of the British, French and Serbian Legations who remained at Sofia When their chiefs left. The Hellenic Government has protested against arrests of its subjects on suspicion of espionage. BETWEEN TWO STOOLS. KING COXSTANTINE'S ATTITUDE. London, Jan. 3. _ King Constantine says: "The fierce light that still beats upon a throne is concentrated twenty-fold upon my actions. It is not a neutral light either. But my opinions and pledges have not been modified because I am a man of honor. I want to get this firmly into the heads of the London editors and the minds of the English people. It is said that Greece, after the final victory, which the Allies regard »9 already theirs, will be sent to Coventry and forfeit the friendship of the Entente. I cannot help that. My duty is to be neutral. I do not desire to join either belligerent. I am convinced that it is in the best interests of Greece to stand aloof. Speaking dispassionately, I cannot see that any military result achieved up till today will justify the Entente's belief in a final crushing victory. Frankly, I say, as a soldier, that I would view witl alarm the prospect of attacking Germany, not because of my relationship to the Kaiser, but simply because Germany has proved herself a powerful military nation. With still greater apprehension would I view the prospect of attacking England, knowing that she could blow my coast towns about my ears and put a speedy end to Greek commerce."

King Constantine is of opinion that the Bulbars will not cross the frontier, but if they did they would depart uneffectually after the operations against the Allies. He saw no reason for the Allies remaining at Salonika. He could understand it while there was still a possibility of aiding Serbia, but that had failed. He did not expect an offensive on either side is the Balkans. He paid a tribute to the heroism and tenacity of the troops at the Dardanelles, hut added that if the Allies had listened to the counsels of those who understood the difficulties better they would not have gone there.

KING PETER. LANDING! AT SALONIKA. 'Paris, Jan. 2. Companies of Greek infantry, as a guard of honor, awaited King Peter at Salonika, hut were withdrawn on King Peter declining a ceremonious reception. He landed quietly from a boat at tho Serbian Consulate grounds, and few witnessed the pathetic disembarkation of the ailing monarch,

BELGRADE NOW NORMAL. THE SAVE BRIDGKI Vienna, Jun. 3. A bridge was opened over the Save, near Belgrade, on (Friday, re-establish-ing railway communication with Turkey and Bulgaria. It is claimed that Belgrade is in a normal condition and that most of the inhabitants have returned. KAISER'S VILLA AT CORFU. AS A SERBIAN HOSPITAL. Received Jan. t, 5.5 p.m. Athens, Jan. 3. The British military authorities notified Greece of their intention to occupy | 'the Kaiser's magnificent villa at Corfu as a hospital for wounded Serbians. AUSTRIAN CAMPS BOMRFD. EN EM MASSED NEAR ROUMANIA. Received Jan. 4, 9.35 p.m. Athens, Jan. 4. French aeroplanes successfully bombed the. Austrian camp 3 at Ghevgeli. Rome, Jan. 4. II Corriere d'Ralia's Petrograd correspondent says that half a million AustroGermans are near the Routnaniaa Ironties*

ADVANCE ON ALBANIA. AUSTRIANS CHECKED BY MONTENEGRINS. Received Jan. 4, 8.50 p.m. London, Jan. 3. Mr. Beaumont, writing from Milan, says that the Bulgarian troops are rushing forward from Qehrida towards Albania in the centre and the south, whilst the Austro-Germans' eolu,mn is seeking to penetrate from the north. Owing to the impossibility of conveying heavy" artillery the Austrians arc sending mountiun guns. The Bulgarian objective is Valona, and that of the Austrians is Durazzo. Only a few Bulgarian troops will ge left to guard against an Anglo-French attack. Meanwhile the Austrian army is held in check by the Montenegrins at Sanjak, nnd has been repulsed at V'aicino and Batcova. The Italians have not yet got into contact with the Austrians in Albania. NORWEGIAN CONSUL ARRESTED. Received Jan. 4, 11:25 p.m. Athens, Jan. 4. The Norwegian Consul was the neutral arrested.