THE FATE OF MONTENEGRO.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1916, Page 4

THE FATE OF MONTENEGRO.

The overwhelming of Montenegro by the Austrians ig a disaster that will evoke the most profound regret, for the Montenegrins—a country of warriors—have ''??> i firm in their adherence to the cause

of the Allies, and their loyalty lias cost them dearly. They have been practically left to their fate, for no effective aid was forthcoming on the part of the Allies, on whom the' Montenegrins naturally pinned their faith. The capture oi Mount Lovtchen, which commands Cuttinje, made the position of Monte•negro desperate, and the capital was transferred to Podgoritza, which is protected hy a number of forts, though in these days forts are a slender reed upon which to lean for protection. According to Signor Barzilai, Italian Minister of State, the responsibility for the fall of Lovtchen was due to the Allies' failure to settle on a common far-6eeing programme in the Balkans, but the fact reniains'-that had Italy sent even a small force to Montenegro sbo, could not only have saved the country, but would at the same time have safeguarded her (lank. It must, however, be remembered that the Montenegrin ports of Antlvari and Dulcigno, as well as the Albanian port of Giovanni di Medua, winch would have had to be used as bases, arc open roadsteads, where transports could, and probably would, have been attaeked by Austrian cruisers and submarines. The Austrians had, we are told In the cables, sent two Dreadnoughts and four large submarines (the latter 'being sent from Germany in sections and put together at Pola) lo Cattaro, with j the intention 'of using them against Durazzo. Was it possible for the Anglo- J French forces to come to the assistance! of Montenegro? Apparently not. The position at Salonika seems to demand all their attention and resource?, for en the safety of that base depends the future of the Balkans, and the Allies cannot afford to take any risks, especially In view of the threatened attack thereon by the enemy. If the question arose (as probably it did) whether Montenegro | or Salonika was to be sacrificed, there s could be one answer to the questionSalonika is the key of the Allies' position and must be defended at all cost, even at that of Montenegro. It is hard for the Montenegrins, but they doubtless realise that the Allies' business is to crush Bulgaria and drive the Austro-Geraana out of tho Balkans, as well as faeilitate the advance of the Italians into Galicia. The Montenegrins have done all that could be expected of them, and they deserved a better fate, but their time will come. The occupation of Montenegro by the Austrians may well be regarded as a bitter experience of the Montenegrins, but it will not affect the plans of the Allies to any serious extent, though it may prove a great disadvantage to th o Italians. On them appears to rest in a large measure the responsibility of the disaster. The one pleasing feature is that Montenegro will not conclude a separate peace. In coming to that decision she has taken the right action, and thereby advanced a further claim on the Allies for favorable treatment when the war comes to an end.