THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1916, Page 4

THE BALKANS.

Sews from the Balkans still 'bears the appearance of a tangled Aveb, the un-1 ravelling of "which will involve patience, cotirage and tactical skill. Montenegro has furnished a succession of surprises. After a very short and apparently halfhearted resistance, Cettinje was captured by the enemy, and at first it was reported that the. Montenegrins would not sign a separate peace. Then came the news that.they had asked for an armistice, only to he met with a demand tor unconditional surrender. Now it ippears that the Anstro-flermans terms liuvc been rejected, as it was considered tliey would induce Montenegro to absolute vassalage, aiul the army seem determined to fight to the bitter end, the latest news stating that fighting has again become general in Montenegro, and that thousands of Montenegrin troops are joining the Serbians. if [lie Montenegrins follow the retreating lac-tics of the Serbians and join up with the Allies it will materially help their cause, It is obvious that for them to fight vastly superior forces as those possessed by the enemy would be to court b crushing defeat, while by allowing the enemy to over-run the country until the Allies come upon the scene and adjust nutters, is their only chance of ultimate reinstatement. Tho position in flreece seems to be one oi anxiety, and King Constantine is still blowing hot and cold. According to Mr. Jeffries, tho Herman attitude, has greatly changed, and they, too, are altering their tone. It is now dawning on their superior intelligence that the Allies mean business in the Balkans, and that the Salonika bnse is 110 joke, but a, grim reality, possessing all the possibilities for a turning movement that will tend to the more speedy termination of the war. The latest from Boutnania is to the effect that the rail-sitting policy is still being enacted with the view of safety. "No war, or war on the side of the Allies," is the present sentiment of the nation, but the une essential required by Koumania is that she must be sure that she is on the winning side before casting in her lot, with the Allies. Meanwhile the Allied fleets are bombarding tile Bulgarian ports, and performing useful service in destroying Austrian warcrat't. Although the enemy has met with success hitherto in this region, the preparations now being made by tlicAllies indicate that when the time for 11 forward move arrives it will find them ready to carry out the important programme that lias been agreed upon. The appointment of fieneral Sarrail to the supreme command is evidence that the campaign is to lie carried on with exceptional energy when it starts, and the outlook is certainly sufficiently promising to imbue the Allies with every confidence of complete sueces^