THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

AT TURKEY'S THROAT. A BULGAR DREAM, i I Paris, Jan, 23. ' Scnor Ibero, a Spanish publicist, in an article in the Echo de Paris, quotes a prominent official of the Turkish Foreign Office as saying that the Turko-Rulgari-an treaty was signed with the Biilgar sword at Turkey's throat. The treaty provides for the eventual P.nlgarian occupation of Salonika, while Turkey will be 'Compensated on the Aegean coast to Kavalla, inclusively, lieside:! the retrocession of the recentlyceded territories. The Bulgarians, nevertheless, still dream of becoming m»,sV}a\ ai Constantinople. PRO-AUSTRIANS ACTIVE IN' THE BALKAN'S Times and Sydney Sun Services. Rome, Jan. 23. The press advises caution in accepting Montenegrin assertions, pointing out the .extreme smallness of the casualties at Lovtchen. King Nicholas has not vet given proof of his actual intentions. Vienna is officially silent, but unofficially claims the ultimate success of the proAustrian party in Montenegro. They suggest that Montenegro anil Serbia should be n joint kingdom under King Nicholas. Various European capitals describe Austro-Oerman atlempts to raise up a pro-Austrian party in Serbia.

GREEK NEUTRALITY. riOW THE FRENCH MEW IT. London, Jan. 23. A French wireless communique, commenting on the interview of a representative of the Associated Press of Now York with King Constantino, points out that the Allies vent to Salonika at the request of Greece, and adds: "For the last, few months the Greek Government has allowed her neutrality to he violated by Germans "i;d Austrians, wlio have used her cor.sts i:nil islets for submarine bnses. :\n entire German stafl' was found in Corfu on the eve of the Frerch disembarkation. From these coasts and islets the pirate; were sent out who 'ank the Ancona.

FALLEN FLAT TIN'O'S APPEAL TO AMERICA. New York, Jan. 23. King Constantino's appeal to the United States has fallen tint. The newspapers are unsymp:ithotk-, reminding him that the Allies came virtually at Greece's invitation. BULGARIANS NEED. FOOD, NOT "BLOW." Salonika, Jan. 23. The Kaiser's visit to Nish has not inspired the Bulgarian troops with equanimity or energy. They would prefer less rejoicing and more food. Deserters state that the, army is almost without bread. ' r MORE BLUFrv '7 '. THE MONTENEGRIN SITUATION. Amsterdam, Jan. 23. Austria professes to regard the Montenegrin surrender as a fact, and has notified Montenegrin commanders that the Austrians have begun the march to the interior to disarm troops aa a preliminary to further peace negotiations. The Austrians threaten penalties agfcinst objectors. The Cologne Gazette, which recently haughtily commented on England's efforts to starve an empire stretching from Arras to Bagdad, says that the King of Montenegro will find means of compelling his rebellious soldiers to acquiesce in the surrender. It adds: "An effectual auxiliary is starvation, however modest the Montenegrins' claims in the matter of food." EKODUS OF SERBIAN WOMEN. Rome, Jan. 23. Mr. Corillard, American Minister in Serbia, has arrived and declared that he embarked 2300 Serbian women and children on Italian steamers for San Giovanni. Austrian submarines vainly endeavored to torpedo the vessels without giving, warning. KING. NICHOLAS IN ITALY. Borne, Jan. 23. The Montenegrin Consul-General confirms King Nicholas' arrival with Prince Peter at Brinclisi. Ho is joining the Queen and Princesses at Lyons. General Mirko, with three members of the Government, remains organising the dedefences. BREAKING THE NEWS GENTLY. Amsterdam, Jan. 23. The Frankfurter Zeitung admits that some difficulties have arisen in the negotiations. Other journals are gently breaking the news of the collapse of negotiations. AN AUSTRIAN COMPLAINT. Amsterdam, Jan. 23. Tlie Koelnische Volks Zeitung says that owing to the Montenegrin Minister having quitted Cettinje, Austria cannot negotiate. She has ordered all arms to be surrendered within 30 hours, otherwise the military will take steps. SERBIA GETTING READY. FOR AN OFFENSIVE. Received Jan. 24. 9.5 p,.X London, Jan. 23. Milan reports that tlie American Minister in Serbia, in an interview, stated that, within six months the Serbian force will be ready, and splendidly equipped for on offensive*

SERBIA UNCONQUERABLE. ■- A FIGHT TO THE DEATH. ■ Received Jan, 2-1, 9.5 p.m. London, Jan. 23. Mr. Dqiioboe, In the Daily Chronicle, stater, that lie interviewed M. Passiteh at Corfu. M, Passiteh said that Serbia was unconquerable, and would never be beaten while a dozen Serbs remained alive to handle rifles. ''The Ausiro-Ormans and Bulgars," he said. "have, combined to trample out our national existence, but I can tell our enemies that they cannot beat Serbia although they slay our people."

MONTENEGRO'S BAD LUCK. LOSS OF MONEY AND MEN. Received Jan. 24, fl.'S p.m. Rome, Jan. 23. The torpedoing of the transport Tirindisi, in the Adriatic on January 12. was a crowning disaster, as the vessel was the Montenegrins' last hope. She was bringing a million francs of gold and much food and ammunition. Had she arrived she would have prevented the capture of Lovtehcn. All American pascngers, and also 400 Montenegrins, were lost. A CUTE BLUFF. PLAYINC FOR DELAY. Received Jan. 24, .">.."> p.m. Rome, Jan. 23. The Montenegrin Premier's communique, explaining the Montenegrin mystery, says that the exchange of communications with the Austrian army became necessary after the fall of Lovtehcn and Cettinje. The negotiations fov the suspension of hostilities had the sole object of giving time to assure the retreat of the Montenegrins and their evacuation towards Podgoritza and Scutari, while it also avoided the other Montenegrin forces being impeded on distant f.ouls and gave the Serbians a chance to reach Alession and Dnrazzo. Tims Austria was delayed for at least a week.

Tlie Montenegrins under General Vukotichs continue to struggle with the enemy, with the object of joining the Serbian army.

Lyons press correspondents state thai the loss of Lovtchen was due exclusively to the want of food and munitions, Austrian submarines blew up the transports. The negotiations for an armistice enabled King Nicholas to organise the final resistance.

THE LIE DIRECT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Jan. 21, 5.5 p.m. London. .lan. 23. The Montenegrin Consul-General at Rome states that there never have been pra-.'e negotiations with Austria, and he emphatically denies tlie capitulation lie. KING CONSTANTINE'S FIX WHOM WILL HE CHOOSE? Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Jan. 24, 5.5 p.m. London, June 23. Mr, G. Crawfurd Price had an interview with King Constantino, who said he was displeased at Greece being a battle ground for foreign arms. Mi-. Price asked: Do you not admit a certain justification for our recent actions, however distasteful they may be to you? King Constantino: Yes and no, You could choose some other place in which to re-form the Serbian army rather than violate the neutrality you guaranteed, like Belgium. I am willing to do all I can to help the Serbians, provided I am approached in a proper manner. I object to you over-riding us roughshod. We would li'avo got rid of tlie consuls if you had asked us. I recognise the necessity for the destruction of the Demirhissar railway in tbo event of a hostile advance, but there is no object in the present cutting off of our military communications. There has been a studied attempt to do everything unpleasantly, and our treatment has been in every way unjustifiable. I have given my personal word that there would be no hostility to the Allies, and therefore a further assurance is not demandablc, as neither the Government nor the army' will do anything without my authority.' Mr. Price adds: Germany has strongly protested against the seizure of Corfu, •and is holding Greece responsible for the taking of the Kaiser's palace. King Constantine is squeezed on both sides, but is unlikely to depart from lii 6 policy of neutrality.