BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1916, Page 5

BALKANS.

A SIGNIFICANT POSITION. TENSION BETWEEN BULGARS AND! HUNS, * Paris, Feb. 29. The Salonika correspondent of Le Petit Parisien says that there is significant news from Bulgaria. Anti-war meetings are held in the streets, the police are powerless, and the troops refuse to assist them. Some of the meetings demanded King Ferdinand's abdieation in favor of the Crown Prince and the. withdrawal of the Germans. The tension between the Germans and Bulgarians at Uskub Is extreme. The troops occupy separate banks of the Vardar and Bulgarian sentinels t,ti ordered to fire on Germans who attempt to cross. . . AUSTRO-GERMAN RULE. * REIGN OF TERROR. Times and Sydney Sun Services. •London, Feb. 29. In view of the prospects of developments in the Balkans, Mr. Calvert sends despatches confirming the accounts of Turko-Bulgar depression. It is specially interesting to note that the Germans flooded Turkey and Bulgaria with paper money, but the Turks and Bulgarians have discredited it. Traders refusing to accept it at its face value are fined and imprisoned. The result is that in Vama most of the shops are closed and the Bulgarians' economic conditions' are depi essed. Meat and bread, which were abundant and cheap before the Germans' entry, have quadrupled in price. The nation is quickly becoming demoralised and Is realising Germany's weakness as a protector regarding Graeco-Roumanian exploitation of Bulgaria's extremity. There is a dismal certainty that the greatest part of the Bulgarian army is tied to the Greek frontier, while 45,000 Germans garrison the cities and make an impressive show on the Roumanian frontier. The discussion of politics in Bulgaria is prohibited under severe penalties. The Austrian administration ot Serbia extends from the Morava valley to Croushevwz. They have taken, hostages from each city, thus guaranteeing the passivity of the population, and removed Serbian males, except artisans, from Belgrade, where no Serbs are allowed in the streets after sunset or on the trams without a permit. Austrian officers have brought their families to Belgrade. Hungarian speculators have forced the Serbs to nav extortionate prices and a Hungarian Jew has been appointed to assist the Mayor. Turkey is wailing under even worse extortions. A committee of Young Turks is monopolising supplies and requisitioning from the districts at small prices and reselling at fabulous profits, even doubling the prices of sugar and dry produce from Austria. The Young Turks are alarmed by the multiplying signs of popular resentment at the exactions. Vusuf's murderer has been arrested. The Moderates, including Riza Pasha, the President of the Chamber, Halil Bey, and Zia, a high functionary of the Grand Vizierate, and thirty officers have all been deported to Asia Minor, whence they are unlikely to return. IN SERBIA. AUCKLAND WOMAN'S EXPERIENCES Received March 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 29. Dr. Jessie Scott, of Auckland, and lately of the staff of the Scottish Women's Hospital in Serbia, has arrived in London in good health. She says she was well treated by the Germans and Austrians, and saw nothing to suggest that the Germans and Austrians are contemplating surrender. She was greatly impressed with their efficiency and 'equipment.

THE ALBANIAN THRONE. BULGARIA HAS AN OBJECTION. Received March ], 11.10 p.m. Sofia, March 1. Bulgaria has informed Austria that the reinstatement of Prince Wied on the Albanian throne is strongly objectionable.