THE BALKANS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 18 December 1912, Page 5

THE BALKANS

CABLE_NEWS (United Press Association — By ffl-ec-tric Teleoraph—Copyright.)

PEACE CONFERENCE OPENED. THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS. (Received Last Night, 9.25 o'clock.) LONDON, December 17. The Peace Conference opened today. Renter states that the delegates discussed the Turkish attitude towards Greece, and there is reason to believe that the difficulty created by Greece's refusal to *sign the armistice* has been overcome. The. Telograph states that a pessimistic feeling prevails amongst tho envoys. It says that the question of questions is ' the. Turko-Bulgarian frontier, in connection with which thp Turks and Buhiarimis are hopelessly at loggerheads. The nv.lv hope i.s that the Powers can sugirost a method of spanning the difficulty. GR.EETT AND TURK. TWO HOURS' NAVAL ENGAGE- . MENT. (Received Lost Night, 11.35 o'clock.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Doc. 17. The Turkish and Greek souadrons had a two hours' engagement at tKo entrance to the Dardanelles. From official .recounts both, sides claim tho victory. Tb o Turks state that shots were exchanged from 3500 yds to 8000 yds; three or four projectiles struck the Georgios'iveroff and' silenced her heavy ornns. The latter continued the battle after !?rfns<*rts.t retired, and then followed. The Greeks <,:iy tho Turks were sheltered by the forts, but after an hour retired, in disorder within tho Dardanelles.

WITNESSES' STATEMENT. (Received Last Night 11.35 o'clock.) ATHENS, December 17. Passengers on a Russian steamer witnessed the engagement, and state that two Turkish ships were seriously damaged.