PEACE CONGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 302, 18 December 1912, Page 5

PEACE CONGRESS.

PESSIMISTIC ENVOYS.

ALREADY AT LOGGERHEADS. ON FRONTIER QUESTION. INTERVENTION SOUGHT. TROUBLE WITH GREECE. (By Cable.-Press Association.— (Received 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 17. The Peace Conference has adjourned until Thursday to enable the Turkish delegates to receive authority from their Government to sit with the Greek delegates, whose Government resused to sign the armistice. The informal meeting of the Ambassadors of the Powers has opened. The "Daily Telegraph" says that there is a pessimistic feefiug amongst the envoys. The question of questions is that of the Turco-Buigarian frontier in regard to which the Turks and Bulgarians are hopelessly at loggerheads. The only hope, it is stated, is in the possibility of the Powers being able to | suggest a method of overcoming the diffi- ! culty. h Reuters Agency states that the delegates have discussed the Turkish attitude towards Greece, and that there is reason to believe that the difficulty created by Greece not signing the armistice has been overcome. MORE SEA FIGHTING. OFF THE DARDANELLES. BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY. CONSTANTINOPLE, December 17. The Turkish and Greek naval squadrons havp had a two hours' engagement at the entrance to the Dardanelles. Official accounts state that both sides claim victory. The Turks state that snots were exchanged from a distance ranging from 3.500 to 8,000 yards. Three or four projectiles struck Greek cruiser Averofff and silenced her heavy guns. The vessel continued the battle after her consorts retired, and then followed. The Greeks say that the Turks eheltered under the forts, but that after an hour they reti.ed in disorder within the Dardanelles. Five men (including three on the Averoff) were slightly wounded. A report from Athens states that tht ] passengers on a Russian steamer witnessed the engagement. They state that two of the Turkish ships were seriouslydamaged. THE PROCHASKA INCIDENT. CONSUL UNHARMED. (Received 11.15 a,nu) VIENNA, December 17. M. Edl (Austrian vConsul), who was deputed to inquire into the alleajed detention and mutilation of M. Prochaska, reports that the Consul was not illtreated, and that the earlier reports were unfounded. The charges that shots were fired from the Consulate were untrue. Mr Edl found that the Servians on several occasions adopted an incorrect attitude towards the Consulate, for which satisfaction is demanded. THE COMMITTEE OF UNION. ITS MEMBERS RELEASED. (Received 10-5 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, December 17. Nearly all the members of the Committee of Union and Progress, recently arrested, have been released. DIVISION IN TURKEY. 'WAR PARTY DOMINANT. NEW ARMY MOBILISING. (Received 2.5 p-m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, December 17. Almost an open breach is reported , between Kiamil Pasha (the Grand Vizier) I and Nazin> Pasha (( ommander-in-Chiof). The latter has acquired control of the foreign policy through thn military party, which pressps for a renewal of the war. The greatest ardour is shown in mobilising, and a new army of a quarter of a million is being formed. AUSTRIA'S ACTIVITY. GREATLY INCREASED. (Received 2.5 pin.) VIENNA, December 17. Since the changes general staff the military measures on the southern frontier increased in intensity. Twenty thousand troops are proceeding | I from Trieste en route to Dalmatia and [ Bosnia.