THE BALKAN SITUATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 230, 27 September 1915, Page 4

THE BALKAN SITUATION.

The outstanding feature of the posi tion in the Near Ka>t to day is the mobilisation of the Greek forces. So far only a portion of the (Jreek army nas been held in absolute readiness for war, .and the order for mobu'i*ation is admittedly a precautionary measure forced upon Oreece by the menacing attitude of Bulgaria. The mobilisation of the Bulgarian forces is apparently interpreted at Athens, »t Petrograd, and at Berlin a* a preliminary to an attii.k on >«rbia. It is only fair to Bulgaria to ad-1 that she emphatically and specifically repudiates any aggre*(.lie intention, and <!aims only to be . preparing to protect hcrK-lf in ea«e .in '< attojnp 19 made to violate her neutrality, .-no c;in plead the example of Switzerland and Holland as nn excuse for arming in her own defence, and fhe can point to Belgium a* a terrible illuurat.on of th» fate of .1 neutral State unable to prole-t itself Further, as ■ne hay« already explained. Bulgaria ,-an hardly expect to profit by jom.ng the Central Powers against the Allies Kor if Germany and Austria "in. they will rr f tainly dominate the Bilkans and reduce Bulgaria and the other Slav States to impotenc<-. %ihereai if tbey lose, Bulgaria would simply trure thnr punish-, ment. It therefore i-cems likely that | Bulpari.i will maintain her neutrality, I having already made .i ?ood barga.in out j of it with Turkey But it 1.- e.?niflcant of Bulgaria's evil reputation for treachery an.l double-dealing that Greece, and Serbia and Russia all suspect h"ri intention*. Greece is hound br treaty toj aid Serbia in case Bulge ni attack* her, and the oi the people and th<- <rovrrnn:<-nt for the 'if th* Allies :s proof that they need onl;- a, [.lausihlp pretext to ccirce into the war, nn our s.3e. \V» con be certan tUit if Ruljjana givw Serbia any further ciuse for alarm, Greece will fulfil her obligation* to the letter, and if Greece entered the war she would almost certainly be followed by Rum.in.a. Whatever Bulgaria.-, rejl intention* may be,| it is clear that her vacillation and her ■ ittempts to make profit out of the ifc-e.-Jities of both it nncc have con- i irmed the d.'truH md di-«l.ke which the I .ther Balk in Mates mamfe*teJ m> | itronclv apain"-t her in t K " >ec3nd Eal<;in War; ar.'.r'.'r knowle ige ni her Wfcit.on ir.ft-» Jy*ec her to hold Vr (Osft-'e furthfr Janjeroue •omplication.-. i< t!ie Ncjr >.2ft.