NEARING A COLLAPSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 64, 15 March 1916, Page 6

NEARING A COLLAPSE.

TURKEY'S CRITICAL POSITION.' ] UNABLE TO OPPOSE RUSSIANS. " FEARS OF BUILGARXA. (Received 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 14. 1 The London "Daily Telegraph's" f Athens correspondent states that a ' reliable military correspondent's un-1' censored letter describes the situation j J in Constantinople as most critical. The |j Turks are unable to seriously oppose a ' further Russian advance in Asia Minor, ' where 30,000 Cossacks are operating. Despite German endeavours, it is mi- j'■ I possible to run more than four trains | • j from Haidar Pasha, on the eastern shore ' ; of the ,Bosphorus, to Angora, and j Haidar Pasha to Konia daily. These are hampered by the scarcity of coal. : Moreover, owing to the Young Turks' fears of Bulgaria, it is impossible to ' withdraw troops from Europe, while a ! local revolution in Syria is probable, especially if tbe Allies land on the Syrian coast. The Turkish army in Mesopotamia is threatened with annihilation in the ■ event of an Anglo-Russian junction. The Bulgarian Government is seriously alarmed at the probability of Turkey's collapse, and is considering how Bulgaria can seek safety in a separate peace.