THE BALKANS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15486, 13 January 1916, Page 7

THE BALKANS.

IN MONTENEGRO.

AN AUSTRIAN CLAIM.

MOUNT LOYCBEN CAPTURED,

BERANE OCCUPIED

(By Cable.—Presa Acaociation.—Copyright.) (Received January 12th, 9.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, January 11. An Austrian communique says:— "We have' captured Mount Lovchen and Berane." Berane is a small town on the river Lim, 39 miles south-west by west of Novibazar. It is situated at tho north end of a valley, whero the river flows through tho mountains which formerly marked the boundary between Montenegro and the Sanjak of Novibazar.

A VIOLENT BATTLE

PIERCE ATTACKS ON LOYCHEN.

THE MONTENEGRIN REPORT,

(Received January 12th. 0.15 p.m.) CETTINJE, January 11. An official communique says:— "A most violent battle is raging on tho Herzegovinian front, where tho Austrians have brought up 23 battalions and 80 guns. . "The enemy is fiercely attacking Mount Lovchen, and is constantly using gas. "The Montenegrins failed to hold the important position of Kuk. "The enemy was driven back near Berane, with heavy losses."

THE SALONICA LINES

ALLIES' POSITION DESCRIBED. FORMIDABLE DEFENCES ORGANISED. (''Time*" and "Sydney Sua" SerriceO (Received Januarv 12th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. January 11. Mr Ward Pricc, writing from Salon ica. says: —"Now is the most favourable time for a Bulgarian-German offensive against Sakraica. The enemy has had time to repair the bridges and tunnels -which, were destroyed ou the Vardar railway. "King Constantino has promised not to order the Greek Army to opposo the enemy's offensive, but the whole matter remains problematical. What we know is that the Germans dislike the prospect of leaving us as a perpetual menace to their communications, also in a jumping-off ground for a spring offensive." . Describing the Anglo-French line, air

"Ward Price says:—"The French troops are responsible for the defence of tho western flank. Their line, starting from the marshes at the mouth of the Yardax, runs northwards along the cast bank of the river for fifteen milc6. It then turns eastward at a right angle, and joins the British sector, which follows tho chain of lakes across tho Chalcidico Peninsula to tho Gulf of Orphani. Much of the French sector comprises low-lying swamps, and trenches are not needed. Aji army could not cross this malaria-haunted delta. Searchlights play upon it at night from the ships, and guns are ready to sweep it.

"This system of relying upon their artillery to protect whole sections of their front is charactoristieslly French. Their confidence in their guns is such that they do not hesitato to dispenso with infantry. At the right angle tnrn in their line, hills dominate the plain over which the enemy must attack. Ridges six miles behind the plain will enable tho enemy to shell tho French entrenchments with heavy artillery, but tho enemy's heavy guns are not sufficient to do serious damage.

"Our 'seventy-fives' have every range on the plain marked. Even if the enemy gets across the plain, he must cross tho Vardar, which is a most formidable obstacle. Then ho must assail our trenches, which are wonderfully oomplete. Tho ground in front of them is eimnly b]ue with barbed-wire entanglements, stretched out and fixed to specially-made bent steel rods."

THE ARRESTED CONSULS.

INTERNED AT TOULON. PARIS, January 11. The Consuls who were arrested at iSalonica are now interned on board a cruiser at Toulon. It is reported that serious charges aro 'pending against them.