FALL OF CETINJE

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15489, 17 January 1916, Page 7

FALL OF CETINJE

MONTENEGRIN CAPITAL TAKEN BY AUSTRIANS. FRENCH SUBMARINE SUCCESS. AUSTRIAN CRUISER SUp NEAR CATTARO. ENGLISH E AIL WAT MEN OPPOSE COMPULSION. (532 nd DAY OF THE WAR,)*

THE BALKANS. IN MONTENEGRO. FALL OF CETXNJE. CAP IT RED BY AUSTRIAN'S. (By Cablt.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 14. An Austrian official communiqud says: — •••Uetinje has fallen. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON", January 14 (4.5&> p.m.). The Austrians claim to have eapturcd Cetinje. ■ Cetinje, the capital of Montenegro, is situated on a narrow plain deeply sunk in tho heart of tuo limestone mountains, at a height of 21/J3 feet above the sea. A zigzag highway, regarded as a triumph or engineering, winds through tho passes across Mount Lovchen, between Cetinje and Ci&ttaro and other good roaUs give access to tho interior of Montenegro. Cotinje owes its origin to Steniien tho Black, who 'was forced, towards the end of the 15th century, to withdraw from Zhabliak, his former capital. The town has often been taken and Backed by the Turks, but was seldom occupied by them for long. '.Cotinjo itself is little more than .a walled village, consisting of a cluster of white-washed.cottages and some unadorned public buildings. These include a church, n fortified monastery, which was founded in 1487, but so often burned and rebuilt,- as to seem quite modem, and which is visited by pilgrims to the tomb of Peter I. (1782-1830); l'esidences for the archimandrite and the metropolitan of Cetinje, _a _ palace which accommodates the Ministries; tho Court of Appeal, and a school; the newer Palaces of the Prince, and his ,heir; Foreign Legations; barracks; a seminary for priests and teachers, and a girls' school; a library and readingroom, a theatre, a museum, and a hospital. In an open space near the old i Palace stood tho celebrated plane-tree beneath which Prince Nicholas gave aucliences to his subjects and administered justice, tintil the closing years of tho 19th century The country around Cetinje is bare and\stony. In winter it is often so deeply covered with snow as to be -well-nigh impassable, whilo in spring and autumn it is frequently flooded.

TEMPTING MONTENEGRO. PROPOSALS BY AUSTRIA. AMSTERDAM, January 14. Austria has proposed an armistice to Montenegro, and the negotiation of a separate pcace. (Received January 16th, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, January 15. It is understood that Austria, recently offered to give Montenegro Scutari if the latter gave up Mount Lovchcn. ITALY'S ATTITUDE. ASSISTANCE FOljt , i MONTENEGRO. IMPORTANCE OF MOUNT LOVCHEN. (Received January 16th; 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, January 15. The Rome correspondent of the "Petit Journal" • says King Emanuele has suddenly returned from the front, in order to confer with Princo Danilo of Montenegro, with a view to Italy giving aid to Montenegro and Serbia. (Received January 16th, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, January 15. The overwhelming of Montenegro is apparently _ a surprise to" the Italian public, though there is no explanation why Ita;ly did not lift a hand to save Mount Lovchen. ("Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services.) j LONDON, January 14. "The Times,' iu a leau.ag article, says: "Tho fall of Mount Lovchcn places Montenegro at the mercy of the enemy, and her independent existence i-s imperilled for the first time in her heroic history. It is not known whether King Nicholas will continue the unequal struggle or make terms. The latter alternative is a possiblo one. The failure of operations in tho Adriatic is due to the tardy comprehension by tho AHios of the strategic importanco of tho Balkans. One wonders that Italy lias allowed this important part of Mt. Lovchen to be lost without an effort to support Montenegro. Nevertheless tho misfortune must not be tho occasion for recrimination, but must 6pur on the Allies to speedily obtain redrcsa."

AT CATTARO. AUSTRIAN NATAL REINFORCEMENTS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received January 16th, 5.5 p.m.) HOME. January 15. Tho Austrians have already sent to Cattaro two Dreadnoughts and four large submarines. Tho latter were received in sections from Germany, and put together at Pola. The submarines, manned by German officer., and' Austrian » crews, are intended to operate Durazzo. THE SALONI CA LINES.

THE ALLIES' STRENGTH. THE ENEMY'S FORCES. REPORTED ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. (Received January Kith, 5.5 p.m.) ATHENS, January 15. The Entente Powers will have 350,000 troops ancl 50 aeroplanes in Macedonia in a fortnight's time. (Rcceivcd January lGth, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, January 15. The Salonica correspondent of the Milan newspaper, "Corriere Delia Scra, i says the Allies continue to strengthen, their lines, and their baso at Salonica. The Allies' fortifications give an imposing impression. The general opinion is that an enemy attack is not imminent. The enemy's 200,000 troops on the Doiran-Ghevgeli lino include" only a email detachment of Germans, but Germany has sent an abundance of The two Turkish Divisions in tho district are badly equipped. rru ~m •. ROME, January 14. The 'Iribuna ' states that tho Germans form the right" wing of the enemy s forces, resting on the Vardar m l u er 'T. W i . their , CGntr ° at Monastir. JLhe .Bulgarian headquarters are" at JLXnran. One hundred thousand Turks front Gallipoli form the left wing on * n,J in ™ f " >m to Gumuldjina. ■J. he Bulgar-German force is estimated to number 250,0C0 men. A violent bombardment in the Doiran zone has already begun, and the ALies are replying vigorously. LCLNIDON, January 14. pouter s Bucharest correspondent states that Turkish and Bulgarian troops.have been sent to the Italian Montenegrin, and French fronts, relieving Austro-German troons, which win- SCnt t0 Mac i cclonia ' an d Buko-

AN AIR RAID. GREEK SOLDIERS KILLED AND WOUNDED. (Received January lGth, 11 p.m.) PAIIIS, January 16. An official communique says :— '"Enemy aircraft, bombed a position north-Trcstward of Kukus (north of Saionica), and also Boganizi. One Greek soldier -was killed and some others wounded."