GREECE FACING GRAVE ISSUES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2647, 18 December 1915, Page 5

GREECE FACING GRAVE ISSUES

MOMENTOUS DECISIONS PENDING 5 THE DEFENCE OP SALONIKA . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Salonika, December 16. The Bulgarians furiously bombarded, and finally made a bayonet charge on the positions of the Allies, which the latter abandoned after leaving dummy figures and dummy guns. ■ BULGARS MOWED DOWN IN WAVES. , ' Salonika. December 16. A British officer describes the slaughter inflicted on the Bulgarians as indescribable. The Bulgarians,wore evidently forced to adopt German tactics. They attacked in seven dense waves over a front of 200 yards. The Allies on the first day lacked artillery, but on the second thoy brought up numbers of French "75'5," and the Bulgarians were mowed down wave after wave. Since-then the Bulgarians have not attacked in close formation. During tlio first week the Allies retreated 13} miles, carrying off all food and war material. Salonika has now been transformed into an impregnable fortress under the protection of the' Fleet. BULGARIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ■ .„ . , ' „ „ Amsterdam, December 16. ;A semi-official message from Sofia states that' at the instance of the Bulgarians a neutral zone has been established on the Greek frontier. The Bulgarian and Greek troops are being withdrawn 2000 yards from the frontier line. ■ j- ■ An official statement relating to the operations on December 14, says — We reached the Greek frontier after provisionally relinquishing the pursuit of Wo captured 1234 men, with fourteen/guns and sixty-two ammunition wagons. . ' FIGHTING BETWEEN BULGAR AND TURKISH REGIMENTS. ■ Berne, December 16. Advices from Bucharest state that there was fighting botween Turkish and Bulgarian regiments at Ishtib on December 12. Many were killed and wounded. Austro-German troops continue to arrive at Constantinople, but in small numbers. • • ' BULGARS RETIRE FROM ALBANIAN FRONTIER, ~, . „ Salonika, December 16. The Bulgarians , have not/ crossed the Albanian frontier. ' They have even retired a distance of some miles. DISPOSITION OF THE SERBIAN ARMIES. > i '• ... . Salonika, December 16. * Three .Serbian armies, .totalling 150,000 men, are between Scutari Durazzo and El Basson, another 50,000 are in Southern Albania. ' '■ NO FURTHER RETIREMENT FROM SALONIKA (Rec. December 17, 9.50 p.m.) London, December 17. The "Daily Chronicle's" Salonika correspondent states that there will not be any further retirement. "We will not leave Salonika' until peace has been signed. Vessels are crowded with fleeing refugees. The British Consul has advised civilians and women and children to leave." i MR. BELLOC'S VIEW OF THE SALONIKA DEFENCES ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) . London, December 16. | Mr. Hilaire Belloc, in "Land and Water," points out the difficulty of tho defence of Salonika, because the heights most suitable for tho defence of tho town, continued by the lino oftlie unfordablo Vardar, constitute a very extended three-quarters of a circle, requiring time for its consolidation. ■ SALONIKA MUST NOT BE A "SECOND CALAIS."Amsterdam, December 16. Tli© "Neuc Freie Presse" says that the Central Powers cannot suffer tho Entente to crcato *a second Calais at Sa^nika.' The war must logically extend to Greek territory. If Greece is too weak to defend herself, she will find her tnio friends in the Central Powers. The Germans arc concentrating at G'hoygheli. The • estimated total Bulgarian casualties number 120,000. OUR IMMEDIATE PURPOSE IN THE BALKANS STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. • • London, December 16. In the Houso of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) stated that tho immediate object of tho Allies was to regularise tho military position, and to deny Bulgaria and the Central Powers any director indirect control over Salonika. This was believed to bo in awtu'diuioo with tins wishes of Grewo. He hoped that the negotiations would soon ba eatisfac.torilv /"onoludedi