THE BALKANS CRISIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4141, 19 January 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS CRISIS.

MONTENEGRO CRIES “ENOUGH V*

AUSTRIA ASKED FOR PEACE

THE POSITION AT SALO NIKA.

ALLIES CONFIDENT AND SECURE.

(Sydney Sun—Extraordinary Cable ) (Received January 18, 4.55 p.m ) LONDON, Jan. 18. A German wireless message states that Montenegro has laid down hei arm s and asked for peace. “The Times’ ” Rome correspondent' answering criticisms as to Italy’s neglect of Montenegrd, points out that General Cadorna must bo ready with a big offensive when the Allies War Council orders a general advance General Cadorna must also remember the possibilities of a German-Austrija offensive on a -grand scale. Assuming that Italy has 300,000 soldiers available immediately, it might be unwise to send them across the Adriatic. Italy has not a superfluity of men or material. The latter was in a deplorable condition in 19i4, though superhuman efforts have nartly remedied it;

It is a pity the correspondent adds, that each of the Allies lias recently been inclined to think the others ought to be doing more -or better or both Fault-finding should be eliminated before it becomes ingrained. The British blew up Kilindir and other rail depots and destroyed the railway at Kilindir and Demirhissar The “Petit Parisiene” states that the enemy on the Greek frontier has increased to 250,000.

The British are landing u'inl'orcements continuously at Saiomka and Cliadcideca.

Britain, Franco Bulgaria and Greece have signeed an agreement at Athens that Bulgarians and AngloFrench taken prisoner on Greek soil shall be handed ovr to Greece at the expense of the captors. Reuter’s Athens correspondent telegraphs that it is reported that Montenegro has signed an armistice with Austria.

Advices from Constantinople state that as the Entente is refusing to liberate Consuls, the Porte interns in Asia Minor all British, French, Russians and Italians living in Turkey. It is semi-officially stated that the Austro-Hungarian Consul at Corfu and the Austrian Lloyd agent have been arrested.

British guns brought down a German aeroplane flying over the Allies lines. Both airmen were killed.

STORMS m MACEDONIA.

ARCTIC CONDITIONS PREVAIu

ENEMY CONCENTRATION INTER-

RUPTED

THE LANDING AT CORFU

(Received Jan. 18, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18. A Salonika despatch says that a violent wind and snowstorm plunged Macedonia and Lower’ Serbia into Arctic conditions, necessitating the suspension of the Bugo-German concentration. The frontier roads are impassable. The landing at Corfu was an outstanding feat of organisation. Every man, gun and mule, with food and forage was embarked on Frnch cruisers, convoyed by destroyers steaming at 19 knots without lights. They reached Corfu on Mornlay night and escaped submarines infesting the .Corfu channel. It was a submarine lurking in the Corfu Channel that torepedoed the Leon Gambetta. Before the island was awake the Chasseurs Alpins had seeized the quays and the German Consul fled in his night gown. The French did not trouble to arrest him.

The landing was completed in five hours. •

MONTENEGRO’S CAPITULATION.

THE NEWS CONFIRMED

(Received Jamiary 19, 10.10 p.n. ' AMSTERDAM, Jan. ,8 Count Tisza announced in the Hun. gai'ian Parliament that Montenegro had agreed to an unconditional capitulation as a preliminary to peace. Count Tisza added that the event was gratifying. The nation was reaping the first fruits of perseveranco and heroism.