“A MOCKERY.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 15, 31 December 1912, Page 5

“A MOCKERY.”

IS IT TO BE PEACE OR WAR ?

ALLIES TIRED OF TURKISH TRICKS. M ILL END THE CONFERENCE THIS WEEK. [PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.] Berlin, Dec. 3(1. Vienna official quarters take an optimistic view of the conference. Berlin, Dec. 31). A Reuters' message states that the Turks felt justified in submitting excessive counter proposals, bee.iuse the Allies presented terms beyond what was expected. The retention of Adrianople and Thrace was indispensable to Constantinople’s security anti likewise necessary :f Turkey was to remain a State. The Turks appear hopeful that a resumption of ■hostilities would secure belter terms. London, Dee. 30.

The Allies declined to criticise the Turkish proposals because the proposals assume that Macedonian reforms 'ii'i still sought, whereas the destinies of Macedonia have passed out of Ottoman hands. The territorial basis was the only one on which negotiations could proceed. Reschid Pasha reminded the conference that the Allies undertook the war to compM th'' Porte to grant, reforms, which the Forte was: now wiling to concede, and that the league spontaneously and emphatically disclaimed territorial aggrandisement. One of ihe Bidg’lri i-i deioa-jor; stated :—“The confereiu'e v. ill linisli its business this v. oil:. The new Turkish, proposals are a inccl.eri. If the Turks required time io complete their preparations at Chataldja. so did we. The Allies are now in a better position than when hostilities were suspended. All Christians of the conquered provinces between the ages of. 19 and 25 years have been summoned to the colours, and these will give us from thirl.v to forty thousand new recruits. Wo estimate i that 44,000 additional men have b.cmi thu ssccured.” THE SULTAN OBDURATE. SOONER RISK HIS CROWN THAN SURRENDER. (Received 31, 8.0 a.m.) Constantinople, Dee. 30. It is stated on good authority that the Cabinet Council decided to instruct the delegates to refer 11m points at issue to the Anibassatlcrs Conference. Newspapers state that the Sultan informed his entourage that he would rather risk the loss of his throne than surrender Adrianople, which! shelters the tombs of his glorious ancestors. ARMED CAMPS. AUSTRIA AND ROUMANTA PREPARED. (Received 31. 8.0 a.m.) Belgrade, Dee. 30. Repeated reports are received from Roumania of military activity on the frontier. ■(Received 31, 8.0 a.m.) Bucharest. Dee. 30. The Chamber has granted military votes of 151.000.000 francs. (Received 31. 8.0 a.m.) Vienna. Dec. 30. The “Zeit” states that iiMitary cxircises on a large scale under war conditions arc- projected lor the present winter. lII'.- lAN SPIES IN GERYIANY. PLANS TO BLOW UP RAILWAYS. (Received 31. 9.30 a.m.) Berlin, Dec. 30. Thirty men and women, including Germans and Russians, have been arrested for spying, allegedly on behalf of Russia.

Documents show that they intended tc destroy the' Breslau railway bridges in tiie event of German mobilisation.

THE FIGHTING. GREEKS ATTACK BIZANL (Receii cyl 31. 8.0 a.m.) Athens., Dee. 20. The Greeks have continued the attack on Bizani, where the defence is weakening. They repulsed several Turkish night attacks. ALBANIAN RAIDERS IN EPIRUS. Albanian raiders, after being driven out of Macedonia, are exploiting Epirus. They invaded Zigori, looted and burnt the churches and many houses. Tbev impaled a priest at Lordahi, and strangled two notables. Many of the inhabitants are taking i H-fuge in the forests. ! ADRIANOPLE IN DISTRESS, i (Received 31. 8.0 a.m.) ''of: Dev. 30. The “Mir” renert;; of Turks from’ scribes the situation thetitGii) darkest co 1 ours. WIHMsSj