IN THE BALKANS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17078, 29 January 1916, Page 9

IN THE BALKANS.

MONTENEGRO’S PLIGHT. ENEMY OCCUPY WHOLE COUNTRY. REFUGEES FLEE TO ALBANIA. “ Timoa ” and Sydney “ Sun ” Service*. ATHENS, January 27. A correspondent of the newspaper “Message.ro” says that the whole of Montenegro has been occupied by the enemy. The Montenegrins' resistance at Mount Tarabosch helped the escape of the Scrbo-Montonegrin forces, which concentrated in the Scutari region. Sixty thousand Montenegrins fled to Albania. AT THE MERCY OF AUSTRIA. (Received January 28. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 27. Tlie Rome correspondent of “ The Times” says that the news of Montenegro is contradictory, but the kingdom is clearly at the mercy of the Austrians. The majority of the Montenegrins have perforce given up their arms and the Austrians have occupied San Giovanni di Medua. Another mixed column of Bulgarians and Albanians is coming down the Matya Valley. Many Serbs and Croats, pretending to be refugecing in Montenegro from Herzegovina, have bisen. preparing Montenegro for the Austrians. the peace question. AN AUSTRIAN REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright AMSTERDAM, January 27. An Austrian communique claims that the Montenegrin plenipotentiary gave the signal for capitulation on Tuesday. FALL OF CETTINJE. GERMAN WIRELESS MESSAGE. TROOPS SUPPRESSING RIOTS. AMSTERDAM, January 27. A German wireless message publishes details of the alleged Montenegrin surrender, assorting that it was agreed to unconditionally. King Nicholas wrote to the Emperor Franz Josef asking tor generous conditions for his unhappy country. When the troops were in the environs of Cettinje a civic delegation formally surrendered the city, and also gave up the archives and public buildings. The wireless message, admits'that the populace are rioting, and says that the troops are suppressing the rioting and that martial law has been proclaimed in Cettinje. KING NICHOLAS’S CONFIDENCE. (Received January 29, 1.35 a.m.) PARIS, January 27. King Nicholas, interviewed at Lyons, expressed his unbounded confidence in France to save Montenegro. RUMANIAN CRAIN. BRITISH PURCHASE CONFIRMED. (Received January 28, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 27. Lord Robert Cecil, in reply to a question, said that the Government had concluded contracts for the purchase of Rumanian grain, which would he held at the Government's disposal for export after the war. THE BULGARIAN FOX. ALLIES WERE HOODWINKED. AMSTERDAM, January 27. The “Nene Freie Presse’s ” Sofia correspondent states that King Ferdinand, at the Nish banquet, boasted that M.

Radoslavoff’s diplomacy had hoodwinked the Allies before Bulgaria joined the fray. GERMANS AND BULCARS. SERIOUS TROUBLE REPORTED. CAMPAIGNS IN ALBANIA AND MESOPOTAMIA. (Received January 29, 1.35 a.m.) SALONIKA, January 27.. There is serious trouble between the Germans and the Bulgarians. Field-Marshal von Mackensen interviewed King Ferdinand at Sofia, requesting his urgent intervention, also urging him to push on the Albania campaign. The bringing up of new troops is expected for the German campaign against Albania and Mesopotamia, not against Salonika and Egypt.