THE BALKANS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 4 January 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS

THE CONSUL INCIDENT GREEK GOVERNMENT .EMBARRASSED. GERMAN THREATS. ' • ATHENS, Jan. 3. The Government is embarrassed by the consul incident, inasmuch as the Central Powers threatened to demand their representatives' passports unless full satisfaction "was obtained from the Allies. The Chamber has been hurriedly convened for the 17th. - The Press reports that 50 transports full of Allied troops have arrived in the G-ulf oI Ophano and begun to disembark. REPORTED REPRISALS BY BULGARIA. • . (Rec. Jan. 4, 1 p.m.) PARIS, Jan. 3. The Allies are taking action to prevent air attacks. _ Utilisation ~of the Serb army here is being considered. > It is reported at Sofia that as a reprisal for the -arrest of Consuls at Salonika, the Government has decided to arrest the. officials of ..the - British, and .-Serbian.. Legations who remained .at Sofia' when their chiefs left. The ; ; Hellenic Government has promised to arrest its subjects on suspicion of espionage. V ; FURTHER. ARRESTS OF GERMANS SALONIKA, Jan. 3. • The Allies continue to make numerous arrejrts of Germans- . . COiOIUNICATION WITH , BELGRADE VEENNA, Jan,. 2. -A bridge'was opened over the Save . near Belgrade on Friday l , re-establishing' railway communication. It is, claimed that Belgrade is normal, and that most of inhabitants have - returned. " - ESPIONAGE FIVE HUNDRED ARRESTS. — ■ . (Rec. Jan. 4. 1 p.m.) SALONIGA, Jan. 3. Tha Allies arrested a neutral consul ■bearing a German name. It is reported that documents . found in the Austrian and- German - Consulates implicate him of : espionage. There is also the upshot of five hundrwd other arrests. - KING PETERAT SALONIKA AX LANDING. ' ~~~ PARIS, Jan. 3. Two companies of Greek infantry as "~a guard; of honour which awaited King. Peter at Salonika were withdrawn, King Peter declining a ceremonious reception. He landed" quietly from a boat- at the. Serbian,-Consulate" grounds. Few witnessed -the pathetic disembarkation of the ailing monarch. - THE MONTENEGRINS. . PARIS, Jan. 3. a Montenegrin communique states that.the enemy were compelled to retire in the Rosai vicinity with heavv losses.' GREfcCE AND ifiITAIN KING CONSTANTINE INTERVIEWED. REITERATION OF PROMISE OF BENEVOLENT NEUTRALITY. ' LONDON, Jan. 3. —Mr Martin Donohoe, interviewed King Constantine, who authorised him to convey the following (message to Britain:- — ''f am actuated by genuine and- sincere friendship for the Sovereign and people •of Great 'Britain, and I send them the warmest New Year greetings. I fervently hope that this calamitous world war will be; .terminated before the dawn of the succeeding year." .. ' -Mr Donohoe was received in the'study ■whose artistic but utilitarian furnishings showed' it -to- -be the den of a hard-work- : sng morjarch, and not a mere .puppet. King Constantine was in simple undressuniform. His recent illness has underlined his virile energy. While his manner was courtly and,-urbane, he expressed timself -with Honest candour and •emphasis. It is soon perceived that King Constantine's methods •?.-£ those of the soldier .and not of the d iploma t. •'As a soldier," said King Constantine, T always prefer dealing -with soldiers. That is why I was delighted to see Lord Kitchener and General Castelnau. • There is a bond of camaraderie and quick intuition which unites every soldier." He continued: ; "I see I am still misniiderstood in. England. I do not mind hieing attacked, but insist upon fair play. It is frequently recalled that the / .Kaiser is my brother-in-law, but the cri---.tics ■ forget something which I never for"jgefc: that' lam the cousin of . King •George. There is a cloud of unjust suspicion. gathered about my> name. Ido not mind how much my politics are criii'cised solong as it is-.admitted that lam still a gentleman, and a man of honour. The English Press is very busy with, propaganda. J want to dissipate these . suspicions, which, are worthless- and f-rroundless. Why should" my word «doubted ? It has been pledged to' benewolent neutrality, and that will always, shold good.* I am pleased that certain of tout Commoners of _ both parties loyally "believe in- me. not questioning the .sincerity of my promise."

" i AM A MAN OF HONOUR" KINO CON ST A NTT NE AND LONDON EDITORS. (Rec. Jan. 4, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. .'King' Constantine added :—Tile Allies' fierce light that still beats upon, the throne has been, concentrated twenty-fold on my. actions. It is not a neutral light either, but my opinions and pledges have not been modified because I am a man, of honour. I want to get- this firmly into the heads of London editors'and the minds of the English people. It is said that Greece, after the final victory -which the Allies regard as already theirs wilthe sent to Coventry, forfeiting- the friendship of the .Entente. I Cannot help that. ;ily duty is to be neutral. I do not desire to join either belligerent. I am convinced that it .is in the bast interests of Greece to stand aloof. Speaking dispassionately, I cannot see that the military results achieved up to to-day justify the Entente's belief in a final crushing-- victory. Frankly, I say as a } soldier that I would view with positive | alarm the prospect of . attacking GerTn£hy, not because my relationship with , the Kaiser, but simply because Germany has proved to be. a powerful military nation. I would have." still great apprehension at the prospect of attacking- England, knowing she could blow my coast towns about my ears and put to a speedy .end; Greek commerce." | . King- -Constantine opined that the Bui- ' gars wonld not cross the frontier, but if they did* they would depart peace'ully after the operations against- the AlliesHe did • not see apy reason for the Allies . remaining at Salonika. He could understand it while there was still a possibility of aiding Serbia, but that had failed and he did not expect an offensive by either side in the Balkans. He paid tribute to the.heroism and tenacity of the troops at the /Dardanelles, but added :■ "If the Allies listened to the counsels -of those who 'understood the difficulties better, they should never have i gone there " I ° i 1 THE ENEMY IN GREECE

PRO-GERMAN ELEMENT ' WEAKENING. * • LONDON, Dec. 29. | The ."Daily Mail's'" Athens correspon- j dent states that the pro-German element ' in Greece is weakening. Most of the pe-o- ! ■pie "would change their faith, to-morrow , if they were convinced of pur determine!.- ! tioh to safeguard the interest of 'our friends, arid turn to./vital account, the Entente superiority in men, munitions, and' money. Ar. immediate revulsion of i feeling 'would follow on clear evidence. | being, given thai vre have ceased coquetting' with Bulgaria. There is a/ deeprooted opinion that despite the incal- | culable assistance Bulgaria has rendered Germany we are still ready to support j her aspirations at the expense of Greece" and Seryia. MIXED OPINIONS AS TO THE PROSPECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. X.ONDON, Dec. : 31. Mr Harris, a correspondent, at Salonika, says the Powers' intentions are unknown. Opinions change daily. The enemy is certainly aware that Bulgarian ingression will most probably entail the. entry of Greece into the conflict. No immediate attack is possible, because a" thorough redistribution and reconcentration' of the enemy 's armies will be necessary before moving* against the. immensely strong positions and fortifications erected bv the Allies.

British official circles regard an enemy advance as -possible, but the French are convinced that the Germans will remain entrenched on the frontier. The Greek General Staff is undecided, and is. awaiting developments. In the meanwhile fortification proceeds apace, and competent authorities consider that nothing stronger. is imaginable,. Fifty miles of, roads have already been built, arid as far as the eye can teach every, track seethes with movemfiilLts. . The regular Arrivals of ammunition, troops," arid artillery intensify the; Allies' utmost confidence. Their organisation is beyond' criticism. The' Greeks are unstinting in their praise, .'and the ..feeling of resentment against 'the intrusion of th£ Allies has disappeared. Relations' are mutnailly confidence of goodwill. The news of the evacuation of part of Gallipoli has aroused enthusiasm in Greece, where opinion was unanimous against pursuing the campaign. There is no mention anywhere of loss of prestige. ' ' i