SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15687, 14 August 1914, Page 6

SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

MONTENEGRINS IN SCUTARI.

London, August 12,

A message, from Rome states that a telegram has been received asserting that the Montenegrins have occupied Scutari.

Advices from Paris state that they have also ' occupied Mount, Tarabosch-

Scutari, with a population of 32,000, is the principal city of the new State of Albania, whose independence was agreed upon by the Great Powers at the London Ambassadorial Conference after the first Balkan war. The independence of Albania was ratified by tho Treaty of Bucharest, August, 10, 1913, and by the terras of the treaty the Albanian frontier was delimited to* include Scutari. During' tho Balkan war Scutari was taken by Montenegro after a six months' siege, but on May 5, 1913, tho King of Montenegro was persuaded by the Great Powers to evacuate tho city, which, much against the will of the Montenegrins, was subsequently allotted to Albania. Scutari is within about 10 miles of the Montenegrin frontier and about 60 miles from Durazzo, tho provisional capital of Albania, where tho reigning prince, William 1., has held troubled court since he accepted the- Albanian crown in February last.

Mount Tarabosh is a famous stronghold dominating the south-west front of the Scutari defences.