THE BALKAN POSITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16122, 10 January 1916, Page 4

THE BALKAN POSITION

The announcement that the Austrians, Germans, and Bulgarians are about to launch an attack on Salonika will cause no great concern in Allied countries. In to-day's cablegrams it will be found tha't the Servian Minister for Finance supports the British and French testimony as to the strength of the Allied position and the adequacy of the Anglo-French force. It is also reported that the Bulgarians are less hearty in their co-operation with the Germans, which is not surprising, since the land near the Dedeaga.chAdrianople railway, ceded to Bulgaria as the first instalment of the price offered for their help, has already been reoccupied by the Turks. This is characteristic of German methods, but it is not to be supposed that, the disappointed Bulgarians can now draw back. Similarly, we cannot attach great weight to discontent in the Greek Army except that the manifestation of it is evidence that the Allied force is creating an impression in Greece. Of more importance is Count Reventlow admission that the Russians in Bessarabia are well prepared, that they have great reserves of men and artillery, and that the success of their offensive would cause Greece and Roumania to join the Allies. This is a friendly warning to Germany that she must not dissipate her strength and disregard the possibility of a Russian invasion of the Balkans.