NOTES ON THE CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16546, 20 November 1915, Page 8

NOTES ON THE CABLES.

Br Shbapnbl. RUSSIA AND RUMANIA. News from the Balkans has not yet taken on a reassuring appearance. At Athens and at Galatz, in Rumania, there have been popular demonstrations in favour of the cause of tho Allies, but one would like to see these demonstrations develop into open acts of warfare against the Central Powers. The Bucharest correspondent of II Secolo says that an excellent impression has been created in Rumania by M. Sazonofi's declaration that Russia never faced the possibility of a Russian army traversing more than a small part of Rumanian territory without the consent of tho Rumanian Government. What does "never faced the possibility" mean? Does it mean that the Rumanians were afraid of largo Russian forces being marched through Rumania? If so, what was tho cause of those fears? It can only mean that Rumania is afraid of the Central Powers or that the Rumanian Government, in spite of the wishes of its people, is opposed to grant any facilities to the Russians if it possibly can, and that it also fears its ability to prevent an uninvited

Russian force from marching through its territories. That can lie tho only explanation of the satisfaction in Rumania which has boen created by tho statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Russia. The satisfactory point about the message is that there is implied in it a determination of Russia to use with or without the consent of Rumania a small portion of the territory of that country. The cables have already announced that jtho Russians have roached Silistria, scarcely 40 miles from the point where tho Danube ceases to be part of the Rumanian and Bulgarian border. Since that announcement nothing has been heard of the Russians in Rumania. If the advance guards of the Russian forces really have reached Silistria, tho small portion of Rumania of which the Russians intend to make use of is the Dobrudscha province, east of the northerly turn of the Danube. It will be an extremely useful part if the Russians are to be allowed an unmolested right of way through it. Kustendj, of Constanza, will give the Russians a port of disembarkation scarcely 200 miles from Odessa. That journey can be done easily in 16 hours by steamers capable of 11 or 12 knots an hour, and the weakness of the Turkish fleet is such that the transport of troops can be. done ; n comparative safety. If the Russians intend to act seriously we should soon hear of their havfng landed troops either at Constanza. or along tho coast nearer to Varna. They will riced to act quickly before Varna is strongly fortified, for it is certain that a great part of the munitions which the Germans are said to be sending down tho Danube is not intended for tho Turks, but for the purpose of converting Varna and Burgas into strongly fortified Austro-German naval bases for operations against the Russians in the Black Sea. Russia is certainly losing precious moments, and every moment that is lost increases a serious threat against her ports in the south and against her domination of the Black Sea.

OPINIONS OF RUMANIAN STATESMEN.

The opinion expressed by the Premier and Minister of the Interior in Rumania, taken together with the " tumultuous demonstrations" at Galatz, though'very guarded and non-committal, are to be interpreted c.s favourable. What they imply is that if the Allies are seriously prepared to attack Bulgaria and all her military coadjutors, Rumania will, at the first sign of success, step in on the side of the winners; and from tone of these: statesmen, it can be gathered that they are not so sure that the Austro-German-Bulgar combination is going to have it all its own way in the Balkans. Although we are not getting much news of Russian preparations in Southern Bessarabia and at Odessa, it suggests that the show which Russia is making is impressing the Rumanians.

THE ALBANIANS AND THEIR " FRIENDS." There can be little doubt, as has been previously pointed out, one of the causes of the disinclination of the Greek Government to act on the side of the Allies is the ambition of Italy. Italy long ago made it plain that she covets the whole of the Albanian coast, and Avlona in particular. Now, Greece has, since the first Balkan War, never ceased to look forward to the day when Southern Albania and the Dodekanese Peninsula should beoome part of ber territory. That territory includes the port of Avlona. If there is a secret agreement between Bulgaria and Greece, and it has been countenanced by the Central Powers, Greece will have been promised a free hand in Southern Albania. Greece is nov? showing her hand by massing troops on her north-western border in order to prevent, if necessary, the Italians from occupying the ports of Santa Quaranta and Avlona, and is pushing a column of troops to Berat, the chief inland town of Southern Albania. The Albanians in this district view the advance of the Greeks 'with disfavour, -while .those further north are opposed to the Serbians, and favour Austro-German occupation in opposition to that of either Serbia or Italy. The reason' for 'this is that most of the Albanians in the interior are of the Mohammedan faith, and are pro-Turks rather than pro-Germane; bat, as the Bulgarians and Germans are now allied with Turkey, and the Kaiser is virtually a self-proclaimed Mohammedan for present and for future purposes, the Albanians are prepared to fall into lino with the Bulgarians and Austrians. It is also to be remembered that German and Austrian agents have been overrunning Albania and seducing the Albanian clans from the stand of 6turdy independence which they have for centuries maintained. One characteristic of this people is that the clans, like the Highlanders of a few generations gone by, are very disunited owing to ancient blood feuds. Some clans, therefore, will side with the Allies and some with the Austro-Germans, but the whole will never be satisfied with foreign control If the Italians land strong forces, and are accompanied by the British and French, the chances are that most of the Albanians will assist them, for they have for years looked forward to the day when the British would come to protect them from their enemies. On that account it may be advisable for the British to show their faces in Dierazzo and Elbasan with all promptitude in order to destroy the Austro-German leaven that is at work.

THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ASIA MINOR. Taken generally, the reports from the Mediterranean are to-day more satisfactory. In the House of Commona Mr Bonay Law, in somewhat cryptic wcrds, has conveyed the impression that affairs axe going to take a turn in our favour. He is more hopeful now than he has been for many months. That must mean that Greek fears have been allayed. to a great extent, and that the AngVo-French and Russian preparations are such that a oheok is about to be administered to the projects of the Austro-Gcr-mans and the Bulgarians. The Austro-German submarine menace is being dealt with comprehensively and effectively. If all reports are substantiated, there will soon be no enemy submarines left in the Middle Sea and the iEgean. The best news, if it is reliable, is the defection of Djemal Pasha in ■ Syria. The Arabs will not require much encouragement to cause them to turn against the GermoTurks. The Arab tribes of Arabia proper never acknowledged the Turkish suzerainty, and most of the influential coastal chiefs are pro-British. If Djemal Pasha is in open revolt against the Germans, he should throw in his lot with the British forces that are advancing upon Bagdad, and if he does that then the British will be able to advance right up the Tigris towards Damascus and the Levantine coast. Turkey will in that case bo badly outmanoeuvred in a most important part of her dominions gnd source j of h<!*» -»an. power.