SERBIA'S CRY FOR HELP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16577, 28 December 1915, Page 6

SERBIA'S CRY FOR HELP

THE BALKAN WHIRLPOOL. KING CONSTANTINE'S MARTIAL, SPEECH. (Fboii Ocb Own Cobbkspondent.) _ LONDON, October 29. Serbia's despairing cry for help, contained in a telegram from M. Pasitch, the Premier of that much-troubled country, to Dr Seton Watson and Dr Burrows, of King's College; appeared in the papers side by side with Lord Lansdowne's declaration that he feared any assistance which the Allies were sending would be too late to save the Serbian Army in the north of that country. At the same time, Sir Edward Grey announced that the offer of Cyprus to Greece had lapsed, as the condition under which the offer was made had not been fulfilled. Added to that, the King of Greece is stated to meditate a visit to Salonika, and his Majesty is further reported to have made a very martial speech to an American correspondent. King Constantino's words can be read two ways. The situation, consequently, is full of complications. The Serbian, Premier's message runs: " Serbia is making superhuman efforts to defend her existence in response to the advice and desire of her great Allies. " For this' she is condemned to death by the Austro-Germans and the Bulgarians. For 20 days our common enemy, has tried to annihilate us. In spite of the heroism of our soldiers, our resstancc cannot be expected to be maintained indefinitely. "We beg of you and the many friends of Serbia in England to do everything you can to ensure your troops reaching us as soon as possible that they may help our army, and that we may defend together the common cause which is now so gravely menaced." WHAT OF itING CONSTANTINE? The King'"of. ; Greece is" an enigma, and is apparently proving himself a warm friend of his brother-in-law, the Kaiser. When questioned about the treaty of alliance between , Greece and Serbia, he is stated to have replied: " Greece is merely loosening her sword in its. scabbard. She menaces no one. But she cannot permit that events shall constitute a menace to the integrity of the nation or the freedom of the' Greek people. It is my, duty to preserve my country trom the dan- 1 ger of destruction through becoming involved in the general European conflict. I shall do this at all hazards—if it be possible," '. . His Majesty's coming visit to Salonika is strongly disapproved by the Cabinet, and efforts were being made to persuade the King to abandon iiisvisit. The Queen likewise is using her influence in the same direction, on the ground that the King's life might be endangered in Salonika. King Constantino, however, is determined to assert his own will. He declares that his place is at the head of the army to defend Greece's territorial integrity, should this prove necessary. Concerning tfie relations of the Allies and Greece, an interesting report comes by way of Amsterdam. According to an Athens message to the Budapest newspaper Vilag, the British Minister, Sir Francis Elliot, is reported to have handed to M. Zaimis, in the name of the Entente, a Note, in which it is pointed out that tho landing of the Allied troops on Greek territory is in no way to be regarded as an occupation, as the Powers concerned ate, prepared to give the fullest guarantees required. The Note points out, however, that should flhe Greek Government adopt a policy of opposition, the Allies would be obliged to ; consider their operations as being hindered by the arbitrary interpretation of the neutrality of Greece, and by tho fact that Greece refuses to carry out her treaty obligations towards Serbia, and it is emphasised finally that if Greece- intends to continue to maintain this attitude tho Entente might find itself compelled to break off friendly relations with the Greek Government. ' " BRITISH DELAY." ' A Serbian officer passing through Paris was interviewed by Le Temps. He said: — "According to the latest Serbian communique the Austrians have advanced from tho neighbourhood of Vishegrad towards the old°Sanjak of Novi Bazar. It is here that the gravest and most immediate danger threatens, for while the main body of our army is holding the Austro-Germans in the north the Austrian and Bulgarian armies arc advancing to meet each other in the plain of Kossovic, in order to encircle us completely and to isolate us from Montenegro. • "It depends on our Allies to ward off this danger by prompt and vigorous action. Happily, French and Serbian troops hold the Krivolak-Ghevgeli line with the Pass of Demir Kapu, and if the Allies arrive here in force in a few days they will bo able to operate in diversion on the Bulgarian flank, and prevent their junction with the Austrians. We are very grateful to the French nation for tho resolute aid which they are giving us, and we have the same feeling for the great English nation, who we are sure will not abandon us. But I cannot conceal from you how surprised we are at the delay in the despatch of British contingents, the more so that we know tho enormous effect it will have on the Bulgarians." FERDINAND AS A BOY. In the course of an article in the November number of tho Fortnightly, Dr Dillon draws a vivid picture of King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, whoso life he describes as a "series of ingenious and sometimes ignominious endeavours to reconcile contradictories." Ho relates the following pathetic incident: —"The Batn-k massacre of Bulgarians by order of Abdul Kerim Pasha had willed forth Gladstone's pamphlet 'Bulgarian Atrocities,' and aroused the horror of civilised man. But a scction of the Hungarian aristocracy warmly sympathised with the mass-murderer, and decided to present, him with a golden-hilted sabre. Tho list of subscribers for this token of aversion to the Bulgarian people can still be viewed in the Museum at Budapest. The third nnme on that list—Princess Clementine—is followed immediately by that of her son. Prince Ferdinand ,of Coburg. who gave 100 florins as a token of his admiration for the exterWssvtoa of his future subjects 1"