THE BALKANS

Otago Witness, Issue 3084, 23 April 1913, Page 27

THE BALKANS

NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. TURKS v. GREEKS. POSITION AT CHATALDJA. FIGHTING SUSPENDED. BULGARIA READY FOR PEACE. THE ALLIES IN CONFLICT. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 21. The armistice has been signed by all the Allies except Montenegro. ' SOFIA, April 16, M- Takeoff, after a tour of Macedonia, has presented an interpellation in the Sobranje charging the Greeks and Servians with oppressing Bulgarians. April 17. No armistice has been signed at Cliatalja, but fighting is being suspended for a few days, professedly to bury the dead. It is, however, generally considered that the last shots have been fired. Bulgaria is now ready for peace, because she has practically settled the new border line with Turkey, and objects to continue fighting for the benefit of the Servians. The Greeks also are consolidating their present occupation. April 19. Reports have come to hand of fighting at Kumanovo, where the Bulgarians volunteers defeated the Servians. The latter fled, leaving 80 dead and wounded. CETTINJE, April 15. It is officially announced that Montenegro will persist in her struggle, and will yield only to force majcure. April 16. The Servian commander has instructed his troops to withdraw from Scutari. April 17. The Porte has ordered Essad Pasha to abstain from the offensive during the Servians’ withdrawal from Scutari. BELGRADE, April 18. On the ground that the time is inopportune, M. Rasies has declined to reply to the interpellation concerning Servia’s relations with Bulgaria. The Nationalists vehemently assailed the Premier, even threatening his life. The Supktschina adhered to the Premier’s decision. The relations with Bulgaria are daily becoming worse. The newspapers.are violently outspoekn despite the censorship. April 20. Vigorous official denials are given to the Bulgarian allegations that Servia has adopted repressive measures towards Bulgarian subjects. April 21. At a conference between M. Pasitch a.nd the parly leaders the latter declared that Servia would not yield an inch of the conquered territory to Bulgaria. The conference discussed the suggested entente with Roumania and Greece. SALONIKA, April 17. A Greek lieutenant and a passenger were killed while aeroplaning. April 18. The Servians have moved their division to Rewgeli. The Bulgarians are at Doran. The outposts are only a few kilometres apart. The traffic on the SalonikaDebed railway is suspended owing to differences between the Greek and Bulgarian rpilitary authorities. The Gi’eeks demand the right to guard the line, but the Bulgarians refuse to allow them. Greece has concentrated 120,000 troops at Salonika, and is hastily fortifying it. ATHENS, Apriß 14. An engagement between Greek and Turkish destroyers at the entrance to the Dardanelles is reported. Both sidjes claim a victory. April 18. The destroyer Dora has arrived at Kuteloryzo for the protection of the inhabitants. The Greeks deny the reports of massacres at Kuteloryzo. CORFU, April 20. The arrival of some blockading ships from Valona (Albania) relieved the inhabitants, who were in a state of famine, They also feared invasion by 25,000 Turks under Djavid Pasha, whose men are reported to be in desperate straits through lack of food. PORT SAID, April 20. Three Greek warships are cruising off this port on the watch for Turkish warships. VIENNA, April 15. Russia and Italy have initiated a proposal to advance to Montenegro 30,000,000 francs as compensation' for the less of Scutari.. April 16. The Neue Freie Presso states that Bulgaria believes that Servia and Greece are wilfully delaying peace in order to concentrate their armies near Salonika. April 18. The Allies raised the blockade to allow the Servians at Scutari to return, as the

snowdrifts made the Macedonian roads inv passable.

King Nicholas thanked the Boyovitch for their intended brotherly help, and added that the Montenegrins 'would continue the siege alone.. The Zeit states that Colonel Zankervitch, the Russian military attache, has left ° hurriedly. He liad dealings with Lieutenant Jandrie and Jandrie’s brother, who is an artist. April 20, Conflicting reports are received regarding Scutari. Some represent that its bombardment is still proceeding, while other# assert that- itr= has "been abandoned. LONDON, April 16. The Daily Chronicle’s Vienna correspondent says the relations between Bulr garia and Servia are becoming increasingly strained. The disputed territory comprises 25,000 square miles* Montenegro demands an extension northwards and eastwards, including Plevelje, Plava, and Ipek. April 17. The Daily Telegraph’s Vienna corro- ; spondent says the Government is increasing the army from 190,000 to 586,000 men,. April 18. The Ambassadors’ Conference has agreed to a- 30 million francs loan to Montenegro. p April 20. The Daily Telegraph’s Constantinople correspondent advises that the city is isolated. Turkish outrages on Armenians have aroused in the Young Turks the fear that Russia will intervene. The leaders favour Radical reforms, with foreign collaboration. April 21. v". The Daily Mail's Belgrade correspondent reports that a secret Austro-Bulgarian convention exists providing for reciprocal assistance in conflicts with Servia. Austria promises diplomatic support for Bulgarian aspirations in Macedonia as- far west as Oohrida.