THE BALKANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 52

THE BALKANS.

BULGARIAN ADVANCE. GREEKS FALLING BACK. SALONIKA, May 29. The Bulgarian Xanthi Division is rapidly approaching the Mesta bridge. Another Bulgar brigade is advancing down the Struma Valley from Petritch (west of the Struma). Uhlans have occupied Demirhissar railvray station. It is believed that the Greek garrison evacuated Demirhissar. The presence of Bulgar and German patrols in the Demirhissar region compelled the French to discontimie their motor service for supplying the Greeks in Eastern Macedonia. The Greeks in Northeastern Macedonia are falling back on Veria, west of Salonika. The Serbians are claiming the privilege of fighting in the Allies' front rank. EXCITEMENT IN SALONIKA. SALONIKA, May 29. A huge gathering in St. Sophia, Salonika, made demonstrations against Bulgaria. Strong speeches were made denouncing the Greek Premier. The crowd cheered M. Venizelos and the Allies, and telegraphed to King Constantine protesting against the a.bandonment of forts built with the blood of martyrs. The crowd tried to wreck a cafe where a number of Greek soldiers cheered the Germans. French gendarmes assisted in keeping off the crowd. GREEK PROTEST PROBABLE. ATHENS, May 29. Mr M. Donohoe advises that, apai-t from protesting to the Central Powers, it is unlikely that Greece will take action. King Constantine was absent from Athens, but returned immediately and summoned the Premier, M. Skouloudis, and tho War Minister, with whom he had a long consultation. The Greek Government is experiencing difficulty in allaying the newspapers* and the public's grave concern. The Greeks regard the Bulgarian invasion as a national insult. BULGARIAN IMPUDENCE. ATHENS, June 1. B'ldgaria has protested to the Greek Government against frontier troops firing upon Bulgarians occupj-ing Rupelfort. M. Skonloudis declined to consider the protest. PETROL STOCKS BOMBARDED. COPENHAGEN, May 31. The Zeit Am Montag's Athens correspondent states that a British flotilla bombarded the petrol stocks at Nauplia (on the Isthmus of Morea). Many houses were burnt. Greece has protested. The Greek Government is provisioning Seres and Drama, (towns cut ofi by the Bulgarian invasion) via Kavala. A ZEPPELIN DESTROYED. AMSTERDAM, May 31. It Is reported that a Zeppelin collided with some trees near Veles (Vardar Valley, Serbia), and was destroyed. ' A BELATED REPORT. AMSTERDAM, May 31. A Turkish communique states: Hostile torpedoes and aeroplanes attacked El Arish (on the route from Syria to Egypt) on May 29. BULGARIANS IN MACEDONIA. LONDON, June 2. The Tim?s"s Salonika correspondent states that the Bulgarians are not attempting to conciliate the Greek inhabitants of Macedonia, who are flying souUiwards and spreading a panic with tales of rape, murder, and pillage. A number of Bulgarians violated a schoolmistress at Lehovo, and massacred several peasants at Lehovo, Tchengel, and Little Petritch. CON STANTINOPLE. LONDON, June 2. It is reported from Odessa that the Germans have insisted on the withdrawal of all the Turkish troops defending Constantinople. The population is indignant. Twenty thousand Germans, 80CO Austrians, and 4000 Bulgarians are now in possession of all the forts at Constantinople. THE ALLIED FORCE. SALONIKA, June 2. Allied aeroplanes raided Porto Lagos (east of Kavala), blowing up a Bulgarian munitions depot. SALONIKA, June 4. The Allies have proclaimed martial law in all the zones of Macedonia in their occupation. SITUATION AT SALONIKA. ALLIES TAKE FULL POSSESSION. SALONIKA, June 4. Allied troops have occupied tho port, Customs, municipality, prefecture, and telegraph offices at Salonika. A strong detachment is picketed here, and throughout the town, armoured motors are patrolling the streets. The Greek police commandants have been relieved of their functions.

Xo opposition was offered by the population, who remain tranquil. The seizure of the post office means the abolition of the severe Greek censorship and the substitution of an Anglo-JTrench censorship. BULGARIAN CONCENTR ATION. ADVANCED FRENCH LINES BOMBARDED. SALONIKA, May 30. Important Bulgarian forces are concentrating at Nevrokoj}. The Greeks still hold the town of Demirhissar, but the civilian inhabitants have left. The enemy are bombarding the French advanced lines along the Vardar. The inhabitants of Seres are petitioning the Greek Government for protection owing to the Bulgarian invasion. They point out that powerful bands of Comitadjis have appeared in the Drama region, which is interpreted as being preparatory to an advance on Kavala. Le- Petit Parisian's Salonika correspondent states that General Sarrail, questioned on the enemy's artillery activity, shrugged his shoulders and remarked : " All this is merely to conceal the relieving of troops. They are wasting' a lot of munitions of poor quality without result. We shall leave it alone at present, but we shall reply if their bombardment becomes annoying. They used 2850 shells a week at one point, and killed one of my men and wounded another." The Salonika correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that the Greeks continue to hold the station of Deinirhissar, though the Bulgars siave taken up the heights within two ntiles of the town. Their concentration at Nevrokop foreshadows a continuance of the Bulgarian advance in Eastern Macedonia. .May 31. Bulgarian concentrations are threatening Seres, Drama, and Kazala. The Allies view the invasion with equanimity; tha policy of throwing open the gates of Macedonia is deemed to concern Greece alone. Twenty-five Bulgarians were killed and 45 (including three Germans) wounded in the fighting at Kula. Berlin messages state that the Bulgars are operating in Macedonia in accordance with an agreement with the Greek Government [When the Greeks were ordered to withdraw the commander of a force at Kula at first refused to obey the order, and opened fire upon <he Bulgarians. Subsequently the Greeks all retired.]