READY FOR ACTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12956, 15 January 1913, Page 3

READY FOR ACTION

THE ALLIES' DETERMINATION. (Received January 15, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 14. The Balkan's delegates have decided to break off the conference simultaneously with the delivery of the Poors' not© to Turkey; also to instruct ahe commanders to terminate the armistice. (Received January 15, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 14. Only Turkey's complete surrender, or the Powers' armed intervention, can prevent the renewal of the war. (Received Jan. 15, 12.35 p.m.) BERLIN, Jan. 14. Herr von Bethm'ann Hollwegg, Chancellor of the Exchequer, on behalf of the Foreign Office, replying to an interpellation in the Reichstag, said that the belligerents mutually accused each other of atrocities. The German Government had brought all reports about these matters to the knowledge of the Governments concerned, and had taken steps to prevent a recurrence of such atrocities.

(Australian Press Specials.) LONDON, Jan. 8. On Saturday the allies' envoys arrived at the conference-room in St~. James's Palace punctually to time. • - The Turkish delegates were not there, and after a few minutes' wait a messenger was despatched to their hotel to make inquiries. The messenger returned with the information that the Ottomans desired a postponement, and the allies guod-humoredly consented, M. Dane!? (Bulgaria) sarcastically remarking. "Englishmen for the sea.. Frenchmen for the fields. Turks for the green c'oth," the reference being to tne green-covered table at which the delegates sit. Subsequently the ailies announced that uhles3 all their demands were conceded on Monday the war will be resumed in four days, in accordance Avith the terms of the armistice. It is privately known that the Turks are willing to come to terms, but fear the effect that a- climb-down will hare on the Government at Constantinople. A!s a last resource they hope that Adrianople will surrender, and thus end' their troubles. . . The conference of Ambassadors met in the morning and informally resumed their deliberations in the afternoon. They unofficially informed the allies that the latter might adjourn their negotiations, but must not terminate them. The Powers, therefore, are insisting on peace.The Stock Exchange i3 in u nervous condition, owing, to leans of a rupture in the pence pourparlers. Consols fell a quarter yesterday. Diplomatic circles in Vienna have been informed that the Sultan is going to Chatalja to confer with King Ferdinand of Bulgaria. Officers who have escaped from Adrianople state that the distress in the fortress is becoming acute. The people are starving, and are trying to persuade the commandant to surrender. Dissensions are arising regarding the royal, houses -of Servial arid Montenegro.. Each is credited with 'the desire to unite the two nations under one kingship. In Montenegro the agitation is becoming strong for/ junction with the Serbs, and it is suggested that King Nicholas shall be pensioned. It will require all that monarch's skill and diplomacy to conquer and control the, clamor of this section, of his people. [King Nicholas has guided the destinies of Wie little State of Montenegro since 1860, and took the title of King on reaching the fiftieth 'year of his rule. With one exception, that of the^ Emperor of Austria, he has reigned longer than any other European sovereign. He is known as "the homely king," and in ti letter recently sent to the Sun by a traveller in. Montenegro, who detailed his first sight of the monarch, it was stated that the latter was sitting in tv plainly furnished room of a rather poor house, with a- kitchen chair for a throne, and in his shirt sleeves. On© of Nicholas's daughters is Queen Elena of Italy.] , , v A painful feeling has been created in Constantinople by the publication in one of the newspapers there of descriptions of, the abominable treatment inflicted on Moslem refugees from Roumelia by their co-religionists. In Konia, women and girls are said to have been subjected to the vilest indecencies by the dregs of the population, and even by police and officials. Women have been compelled to dance in public in some of the religious schools. , The ultimatum of the allies' delegates at the London conference has not produced despair in Paris. Ifc is generally and confidently believed there that the Powers will be able to prevent a renewal of hostilities, and reconci-ie the differences. t The Turkish delegates have been instructed to decline to discuss the surrender of Adrianople, but/ the capitulation of the fortress is expected. The Times ' Vienna correspondent writes: "If the present opportunity of saving peace be neglected, it may not recur until the greater part of lAirope is convulsed by a terrific struggle. Cliques, which appear to have lost their power of sober calculation, are again acquiring influence, and are putting forward in support of their scheme lunatic arguments arid assumptions. One notion is that Austria could support the allies and make their victory sure at the price ; another is that she could support Turkey, and take her chance of Russian intervention and continental war ; . and a third that she could remain neutral, providing that the belligerents pay for its . neutrality. The military are possessed of the idea that success will at^ tend action in any direction, and against any adversary. 'The delay in effecting peace makes this campaign dangerous/' A special commission of Roumanian army officers is buying remounts. The peace strength of the forces is placed at 100.000 men, with 534 guns. \The Turkish fleet left the Dardanelles on Saturday . m6rning and encountered .some of the Greek "warships off Cape Hellas. A serious engagement was anticipated. Later news says that the Turks followed up their first attack and resumed fire at middav, the Greek vessels withdra.wing^ The Turkish fleet has returned to the Dardanelles. A council of Avar was held at the Porte j'osterday, the German military attache attending and remaining for a long time. An unofficial exchange of views has taken place between Austria and Russia on the ■subject of military precautions. The upshot is that there will be no alteration of the present arrangements.. The demand of Admiral Montecuccoli. the Austrian War Minister, for a new Dreadnought division has been postpon? ed for some weeks, and will then be again discussed at a. Ministerial conference.