IN THE BALKANS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13899, 24 January 1916, Page 3

IN THE BALKANS.

■ i« ■■■«. w'lviiniiui DILEMMA OF THE KING OF MONTENEGRO. THE FIGHTING CONTINUES. PARIS, Jan. 22. Tho Matin thinks that gossibly ins entourage deceived King Nicholas on the possibility of an honourable peace, he subsequently perceiving the humijitation, owing to Austna» prematurely announcing tho total sui*render m order to provoke rejoicings m the Hungarian Parliament and with the population. LONDON, Jan. 22. The Daily Telegraph's Milan, correspondent states that since Serbia's defeat King Nicholas's Austropliile councillors have gained the upper hand .with him. They persuaded King Nicholas to surrender, to avoid Serbia's fate. The King listened unwillingly, and then sent General Maa-tinovitch, as a last resource to defend tlie approaches to the capital, promising that if the defence was futile ho would negotiate for peace. Martinovitch's efforts failed for want of sincere co-operation. He was unable" to muster more than 1200 men. The King was stunned at Austria's exorbitant demands, wliich. meant reducing Montenegro to a state of vassalage. Meanwhile General Martinovitch resolutely opposed the" capitulation ajcid retreated towards Scutari. King Nicholas was between two fires —political advisers and military. He resisted and finally sided with the Army and rejected the peace terms. ZURICH, Jan. 22. Austrian newspapers are mystified and | are asking whether King Nicholas is playing a double game. The Munchener Nochrichteg insists that disarmament is proceeding rapidly. , PARIS, Jan. 22. Tlie 'Petit Journal's Rome correspondent says the fighting m Montenegro continues eyery where. The recent interruption Was due to King Nicholas's adroitness m utilising the occasion to send away useless youths and to protect the army from a retreat if General Martinovitch. was repulsed by the Austrians. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 23. The Austrian Press Bureau states that Montenegro had great difficulty m carrying out the disarmament, owing to the great distances, the bad roads, and tlie absence of telephones. In some portions the army and the population have not yet clearly understood tlie necessity for capitulation. PARIS. Jan. 23. A Montenegrin official message says that King Nicholas has arrived at Brindisi, en route to Lyons. M. Bukovitch, ex-Premier, commands the army, I and is endeavouring to junction with the Serbians m Albania. ,