THE BALKAN STATES

Southland Times, Issue 17656, 14 February 1916, Page 5

THE BALKAN STATES

ADVANCE PROM SALONIKA FBENCH CROSS TEE VARDAR (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) PARIS, February 12. Received February 1", 5.5 p.m. | The Petit Parisian states that the i French crossed the Vardar, and installed themselves on tlte right hank in the J region of an important station on the | Monastic - Salonika railway. i FRENCH ADVANCE IMPORTANT REINFORCEMENTS POURING- IN GENERAL ADVANCE MAY BE SOON POSSIBLE PRESH An?. T?.AT~n ANTICIPATED LONDON. February 12. Received February 12, 5.5 p.m. All eyes are again turned to the Balkans. and the unexpected news of the Vardar advance has intensified the interest in the possibilities of the situation. The correspondent of the Paris Journal at Salonika telegraphs on Thursday that tiie enemy is still displaying no inclination for an offensive. On the contrary strong French forces to-day crossed the Vardar at Topskin, advancing by two divergent columns for eight miles westward. New defence works are about fo be commenced in this region. The movement puts in our hands strong natural positions which might have served for the installation of heavy enemy guns, enabling them to bombard our works on the left bank of the Vardar. Such a march forward, the importance of which may be considerable, was rendered possible hy the arrival of strong reinforcements. Salonika is full of transports, and the allied troops are still pouring in. It may bo hoped that soon they will no longer bo compelled to keep within! t,he limits of their entrenched camps. Tlte message adds that it is certain that despite the Greek protest the Germans are preparing a fresh air raid on Salonika on a super-colossal scale. Meanwhile it is evident that the Russian offensive in the south continues with undiminished vigour, despite the laconic character of the communiques. CONTRADICTORY REPORT. NO TERRITORY OCCUPIED. MERELY CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCES. LONDON, February 12. Received February 13, 11.5 p.m. Reuter’s Salonika correspondent states that there have been merely French cavalry reconnaissances on the Vardar, and no occupation of new territory. OBJECT OP THE ADVANCE. GUARDING AGAINST ATTACK PROM MONASTICS. LONDON, February 13. Received Feb. 13th, midnight. A French wireless communique states that General Sarrail ordered the occupation of the right bank of the Vardar for a depth of ten kilometres in order to prevent an attack from the direction of Monastir. ROUMANIA COMING IN. MILITARY PREPARATIONS PROGRESSING. NO DOUBT AS TO THEIR OBJECT. MILAN, February 11. Received Feb. 13th. 5.5 p.m. A despatch from Bucharest appears to deliberately' point to joining the Allies. This is regarded as remarkable, coming from a paper noted for its pro-German sympathies. The correspondent says that the Roumanian question was seriously discussed between the Kaiser and King Ferdinand. He adds that M. Jonescu has daily conferences with the Russian envoy, which is greatly annoying the Austro-German representatives. Everything indicates that big events are pending. The Government is no longer offering opposition to the interventionists. The condition of Eoumauia closely resembles that of Italy before she entered the war. Military preparations are in progress openly and there is no longer any doubt of their ultimate object. WHY SALONIKA HAS NOT BEEN ATTACKED RUSSIA DISCONCERTS GERMANY ALLIES’ POSITION VASTLY IMPROVED LONDON, February 11. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The Morning Post’s military correspondent states that the Austro-German’s uncertainty regarding Russia’s plans explains the failure to attack Salonika. When 250,000 Russians appeared at Ismail and Reni, the Germans .hurried troops to Rustchuk in anticipation of a Russian move through Roumania. Then Russian activity began in Galicia and Bukovina, whither the Aos-tro-German forces were hastily transported from all quarters, including five divisions from the Balkans, completely the dislocation of the ( German plans. This explains the neglect of the golden opportunity for attacking while the fortifications of Die Allies were incomplete and their forces were still weak. The situation of the Allies has improved in other respects, much to the detriment of German schemes. Meanwhile Greece’s attitude has undergone a favourable change. BULGARIA’S INTENTIONS WAR ENDS AFTER SALONIKA AMSTERDAM, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The Bulgarian War Minister, in a newspaper interview, states that when the Salonika campaign is finished the war will ho over for Bulgaria, unless they arc attacked in the Balkans. HO TURKS IN MACEDONIA ENEMY HUMBER ONLY 200,000 ROM 10, February 12. Received February 13, 5.5 p.m. The Turks have completely withdrawn from Macedonia, sending all their available forces to Asia. The enemy in Macedonia do not exceed 200,000. BULGARS GOING TO ROUMANIA LONDON, February 11. Mr "Ward Price tells his paper that Bulgar officers on the frontier have informed Greek offices that their units will shortly be transferred to tho Roumanian frontier.