Progress of the Balkan War

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 47, 18 October 1912, Page 5

Progress of the Balkan War

NO CONFERENCE POSSIBLE.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (United Press Association.) London, October 17. The incompleteness of the mobil.aatiou is supposed to have delayed the allies’ and Turkov’s declaration of wav. Other opinions are that the war fervour lias been shaken by the conclusion of peace with Italy. In Ottoman quarters it is stated chat nothing in the nature of a conference is possible at present. Turkey will not agree to a conference having for its basis the terms proposed by the allies. THE ATTITUDE OF ROUMANIAN ‘The Times’ ’ Sofia correspondent says that Roumania lias informally expressed approval of the allies’ Note with regard to Macedonian reforms, but does not approve of the association of the allies with the Gre.it lowers in the work of supervision. The correspondent states that Montenegro’s declaration of war was not preconcerted with the allies. THE RED CROSS. Many Red Cross units have been despatched to the Balkans from Continental cities. The British Rod Cross is appealing for Balkan funds. The ‘.Daily News’ has opened a s.'ck and wounded fund. SURRENDER OF 12,000 KEN. Podgoritza, October 17. The surrender of Berana was perccded by the severest fi editing;. Under cover of darkness the Montenegrins stormed the positions on the Rogano Heights. At daylight a Montenegrin division broke through the Turkish Hues and completed an enveloping movement. The garrison of twelve hundred surrendered. During the nbdib four thousand Turkish regulars and three thousand Albanian irregulars escaped. THE KEY TO SCUTARI. General Martinovics Ims occupied important positions at the rear of Tarabosch, which is the key to Scutari. The bombardment of Tarabosch is proceeding. Sofia, October 17. The Turkish Legation has dolt. The Cabinet has nob arrived at a decision regarding the recall of the Minister from Stamboul. REPORTED TURKISH VICTORY. Constantinople, October 17. Some skirmishing has occurred on the Servian frontier. The Turks report that four battalions defeated eight thousand Montenegrins in Krania. Athens, October 17. The Turkish Minister has been recalled. PROSPECTS OF PEACE. Vienna, October 17. M. Pasics, in an interview published in the ‘Der Zeit,’ says that the Balkans still do not desire war. Before lighting they will make a last attempt to arrive at an understanding with Turkey. Some days must elapse before there are any decisive events. THE CAPTURE OF TUZI. Vienna, October 17. Arms and ammunition have been ordered for Austria. St. Petersburg, October 17. Details of the capture of Tuzi date that the Montenegrin advance on Vranja, an outpost of Tuzi, was repulsed with heavy loss, but the garrison was unable to withstand a second advance, preceded by a heavy bombardment. The ‘Novie Vremya,’ reviewing the Triple Entente, first in the Far East and now in tho Near East, says that France has failed Russia, while the agreement with England tied her hands in Persia. It declares J.hat Russia cannot permit every combination she enters into to bring loss, it violently accuses M. Sazanoff of failing to co-ordinate his policy with Russia’s allies and friends in connection with tho Balkans. LATEST NEWS.

(Received 18, 8.10 a.in.) Constantinople, October 17. Hostilities have begun on the Bulgarian and Servian frontiers. GUNBOATS AND A FORTRESS. London, October 17. Two Greek gunboats were subjected to heavy firing from the fortress at Prevesa, and forced a passage through the Gulf of Arta. SERVIA AND BULGARIA IN IT. Constantinople, October 17. Turkey has declared war on Servia and Bulgaria. . BULGARIA’S AEROPLANES. (Received 18, 10.45 a.in.) Vienna, October 17. Bulgaria has ordered eight aeroplanes. FOOD FOR THE TROOPS. Podgoritza, October 17. Montenegro has sufficient fuirds for two months’ food in the military depots at Berane. THE SERVIAN ARTILLERY. Belgrade, October 17. Servian artillery repulsed an attack by Anoints at Pryepolye, ki.ling 20). The Servian loss is unknown. The King has started for headquarters at Nish. MINISTERS’ PASSPORTS. Constantinople, Oc'obor 17. Servian, Bulgarian, and Grecian Ministers have received their passports. Athens, October 17. The, Turkish Minister has left without asking for passports. SERVIA DECLARES WAR. (Received 18, 12.15 p.m.) Belgrade, October 17. Servia has declared war. RED CROSS TO THE FRONT. (Received 18. 11.5 a.in.) London, October 17. The Red Gross Society is sending an ambulance corps to Montenegro. Doctors Antonv Bradford and P. Goldsmith (Australians) will accompany it.

AUSTRIA AND MONTENEDRO.

AN ALLEGED SECRET TREATY. A document of the very highest importance is, according to tho Hemps, published by the ‘Colas Moskvy (Voice of Moscow), a Moscow paper, which, it may bo observed, is the organ of M. Giltchkoff, tho leader if the Octobrist party, who lias excellent connections in the Balkans. The document is nothing less than the text of a secret treaty between Aus riaand Montenegro, signed at A ienna on J lino 12, 1907, for a period of twenty years. Its chief provisions are: — _ 1. In case of war between Austria and Russia or Servia, Montenegro is to preserve strict neutrality. 2. in case of war between Austria and Turkey, Montenegro is to lend the former her assistance. 3. In case of war between Austria and Italy, Montenegro is to cede to the former the port of Antivari for temporary use in return for payment. 4. In case .Montenegro is attacked by Turkey, Austria is to support Montenegro materially and diplomatically, and should Montenegro be defeated, Austria guarantees her integrity and the restoration of the status quo ante helium. 5. Montenegro undertakes not to protest against the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and not to enter into negotiations with any Power, especially Russia, Italy, arid Servia, without previously informing Austria.

G. If a Balkan federation is realised under the protectorate of the Hapsburgs, Montenegro shall obtain a large measure of autonomy and an accession of territory by the additional Herzegovina and northern Albania, from the Bay of Cattaro down to the River Drin.

7. Austria is to make a yearly pay-

ment of 360,000 kronen (£15,000) to the King (then Prince) of Montenegro, and guarantees the maintenance of his dynasty.

■Yet another article provid. s' for the annexation (to Austin:') if the S.u.djak of Novi bazar. “Old Se; via,” central Albania, and .Macedonia. The document hears every mark of being genuine (says tho ‘Manchester Guardian’ of August 29). The existence of a secret treaty between Austria and Montenegro- has long been suspected. In 1907 King (then Prince) Nicholas of Montenegro paid a visit to Berlin, of which fie afterwards spoke at the opening of the Skupshtina with particular emphasis and' satisfaction. Shortly aitervvaicL the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the lieir to the'Aiistro-HungaiLn throne, had an interview at Ragusa with Prince Danila of Montenegro (King .Nicholas’s heir), and the Austrian Admiral Montecuccoli paid an official visit to Cettinje. These movements drew universal attention at the time, and suggested the idea that an understanding had been concluded between the two Powers.

The most surprising feature of the document is the completeness cf his dependence on the Haps burg monarchy to which Prince Nicholas appears to have consented. Not only was he willing, apparently, to accept military aid from Austria, to help her in war against Turkey or Italy, and to become an Austrian pensioner, but he consented to leave the Serb fellowcountrymen in Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, and Dalmatia for ever in Austria’s grasp, to allow her to absorb the Serbs of Servia and No.dbazar, and to submit to becoming a little Austrian vassal in return for a cession of territory about equal to what iie now holds. If tho condition mentioned in article 6 were realised, Montenegro would he a semi-independent State surrounded by Austrian territory or territory dependent on Austria, and the dream of a united Serb nation would have vanished.

A cablegram appearing in the Sidney ‘Sun’ states that the latest estimates of the war strength of the possible belligerents place Turkey’s lull force at 1,000,000 men, as against Bulgaria’s 320,000, Roumania’s 360,000, 100,000 serving under the Grecian flag, 175,000 from Servia, and •50,000 from Montenegro. Turkey’s field army consists of 200,000 officers and men, while the composite opposing side would be made up of 250,000 from Bulgaria’s hills, 170 000 Roumanians, 50,000 from Greece, HO 000 from Servia, and 30,000 from Montenegro. Bulgaria has 700, guns, Servia 500, and Greece 400.