THE WOOING OF GREECE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 533, 25 October 1915, Page 7

THE WOOING OF GREECE

THE ALLIES' OFFERS. FURTHER ADVANTAGES HINTED AT. LONDON, October 23/ The British Government communicated the proposal to cede Cyprus to the Greek Government on Sunday. Part of the proposals have been under consideration for some time, to induce Greece forthwith to fulfil her obligations under the Graeco-Serbian Treaty. The British Note clearly informed Greece that the fulfilment of her treaty obligation entailed the cession of Cyprus without prejudice to other; eventual advantages which the Allies might share with Greece. NO BULGARIAN TREATY. A MINISTERIAL DENIAL. ROME, October 24. The Greek Minister denies the existence of a secret Graeco-Bulgarian Treaty. He says that Greece's attitude is due solely to military considerations. LIVELY DIPLOMATIC DISCUSSIONS. DR DILLON'S VIEWS. LONDON, October 23. Writing from Rome, Dr Dillon says that a lively, but friendly, interchange of views is proceeding at Athens between the Zaimis Cabinet and the Ministers of Foreign Powers. Nothing definite has resulted from this diplomatic tournament. Internal ferment is increasing, intensified by hatred of the Bulgars and'fear of their treachery. M. Zaimis contends that Greece, as ail Independent State, is entitled to maintain armed neutrality, and that the Entente ought not to interfere with this right, in view of Greece's friendliness.

The Allies contend that they relied on the Graeco-Scrbian Treaty as essential to the Balkan equilibrium. The Entente diplomats are prepared to guarantee that Allied armies will be interposed between the AustroGcrman invaders and the Greek army. The Entente Ministers point out that the Expeditionary Forces are at the mercy of the Greek Gabinet, which, in the event of it deciding not to fight Bulgaria, would maintain friendly relations with the Austro-Germans and Turkey, . and ought not to object to demobilise. The Turkish, Bulgarian, and German Ministers emphasise that the Bulgarians have no designs upon Greek territory. It is doubtful whether spontaneous Greek co-operation can any longer be hoped for, in view of King

Constantino's plighted word to the Kaiser, but Greece may yet be constrained if the Entente nations, in their desperate struggle for their lives, are ready to employ more patent means than the argument of | invasion. A SERIOUS OBSTACLE. KING FRIENDLY WITH GERMANY. LONDON, October. 23. The Rome correspondents of the i "Daily Chronicle" and "Daily Telegraph" assert that German influence : at the Greek Court remains the most serious obstacle to an understanding with the Entente. The King strongly opposes intervention, especially the idea of Greek troops fighting the Germans. He foresees no eventuality sufficient to justify the abandonment of neutrality. WHAT GREECE WANTS, 300,000 ALLIES IN MACEDONIA. ROME, October 23. The "Corriere Delia Sera's" Athens correspondent says that all Greek parties agree that Greece cannot move unless the Allies have 300,000 men in Macedonia. Once these are landed, the Greeks of their own accord will ask to join the Entente. IN THE BALKANS. ALLIED FLEETS BUSY; BULGARIAN COAST BOMBARDED. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, October 23. The Admiralty announce that a bombardment of the Bulgarian coast was carried out by a squadron composed of British, French, and Russian ships on Thursday afternoon. A number of military positions were shelled, and serious damage inflicted to the harbour works, the railway station, and shipping at Dedeagatch. Great care was exercised by the Allied squadron tt> avoid firing at points other than those of known military importance. ATHENS, October 23. It is officially announced that the Allies are bombarding the Bulgarian coast from Dedeagatch to Porto Lji^OS. SOFIA, October 24. A communique says:— "Twelve Allied ships bombarded the &gean coast. There was no military significance in the operations." PARIS, October 23. An Italian squadron is participating in the bombardment of 'the Bulgarian coast. CAPTURE OF BELGRADE, CIVILIANS' GALLANT STAND. VIENNA, October 24. The newspapers give terrible details of the civilian resistance at Belgrade. For three days there was a bombardment by 42-centimetre guns before the Austrians were able to enter the town. Then street-to-street fighting ensued N for 24 hours. The. houses were situated in terraces, and the Austrians were unable to discover whence the bullets came, so they bombarded the whole residential quarter, and' afterwards stoi;mcd the houses. Civilians; including men of 60 and upwards; and women, and even children, defended them desperately with hand grenades. The Serbian losses were immense. Few prispners were taken.

Serbians concealed in swainps made an equally desperate resistance to the Germans" crossing the Save. The Serbians fought until they were engulfed in mud. British naval guns did magnificent service, delaying the crossing a day. THE GERMAN ADVANCE. SERBIANS ATTACKED ON ALL SIDES. LONDON, October 23. The Germans claim that General von Koevess has reached the Drna-jeivo-Slatina front, and General von Gallwitz has advanced to Savanovac. General Bojadoeff has further advanced northward of Kniashev, and other Bulgarians have occupied Kumanovo, and captured Veles, and driven the enemy across the Yardar southward of Strumnitza. Salonica reports state that the Bulgarians, after occupying Pirol, are advancing in the direction of Nish. A big battle is in progress between the Serbians and the Bulgarians at Veiles. Turkish cavalry are participating. The Bulgarians are fortifying the Rhodope Mountains. NISH, October 24. A communique admits the fall of Veles. BERLIN, October 24. A communique says:—"General von Koevess's army stormed the enemy's positions between Lukavitz and Kosmaj mountain. General von Gallwitz has driven the enemy | across the Jasanica, east of Palanka. The Serbians are giving way to pres- ! sure on both sides, and retreating from Kosutica-Mounthlantina line. "The Bulgarians captured Negotin and repulsed Serbian advances with sanguinary losses south-east of Pirot."