The War in the Balkans

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 128, 17 October 1912, Page 5

The War in the Balkans

" INEVITABLY USELESS ICAMPAIGN," IS IT AUSTRIA AND RUSSIA? THE POWERS TO LOOK ON SERVIA TAKING A HAND STILL MORE TURKISH ATROCITIES The war news to-day is of an interesting character, although there have been no sensational developments so far as the actual fighting is concerned. The Turks are concentrating and making a rapid advance northward, where keen hostilities may soon be expected. The suggestion is thrown out that the war is "inevitably useless," and that it lias really been provoked as a contest by proxy between Austria and Russia. The German Minister of Foreign Affairs, in an official speech, states that there is little chance of the Great Powers being involved. They will simply stand by to see fair play, and in the event of Turkey being defeated will join in her rehabilitation on a basis that will be fair to all the parties engaged. Further horrible atrocities by the Turks are reported in the south, as a .' result of which the clansmen rose in revolt and decimated the Turkish rearguard. The Servians have started operations in earnest, and heavy fighting is reported on the frontier, in which they are actively participating. The losses of the Montenegrins in the Tarabosch engagement are reported at 250 killed and 800 wounded. The Montenegrins are already faced with the difficulty of how to feed their numerous Tuzi prisoners. Roumania, despite Turkey's advances, has decided to remain neufral. In consequence of the withdrawal of the Turkish Ambassadors, the allies have decided to formally declare a state of war by Royal proclamation. Turkey's interests in Bulgaria will be confined to Germany.

A USELESS WAR. AUSTRIA AND RUSSIA. Received 17, 12.30 a.m. Constantinople, October 16. Kiamil Pasha, interviewed, said that the war in the Balkans was inevitably useless. It was really a- war between Austria and Russia. If Turkey wins Austria will benefit, and if she loses Russia will profit. England should exert her influence to terminate the war and restrain Greece, whose alliance with Bulgaria is unnatural. Belgrade, October 16.

Servians began the attack on Tibefoheh and along the frontier, and after arming the Servian population advanced to the interior. Fighting continues. ALLIES RECOGNISE THE WAR. A ROYAL PROCLAMATION. Received 17, 12.30 a.m. Sofia, October 16. Turkey's answer to the Powers is regarded as an indirect reply to the Balkan States' memorandum. Owing to the recall of the Turkish Ministers, tire allies have decided to announce war by Royal proclamation, which is expected to-day. Turkish interests in Bulgaria will be confined to Germany.

It is reported that Montenegro is already embarrassed with the problem of feeding her prisoners. Three armies are forming in Servia. Two will march to Uskub from different points, and the third will endeavor to cross Novibazar and join the Montene-

• GREEK VESSELS RELEASED. GERMAN OFFICERS JOINING THE TURKS. Received 17, 12.30 a.m. Constantinople, October 16. The Porte has released the Greek vessels laden with foreign cargoes. German officers in the Ottoman Army are resigning their German commissions to join the Turks. It is hinted that they will be reinstated in the German Army at the conclusion of peace. Thousands of Albanians are marching to the relief of Scutari.

gnns. 'Fighting at Ristovac has ceased, and

the Turks have retired across the irontier. • ■ -4^;§ff BOMBARDMENT AT KRIVA. THE TARABOSCII LOSSES. Received 17, 12.30 a.m. Cettinje, October 36. The works were-bombarded and burned at Kriva, near Palankapass, after first permitting the peasant women to leave. A Bulgarian insurgent leader perished. The Montenegrins had 250 killed and 800 wounded at Taraboscli.

EFFECT ON TRADE. M. POINCARE'S PROPOSAL. Received 16, 11.35 p.m. London, October 10. The Manchester cotton trade between Turkey and Greece is at a standstill. The Government is considering M. Poincare's conference proposal.

TURKISH ATROCITIES. VIGOROUS RETALIATION. Received 17, 12.30 a.m. Constantinople, October 16. The brutality of Essad's troops goaded the clans further south to revolt. The Turks burned and pillaged everything, and ravished and murdered four girls, whereupon the clansmen butchered Essad's rearguard. ALBANIA SIDES WITH MONTENEGRO Received 17, 12.30 a.m. Vienna, October 16. The Reichepost states that the Catholic Albanians are siding with the Montenegrins in showing gratitude and hospitality to the Malissori and to refugees. THE POWERS STANDING OUT. WILL REBUILD IF NECESSARY. Received 16, 12.30 a.m. Berlin, October 16.

THE TARABOSCII FIGHT. 1000 MEN WIPED OUT. Cettinje, October 15. Details of the fight at Tarabosch on Friday night state that Scutari searchlights revealed 1000 Montenegrins advancing. The quick-firing guns of the fortress mowed them down; they, however, disobeyed the orders to retreat and continued the assault. 'lt is believed the force was practically wiped out. THE TTJZI ENGAGEMENT. SURRENDER OF TURKISH GARRISON. Podgoritza, October 15. The Turkish commandant at first stipulated that the garrison should retain its arms and go to Scutari with a military escort. The Montenegrins Teplied that it must be sent to Antivari and thence in Austrian vessels to Constantinople. After two hours' further bombardment the Turks were forced to surrender. FURTHER MONTENEGRIN SUCCESS. Podgoritza, October 15. Houm, the last fortress- between Tuzi and Scutari, has been surrendered. The prisoners include the commandant of Tuzi and C2 officers. The road to the Scutari forts is practically open. TEN THOUSAND TURKS CAPTURED. Berlin, October 15. Prince Peter of Montenegro telegraphed to his old school at Heidelberg: <r We gained a splendid victory on Tuesday. Ten thousand Turks were captured with artillery." TURKS GOPNG NORTH. Athens, October 15. Aeroplane and cavalry reconnaissances show that 30,000 Turks have been withdrawn from the Thessalian frontier to Servia and Sorovitch, a village near Lake Ostrovo.

Hew von Kiderlin-Waechter, Minister for Foreign Affairs, inV speech at a banquet of delegates to the Exhibitions Conference, said that he was firmly convinced that none of the States there represented would be affected by events in South-East Europe. The Powers had come to an understanding with a view to confining the disturbances locally, and with goodwill on all sides a spread of the conflagration would be prevented. In case of necessity, a clearing of the debris and rebuilding on the site of the fire would be carried out by friendly cooperation. This hope has been strengthened by the news of peace being signed between Italy and Turkey.

The newspapers have cooly received the proposal, and are doubtful whether it is possible now that the war has be-

TUEKEY ON HER DIGNITY. A SERVIAN ADVANCE. Received 17, 12.30 a.m. Constantinople. October 1(5. The Porto, has decided that the Note does not merit a reply. It considers that the Balkans are wanting in deference in rejecting the Powers' mediation. Advices from Mitrovitza state that the Servians have advanced between Vranja and Tibefoheh. The local population is arming and hurrying to the frontier. Advices from Uskub state that the

MORE HOPEFUL FEELING. London, October 15. 1 Three hundred Greek reservists have left southwards. Others are awaiting steamers. The bourses of Paris and Berlin show a pronounced recovery, owing to the settlement of terms between Italy and Turkey and the belief that hostilities will be restricted to the Balkans. AMBASSADORS RECALLED. THE PORTE RETALIATES. Constantinople, October 15. The Porte, owing to the lack of deference to its Note, has decided to recall the Turkish Ministers at Sofia and Belgrade. The Ambassador to Greece has been recalled on account of the action of the Cretan deputies in taking their places in the Greek Parliament. The Porte, on account of Greece's ultimatum, has recalled its decision to release the vessels carrying foreign cargoes. THE GREEK FLEET MANNED. ARMTNG THE CRETANS. Athens, October 15. The time allowed by the ultimatum having expired, the fleet lias been manned and made ready for sea. Eight thousand Cretans are armed, and are ready to enrol when hostilities break out. AUSTRIAN PREPARATIONS. Vienna. October 15. The Hungarian delegations have adopted the naval and military credits. CONFERENCE OF THE PpWERS. Paris, October 15. M.. Poincare, the Premier, is sounding the Powers on the desirability of a conference to Wiaintain the European concert, and to prevent the Balkan conflagration from spreading. ROUMANIA NEUTRAL. Belgrade, October 15. Telegrams state that Roumania has resisted Turkey's temptation, and remains neutral, without territorial aspirations. THE SLAV RACES. RUSSIA AS PROTECTOR. Paris, .October, 15. Le Temps states that Russia, as the creator of Bulgaria, and protector of Servia and Montenegro, will not permit obstacles to the development of the Slav races, and Austria will not allow any impediment to her extension towards Salonika. THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE. Vienna, October 15. The Tageblatt says that the Frenci Ambassadors in various capitals have been instructed to suggest a conference for a prompt settlement. This makes M. Gueshoffs remark (that Bulgaria had not said her last word) significant. London, October 15. M. Cambon, French Ambassador in London, is unaware of the facts stated by the Tageblatt. THE BOURSES RALLYING. London, October 15. The Paris and Berlin Bourses have rallied, but those at Vienna and Buckpesth are still weak. THE AIMS OF AUSTRIA. A FRENCH FORECAST.

A representative of the Temps in August met in the Orient Express a Turkish Ambassador on his way from Constantinople to his post, and asked him what his opinion was of Count Berohiold's proposals in August for joint action by the Powers with regard to decentralisation in Turkey. The reply was: "At Baltic Port a virtual entente was concluded between Russia and Germany on the situation in the Near East. M. Poincare's voyage introduced France into the same entente, to which for the rest England, too, was not a stranger. Having taken no part in these conversations, Austria-Hungary painfully felt her isolation. She did not think she had been sufficiently initiated by her ally into the mystery of the conversations at Baltic Port. Hence. Berehtold's initiative has two objects—to compel Russia, France and Germany to reveal their cards, and to introduce Austria into the European Concert." The Turkish diplomatist made the following additional remark: ''Austria's policy has two strings on its bow. If she docs not. succeed by peaceful means in achieving the object she has in view, she will have recourse to military means, a»d the latter, as Ave have reason to think, will be used first by Montenegro." The Temps' correspondent does not give the name of the Turkish Ambassador in question,, and there was, therefore, no means of checking the accuracy of the message. Its publication, however, coincided with a marked change in the attitude of the French press, which, after welcoming Count Berehtold's initiative as that of a "good European," began to look askance at it, and to give utterance to various suspicions. The underlying reason for this change of attitude is indicated by the Petit Parisian, which says: "Russia does not conceal her mistrust. She i§ asking whether the Austrian suggestion is really disinterested, and whether the Slav proteges of Russia, Scrvia and Montenegro—do not run the risk of being injured by the decentralisation proposed by Count Berchtold." The Echo de Paris' says the same, only adding England to the number of Powers which are dissatisfied with the Austrian proposal. "Russia," it says, "mistrusts the Austrian plan, which is regarded as obscure, and as but little friendly towards the Balkan Slavs. As for England, her supreme object is not to estrange Turkey. Count Berehtold's proposals are notoriously inimical to that country, and England will, therefore, be in no hurry to favor them." These papers are all of the lesser rank, but they are--especially the Echo de Paris—in close touch with Russian official quarters.