The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1915. THE BALKAN'S CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1915. THE BALKAN'S CRISIS.

The debate which took plhce in the House of Lords on Tuesday relative to the despatch of troops to Salonika, and incidentally to the general conduct of the war, disclosed the existence of a certain uneasiness, if not anxiety, as to the centre of gravity of the war, which, for the time being, has been transferred to the Balkans. In a studiously moder-

ate manner, but with characteristic directness, Lord Loreburn opened the debate with two questions—(l) Was the Government determined to despatch troops to Salonika with the approval of the highest naval and military advisers? (2) Would the Government give an assurance that full provision had been made for communications for the force |und supplies of men and material to the satisfaction of the Government's naval and military advisers? What he asked for was not the divulgenee of military plans, but a general statement regarding what use the Government believed it was putting the troop.-, 10. He pointed out that it was not known whether the Dardanelles campaign was entered upon with or without the advice of the naval and military authorities, and he desired to know ii' the Salonika "adventure" was to be a repetition of the Dardanelles, in a very impressive speech l.ord Cromer urged that the Government should give some general indication as to how it intended to meet the situation. The country, he said, wanted something to show that the Government had a real grasp of the situation. In his reply, Lord Lansdownc admitted that the war situation had been complicated by Britain entering into "new entanglements'' in n new theatre of war, and that such a course might seem distasteful to the Mouse of Lords, but Serbia had made a direct appeal for help, and such troops as were available had been sent, the 1:1.1)00 men detailed for the purpose being regarded as the precursor to a larger force. The one outstanding state-

inent made by Lord Lansdowue tliat will be most appreciated was the announcement lliat Lord Kitchener had linen a party to all the decisions of the Cabinet. This should serve to dispose of the many civilian criticisms on the conduct of the war. The two main questions that are most generally discussed at the present time are: (1) Why were not sufficiently large forces of the Allies sent

tu the Balkans us soon as Germany's intentions in that direction were known? (2) What is the use of sending sueh a small force now? It is easy to be wise ufiei any event, but no so easy to anticipate events that have an air of improbability. Neither France nor Britain hid the right to violate neutral territory by landing troops thereon, and it was only by the consent of Greece that the forces of the Allies were allowed to land at Salonika to help Serbia at her solicitation. When I lie position relative to the action of the Balkan States is fully grasped it will be seen that the Allies hud every reason to believe there would be a general uprising of those States against any attempted Teutonic invasion. We have known for some lime that Bulgaria turned traitor when friendly action was looked for, but. until her perfidy and secret understanding with Germany were known her good faith could not, well be questioned. It has to be admitted that German influence, bribery, and cajolery secured a victory over Allied diplomacy. At the same time, it is only fair to acknowledge that the Allies were bound to exhaust every diplomatic effort before resorting to open hostility. In this way, as it turns out, the stars in their course fought against the Allies and much I valuable time was lost, resulting in brave | little Serbia being stabbed in the back by Bulgaria while the Teutonic hosts have drawn their net of steel closer and closer around the Serbians. Then there has to be considered the attitude of Greece, and here we must admit that the Allies were again woefully deceived. With M. Venizelos in power it was reasonable to expect that his pronounced friendship, coupled with the existence of the Greco-Serbian treaty for mutual assistance if attacked, would be madp good, but M. Venizelos was thrust aside, and

whether this was a mere trick or a deliberate and autocratic action of King

Constantinic is more than we can say. Us effect, however, lias been to rob Serbia of the hope of withstanding the onrush of the enemy. The position of Roumania is somewhat different. Manifestly she is playing for safety, and this is evident from the fact that before she would proceed to help Serbia she required the Allies to furnish 400,000 troops. According to cable messages, this demand ■ was agreed to, but Lord Lansdowne'a statement omits all mention of such an j undertaking. The small force sent to Salonika has done good work, but its limitation in numbers, although supplemented, prevent the possibility of sufficing to stop the onrush of the German hordes. The splenetic attack on the British Government by the Evening News need not he taken into account. It is all part of the policy to which that hostile section of the press is committed, but that the situation is most serious cannot be gainsaid. The outlook for Serbia' is intensely black just now, but before we cast blame on Britain or France it is necessary to know far more than we do at present. There may have been a want of hustle on the part of the Allies, but fault finding and recriminations are futile in the face of the disaster that is apparently overtaking the Serbians, and the gravity o! the situation that arises therefrom. Further developments will be awaited with anxiety.