GREEK MERCHANTMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1915, Page 5

GREEK MERCHANTMEN.

BRITAIN TAKES A FIRM STAND. London, Nov. IT. The Greek Legation announce? that Britain will allow Greek merchantmen to proceed to their destination, but will not permit further loading.

NEWS FROM SALONIKA. SERBIANS' DESPERATE PLIGHT. SANGUINARY FIGHTING. Received Nov. 18, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 17. Salonika reports that the Bulgarians, after the French success, left the bank of tl/ Cerna and withdrew northwards. The inhabitants of Monastir are panicstricken, and are fleeing, owing to the Bulgarian advance from Gostwar, which iiv southwards of Tetovo. Moreover, iuc situation on the Kachanilc front is serious, inasmuch as the Bulgarians have been reinforced from TJakub. Sanguinary and desperate fighting in the Tetovo region continues, both sides bofug continually reinforced. It is stated that the Bulgarians, after enormous sacrifices, iiave retaken Tcisvo. The Bulgarians, heavily reinforced, towards Uskub and Veles have begun a frantic offensive in order to maiitain their advances in this region, and thus prevent a junction of the northern Serbian armies. The arrival of :i Turkish regiment is reported from Veles.

A CRISIS LOOMING. GREEK INTEREST IN KITCHENER'S VISIT. Received Nov. 18, &.5 p.m. London, Nov. 17. Newspapers indicate a crisis in the Greek situation. Intense interest is attached to the probabilities of Lord Kitchener's visit to King- Constantino, which ia increased by the enthusiastic reception which lias been accorded him.

M. COCHIN IN GREECE. AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. Received Nov. 18, 9.35 p.m. Athens, Nov. 18. The public filled the station hours before M. Cochin arrived. The crowd included veterans of the Legion and Greek volunteers who were recently fighting in France, carrying a laurel wreath bound with the French and Greek colors. There was a hurricane of cheers as the train steamed in. Crowds patrolled the streets till midnight, shouting: "Vive la France!" and "Vive Cochin!"

MONASTIR IN DANGER. INHABITANTS I'ANIC-STRICKEX. FEROCIOUS FIGHTING, Rr-ecivecl Nov. lfl, 12.25 a.m. Athens, Nov. IS. it is reported that after affecting a junction at Tetovo an army of Bulgarians, under German officers, entered Prilep, ami the Serbians retreated to Ochrida. Panic prevails at Monastir, which the inhabitants are preparing to abandon. Allied reinforcements have been ?ent to Monastir. There is ferocious fighting in Babuua Pass, where the Bulgarian vanguards and the Serbian rear-guards are fighting with knives

THE STRUGGLE ACUTE. GERMAN- HATTBRTES FOR RTBUMNITZA. .I.'ccived Nov. 18, 3.3 ii.ru. Berne, Nov. 17. Three Rulgariiin divisions, with thirteen batteries to each, are proceeding to Ba'buna and Kritchcvo, with n view to occupying Peplcpe. The Bulgarians, despite :i furious Serb resistance, are progressing towards Suhagora. Twenty-three German batteries have b b«n nut to Strumaita*,

"DEEDS. NOT WORDS." THE POSITION critica:.. Oil. DILLON'S OPINION. A SYNDICATE OF KINGS. lieecivod Nov. 18, 5.23 p.m. London, Nov. 17. The Salonika- correspondent of the Paris Journal says that the Balkan expedition is a critical one. Our enemies have decided to nip the Entente's offensive, hi the bud. Herman submarines have been quintupled in strength, and when the Austro-Gormans and Turks reach the Greek frontier Greece will not hesitate longer. She will decline to continue the neutrality hitherto accorded the Entente. ''Let no appearances deceive us," says the correspondent. "The situation requires deeds, not words/' Dr. Dillon, in the Daily Telegraph, says that Uie Balkan will remain the centre of political interest until the danger of further, treachery from the neutral States has been dispelled. "1 write," he says, "with firsthand knowledge of the tacts, not .-ill of which are yet realised by circumstances. It is not yet realised that a lcagnn of nuiiiarchs, prearranged by the Kaiser, was compli.-i.i-d' in principle befure ilx ivar broke out, but the original conception was more comprehensive than the final achievement. The Germans formed a syndicate of kings, thus forestalling the unsuspecting Entente.

A SLIPPERY CUSTOMER. KING CONSTANTINE. •'The Teutons are still uncontested, for they knew what slippery customeis the Balkan peoples.are. I'affirm that the Entente's policy of chivalrous kindness and delicate tact is wholly misplaced, and the assurances of benevolent neutrality by M. Suouloudis are less solid than those of M. Yenizclos. M. Skouloiidis was not a spokesman for the Parliament and the nation. He is a mere nominee of a Prussian lieldmarshal, who is systematically doing violence to Greece's constitution and sacrificing her national honor in order to redeem a promise to his Prussian brother-in-law, '•■ M. Yenizclos to-day is a mere private individual. 'lf there were any truth or honor left in governing circles in Greece, M. Venizelos and his colleagues Would now be in power, but there is none. King Constantino is determined et all costs to create Germanophile Parliaments, hostile to the Entente. Even if Greece and her people again announce their determination to do their duty, the Prussian field-marshal will still execute his brother-in-law's designs.''

ROUMANIA. NEUTRALITY CANNOT LAST. Bucharest, Nov. 17. , A Royal decree authorises the requisitioning of all materials essential to the national defence. This is interpreted that, neutrality cannot much longer be maintained.