BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1916, Page 5

BALKANS.

i AN IMPORTANT ADVANCE. I . . FRENCH TROOPS CROSS THE VARDAR. ENEMY STILL QUIET. Received Feb 13, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 12. Le Petit Parisien states that the French have crossed the Vavdar and ininstalled themselves on the right bank, in the region of Kenstso and Verria, an important station on the Monastir-Sal-onika railway. All eyes are again turned to the Balkans. The unexpected news from Vardar lias intensified the interest in the situations and possibilities. A correspondent of the Paris Journal at Salonika telegraphs that on Thursday the enemy were still not displaying the offensive, but that their intentions appeared to be the contrary Strong French forces to-day crossed the Vardar, in front of Topsin, and are advancing in two divergent columns eight miles westward. New defence works are about to commence in this region, and this movement puts our hands on to strong natural positions which mignt have served for the installation of heavy enemy guns, enabling them to bombard our works on the left bank of the Vardar.

Such a inarch forward, the importance of which may be considerable, was rendered possible by the arrival of strong reinforcements at Salonika. Full transports of Allied troops are still pouring in, and it is hoped that we soon will no longer be compelled to keep within the limits of entrenched camps. The correspondent adds that it is certain that despite Greek protests the Germans are preparing for a fresh air raid on Salonika on a super-colossal scale. Meanwhile it is evident that the Russian offensive south continues with undiminished vigor, despite the laconic character of the communique*

ROUMANIA MASSES TROOPS. BIG EVENTS COMING. IN FAVOR OF THE ALLIES. Received Feb. 13, 5.5 p.m. Milan, Feb. 12. A despatch from Bucharest to the Ncu states that Roumania appears definitely on the point of joining the Allies. This is regarded as remarkable, as it was from a paper that is noted for its pro-German sympathies. The correspondent says that the Roumanian question has been seriously discussed between the Kaiser and King Ferdinand, and adds: M. Jonescu has daily conferences with the Russian envoy, which are greatly annoying to the Austro-German representatives. Everything indicates that big events are pending. The Government is no longer offering opposition to the interventionists. The condition of Roumania closely resembles that of Italy before she entered the war. Military preparations are in progress openly, and there is no longer any doubt of their ultimate cb-

THE SALONIKA SITUATION. RUSSIAN STRATEGY TOO GOOD. GERMAN SCHEMES FUSTRATED. Received Feb. 13, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 12. The Morning Post's military correspondent says that the Austro-Germans, are in a state of uncertainty regarding Russia's plans. He explains the failure of the attack on Salonika. When a quarter of a million Russians appeared at Ismail Rcni the Germans hurried troops to the Rustclmk base, in anticipation of a Russian move through Roumania. Then Russian activity began in Galisia, and at Bukovina, whither Aus-tro-Gcrman forces were hastily transported from all quarters, including five divisions from the Balkans, thus completing the dislocation of the German plans. This explains the neglect of the golden opportunity of attacking while the fortifications of the Allies were incomplete and their forces were still weak. The situation of the Allies has improved in other respects, much to the detriment of German schemes, and ■meanwhile Greece's attitude has undergone a favorable change. BULGARIA TIRED. TURKS WITHDRAW FROM MACEDONIA. Received Feb. 13, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 11. The Bulgarian War Minister, in a newspaper interview, declared that when the Salonika campaign was finished the war would be over for Bulgaria, unless she were attacked in the Balkans. Received Feb. 13, 5.5 p.m. Rome, Feb 11. The Turks liave completely withdrawn from Macedonia, and are sending all their available forces to Asia. The enemy forces in Macedonia do not exceed two hundred thousand,