THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144850, 30 November 1915, Page 3

THE BALKANS.

THE ATTITUDE OF GREECE. STILL NOT SATISFACTORY. (Received Nov. 30, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 29. The Exchange Company's Athens correspondent states that Greece is ready to discuss the Entente's propositions and satisfy all demands wnich will not compromise her neutrality. AN EARLY WINTER. DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. LONDON, Nov. 29. Mr. Ward Price, cabling Irom Salonika, says that the Kritisners are now in the first base line, and lace me enemy in a country as diilereut from the pollards in Belgium and the slag heaps at Lens as the Potteries district in England is to the Highlands of Scotland. The French, early m November, after a .still encounter, drove the enemy np a ravine across the valley northward, and were making a good position along the crest above the vfigo when, on tho night of the. Kith, tno Bulgars attacked with considerable energy, creeping down the gullies on their side of the valley noiselessly, and scaling the steep slopes opposite, their feel being shod with leather moccasins. The Flench trenches were ot an elementary character, the rocky soil making digging almost impossible, and they bad no entanglements in front of their position. Three hundred dead Bulgars wore lying under the crest next morning. ■They had been killed by the bayonet while trying to rush the low parapet. The valleys aro strewn with yellow maize, which tho peasantry have been forced to leave to rot.

“Partridges, hares, and woodcock abound," says Mr. Price, “and you only need to see the British in th% unfamiliar setting to realise why we are a great colonising race. “Neither tho grandeur of the scenery nor the sombre history of the country distracts them from setting about their matter-of-fact military duties. Already they have marie wellbeaten paths on tho hillsides where tho inhabitants never before troubled to make a track. From the railhead we have tho host road in Macedonia as a lino supply. “Men from Gallipoli, who have been suffering from heat and flies, And it an almost unbolievablo contrast. Until now 10,000 Bulgnrs have been facing us, and have boon sajL-fled to leave us alone. They apparently hold a scattered lino of trenches, blockhouses and hangars along the ridges parallel to ours. Their patrols occasionally moot ours in tho valley at night time, tho enemy frequently seizing tho opportunity to surrender owing to shortness of food."

A terrific blizzard is raging in tho districts of tho Balkans whore the Allied headquarters aro. A correspondent states that tho snow is lying deep, and tho men have plunged abruptly into a fierce winter. Only a few can bo billeted in tho mountain villages, and tho remainder aro compelled to shelter in tho trenches, a few tents, and dug-outs. Where the tents aro exposed they are blown to pieces.

The blizzard has made transport more difficult. Neither side can see the others in the trendies across the valleys. This is an early winter, and tho most severe for ton years. GERMAN PEACE OFFERS. .REJECTED WlTtr SCORN. HOME, Nov. 29. The Milan newspaper II Secolo states that General i’aaitch haa communicated General Mackonson’s overtures to the Cabinet, saying: "Our way out is marked. IVo will bo true to the Entente and die honourably.” It is understood that General Mackonsen made similar overtures to Montenegro, and. King Nicholas replied that he would send an army to dio with the Serbians «it Kossovo. CETTTGNE, Nov. 29.

King Nicholas’ proclamation exhorts tho people to remain calm and faco tho danger that is threatening Montenegro. The Serbians have been forced to withdraw to tho Montenegrin mountains, where tho forces of both kingdoms will fight valiantly from mountain to mountain.

PARIS, Nov. 29. The Serbian Minister of War states that all tunnels, of which there are many from Nish to the Bulgarian frontier, have been destroyed and the line cannot be repaired rapidly.

GERMANS GLAI.M SUCCESS. AMSTERDAM, Nor. 29. A German communique says:—We have occupied Rudnik, south-west of Mitrovitza, capturing 2700 prisoners. Tho main operations are now closed with tho flight of tho meagre remnants of the Serbian army to the Albanian mountains. Our first aim, to open communication with Turkey, via Bulgaria, is achieved. Over' 100,000 Serbians have been captured, while the German losses have been moderate.

MORE HARD FIGHTING,

IN THE KOSSOVO REGION,

(Received Nov. 29, 11.5 p.m.)

LONDON, Nov. 29, The Times) Paris correspondent says that the_ British have taken over tne Doiran-Kutchorino section from the French, and that the Serbians are concentrating in the Kossovo region. ROME, Nov. 29.

The battle at Kossovo continues. The Bulgarian losses are colossal, and fugitives affirm that 30,000 wounded have reached Sofia. King Peter, despite his grave illness, has insisted on going to tho fighting line several times, and declares that ho will die by his own hand. All the State archives have been burned.

A fresh struggle for the possession of Krushevo has begun, and being reinforced the Bulgarians are attacking the harassed Serbians. SALONIKA, Nov. 29. German cavalry have appeared before Voles. Advices from Monastic state that on Thursday tho situation was improved. Four thousand recruits had joined the garrison, and a French battery had arrived, co-operating with the Serbians in the direction of Perlepe.