THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144852, 2 December 1915, Page 3

THE BALKANS.

FIERCEST BALKAN BATTLE. SERBIANS DESTROY RAILWAYS. TIMES AND SYDNEY SDN SEItVICBS, (Received Doc. 2, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 1. The Berliner Tageblatt describes the battle of Prishtina as the fiercest in the Balkans. The enemy lost 20,000 n#,n. Tho retreating Serbs destroyed tho railways which pass over defiles, mountain streams and peaks, giving continuous opportunities for damage by the Serbians and mountain dwellers. It will lie probably months before rail connection between Vienna ana Constantinople is repaired. Amsterdam slates that several tramloads of labourers have left Cologne to repair (ho Sorb lines. THE ARMY AGAINST EGYPT GERMAN OFFICERS GOING FORWARD. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN St 11 VIC US. (Received Dec. 2, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 1. One hundred and forty-five German officers, destined for I lie army against Egypt, pa-'atd through .Sofia. They stated Hint no Gormans will he employed in the Egyptian expedition except the officers commanding. GREEK SOCIALISTS, WILL NOT VOTE AT ELECTIONS. DY ELECTRIC rLI.LO lt.W'll CO I’ V 1! ICIT. (Received Dee. J. K a.m.) LONDON. Dec. I, The Greek Socialists arc mu partic - patiug in ihe ilcciiou- m the gii.iiiid-, that the Govermuetu policy r, Ulmermining the consiLulmn. PRO-GERMAN VIEWS. ROUMANIA STILL HESITATING. LONDON. Doc. 1. All the European capitals aro preoccupied with Die Balkans ranglc, and anxiety is intensified by tile publication oi tbo Greek reply to the Entente. This declares that Greece will maintain a benevolent neutrality so long as her sovereign rights are not infringed, and no restrictions of a military character will be imposed; hut it contends that Salonika ami its railways aro in the hands of tho Allies, ami tho Greek forces are therefore deprived of tboir only provisioning base. German newspapers arc publishing extravagant articles, .showing the attitude of pro-Gernmn Greeks. A leading Athenian politician, interviewed, slated that King Constantino and General Dnsmanis consider that Italy is even more dangerous than Bulgaria. Italy wants Epirus, ami it is hotter that Turkey should hold Constantinople than Russia. If the Francoliritish are driven back they will certainly bo interned. There will bo plon-. ty of highly-placed personages in the army capable of being used as hostages, and if the Abes bombard tho coasts of Greece wc can shoot so many ■British and French officers and execute a certain number of soldiers for every Greek ship sunk. Enough Britishers will bo captured io save Greece from bombardment. There is every indication that a crisis has been reached in Rmimania. Diplomatic circles are optimistic that she will soon enter on tho side of tho AIHe., , The Bucharest correspondent of Lo Temps states that the Roumanian Government is only in disaccord and opposition ns far" as dales and Dicthous nre concerned. M. Britianu is ns convinced as M. Filinosco that Roumania must partake in the conflict. Experts at Homo have come to..a similar conclusion as a result of the King of Roumania’s speech, and believe that Roumania has decided to mobilise directly Russia moves.

HOPEFUL SERBIAN 1 REPORTS. LONDON, Nov. 30. An authoritative statement is that tho Serbians are not reduced to a scanty remnant. Ono section is retreating in good order to the Albanian and Montenegrin frontiers, and tbo other in a south-westerly direction. Serbia has still available 250,000 first-class fighting men, though sho requires anus. It is positively known that tho Gorman losses are extremely heavy, and that her successes have been achieved at a terrible cost, Tho Sorbs still retain their’ former 50,000 Austrian prisoners. Tho Times’ special correspondent in Sorbia reports that tho Turco-Bulgar tension has increased. A popular agitation, which tho German agents are endeavouring to soothe, prevails in Bulgaria. The Romo paper Inbnna, in a remarkable unconfirmed statement, says that Austria is attempting to conclude a separate peace. The Paris press states that important changes have been decided upon in tho Austrian Cabinet. Le Petit Journal has a report from Bucharest that. M. Bratianu is ill, and because he has failed to strengthen tho Cabinet the situation is more and more strained. Some assort that, a compact with Russia is definite. Tho AustroGermans are massing war materials on tho frontier, and the Russian effort will need to bo great. THE FALL OF MONASTIR. LONDON, Nov. 30. Mr. Martin Donolioo. from Athens, announces tho fail of Monastic. The Serbs are withdrawing without fighting, in order to avoid useless bloodshed. Tho Greek and Roumanian Consuls, the Greek Patriarch, and the Bulgarian Exarch, who have been appointed to negotiate the surrender, have gone to Bulgarian headquarters. The French on Sunday were fighting at Gradsko, cast of Krivolak. The Serbs are retreating in good order, m two bodies, ono heading for. Albania and the other for Montenegro. Heavy snowstorms continue. Fiorina is crowded with refugees, who ar© m a pitiable state* mothers carrying their infants who have tlied fcjypyiv .Arui hunger.

The Greeks have sent urgent appeals to Salonika for food and clothing for the destitute refugees. THE ROUMANIAN HOUSE. OPPOSITION WANT WAR. (Received Dec. 2, 9 a.m.) BUCHAREST, Dec. I. Mines aro being laid in tho Roumanian waters of the lower Danube. While reading his speech to Parliament tho King was obliged to pause, owing to Opposition members crying “Down with Germany and Hungary; lead us into Transylvania.” Ministerialists tried to drown tho shouts with cheers.