THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144858, 9 December 1915, Page 3

THE BALKANS.

SUFFERINGS OF SERBIANS. DURING THEIR RETREAT. TIMES AND SYDNEY BUN SERVICES. (Received Dec. 9, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 8. The latest Bulgar and German reports indicate that the harrowing Serb misery compelled thorn to abandon almost everything when the pursuit caught them up. Correspondents state that Bulgarians behaved ferociously and Hungarian patrols had to intervene at Nish to prevent outrages on women. Street fighting followed and several were killed. The Germans are invadiug Albania. M. VENEZELOS’ MANIFESTO. LIBERALS ABSTAIN AT ELECTIONS. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SEKVICES. (Received Dec. 9, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 8. 31, Venozelos, in an election manifesto, says: ‘‘Successive dissolutions have transformed the constitution into a veritable serai) of paper suggesting that the monarch is liio supreme head of the State. My people will not lend itself to an election comedy unworthy of a free people and contrary to the national will, consequently it will not participate in the elections, but leave to tho Government the full and entire responsibility for tho political regime and plana which the Government is preparing. The Liberals will resume the struggle for the defence of constitutional liberties when the external crisis terminates. Should disaster come it will be unshaken in its belief that the future of Hellenism. The Government's maintenance of mobilisation proves that they are afraid unwillingly to make war in defence of territorial integrity.” GERMAN BRIBERY. OF ROUMANIAN WRITERS. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received Doc. 9, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 8. Wholesale German bribery proceeds. A Roumanian newspaper was oliered e 40,001) to turn pro-German, hut accepted £24,000 to cease publication. ■Writers are paid £2OOO to £12,000 for pro-German articles, A politician's wife was ottered a necklace worth £l3000 to secure her husband's voice at Court. The Queen ta daughter of tho Duke of Edinburgh) is on the side of tho Allies, and tho Germans have left no stone unturned to stultify her'views. KING CONSTANTINE TALKS. THE SAME OLD EXCUSES. NEW YORK. Dec. 8. An American Associated Press correspondent had an interview with King Constantino, who emphasised that if tho Entente would assure him that if they wore driven back to Greece they would re-embark and consider the Balkan campaign ended, ho would guarantee them the protection of tho whole Greek army against a Tcutonir attack whilst embarking. Ho would not do more, and would not withdraw Greek troops from Salonika and the frontiers, and he would not permit Greece to be forced or cajoled out of neutrality. King Constantino said Greece was like America—she was trying by every honourable means to guard her sovereignty. What was happening in Greece might happen in America, Holland, or other neutral countries if a precedent was established. Greece would endeavour to accommodate tho Entente, for whom she had always felt tho keenest sympathy and gratitude. The Entente would aho he aided in every way consistent with neutrality. She too long delayed her campaign to assist Serbia, yet tho Entente demanded, virtually in tho form of an ultimatum, tho withdrawal of Greek troops from Salonika, which was equivalent to leaving tho population unprotected against tho Bulgarian comitadjis, and they would experience all the horrors of tho Belgian devastation in tho event of the Allies being driven back to Greece.

King Constantino added, in reply to a question, that Germany promised to respect the integrity of Crock territory, but that did not prevent the Germans and tho Bulgarians, in case of military necessity, pursuing the retiring Anglo-French and transforming Greece into a second Boland. King Constantino denied there was any intervention policy expressed by the people’s will when 31. Venezolos was re-elected. Tho people elected him, not his policy. The mass of tho people of Greece understood nothing of foreign policy. “31. Venezelos,” ho added, “may have expressed a personal opinion that if the Allied troops landed Greeco would not resist them, but tho arrangements were made without my assent. Tho minimum Allied army, in my opinion, needed to accomplish anything in tho Balkans is 400,000. As these are not forthcoming it is evident Greece must pay tho penalty of the failure of tho Entente in their Balkans venture.” Asked what if tho Entente resorted to coercion King Constantino replied;“Wo would protest to the whole world that our sovereign rights had boon violated and wo would resist passively as long as we humanly could. Being forced to such a course wo know wouldbe prejudicial to tho liberties and happiness of the people.” Asked what he would do when unahlo to hold out longer, he replied: “Wo should bo compelled to demobilise and await the course of events. AV’hat else could we do?” SO3IE BRESS COM3IENTS. LONDON, Dec. 8. Interest in tho Balkans question is principally confined to the diplomatic situation, centering on tho altitude of Greece. Tho Westminster Gazette says wo must accept as absoluto’King Constantino’s declaration that he intends to maintain neutrality. AVhatovor strict interpretation is taken of the Treaty of Bucharest, tho Greeks must feel they owe something to tho Serbians,, who fought tho battle-of Balkan liberty. The Evening Standard says the interview reeks with quibbles. Thc.EveninesNows;.sajsdb is eleai; we

must rely on ourselves alone and increase our forces of men. Representatives of the Greek colony in London assort that King Constantine is afraid to jump in tho right direction, and say it might not do any harm if the Allies gave him a gentle push. Tho Corriere della Sera's Athens correspondent says that German agents continue to purchase Greek Journals and organise supplies for enemy submarines, which openly use Greek ports. Tho Germanophtle newspapers urge tho Government to remove the capital to Larissa. Mobilisation and more active arming proceeds hastily, us if Greece was about to enter the war to-morrow. The Kaiser decorated General Dousmanls and high staff officers on the eve of .Lord Kitchener’s and M. Cochin’s visit to Greece. Italian papers assert that King Constantine is more hostile to the Entente since Mona&tir foil. Ho will nullify any concession given gy tho Government to tho Allies. CRITICISM OF GREEK KING. TJ UICS AND SYDNEY SDN SERVICES. (Received Dec. 9, 8 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 8. Tho Times, in a leader, saj'a King Constantine’s description of the Dardanelles expedition as a gamble is delicate ground, because its risks were largely due to his refusal to sanction M. Vcnczelos penny in the spring. His defence of Greece’s failure to respect treaty obligations adds nothing to the singularly feeble explanation of his present advisors. THE 13ULGARS REPULSED. BY THE FRENCH FORCE. WELLINGTON, Doc. 9. The High Commissioner reports under date London, December 8 (4.50 p.m.): —; In the Balkans, on the afternoon of Sunday, the Bulgars attacked tho French at the bridgc-hoad at Dokirkapuc. on the Vardar, but were completely repulsed. A BULGARIAN STORY. REPORTED ROUT OF SERBIANS. (Received Dec. 9. 10.45 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. Dec. S. A Bulgarian communique stales that the French troops are retreating on both banks of the Vardar. Our pursuit continues. Wc occupied Ro.sniu town, and also Dibra (on tho Albanian frontier), following a sanguinary buttle. It transpires that the Serbian defeat at Kulaluma, near Prizrcnd, was a catastrophe. They lost all their artillery automobiles, the royal carriage, and 320 omnibuses. Wo find abandoned guns at every stop. The Albanians arc revolting and falling on the Serbian bands who arc wandering in tho mountains. The Mnllissoris are particularly hostile. PURSUIT OF SERBIANS. IMPEDED BY SNOW. * LONDON, Dec. 8. Mr. M. Donohoe wires from Athens that tho enemy’s pursuit of tho Serbians is proving difficult owing to extreme) cold and heavy snow. Many Germans have died from exposure. It is believed that 100,000 Serbians survived tho hardships of a forced march, without food and without shelter, and reached Albania. Tho Germans, ho says, aro in charge at Monastic. Tho Daily 'Telegraph’s Homo correspondent tells of pessimistic reports from Bucharest. Tho Kntcntists are silent and tho Germanophilcs are bolder. It is reported that the Roumanian forces have removed from the Austrian to the Russian frontier.

'The Prime Minister’s brother, in a speech, declared that Rounumia would remain neutral until one group was crushed, and then would ohor i.s - vices to hasten tho end. According to tho Paris Figaro it is assorted in Serbian official quarters in Athens that when the 1916-17 classes aro called up Serbia will have a quarter of a million troops, and has surprises for the enemy, and the whole campaign will bo brought to nothing. PETRUGBAD, Deo. 8.

Advices from Bulgaria state tliat the Germans aro extending their domination of tho country. They hold most of tho frontier points*and wield, tho civil control. German agents infest the quays, tho customs and tho police forco at Sofia, where tho feeling of depression deepens as tho extent of tho German mastery is realised. The existence of a spirit of revolt is proved by a leading army journal, which exhorts tho Government to firmly suppress the sowers of discord, who aro spreading consternation and painting Bulgaria’s fortunes in dark colours. AMSTERDAM, Dec. S. A Gorman communique says that owing to tho threatening development the French forces were compelled to move up their positions on tho Cerna-Vardar salient. There was severe fighting east of look. The enemy were repulsed, losing six guns. The Austrians captured Ipek and the Bulgarians have taken Djakovo. HOME, Dec. 8. ' Tho Tribuna’s Athens correspondent .aays that British transports on Sunday landed the remainder of five of the Allies’ divisions; also artillery and armoured cars from London. Tho Bulgarians repeated their efforts to bridge the Vardar, and were defeated with severe lass, mainly owing to the deadly accuracy of tho British artillery.