IS PEACE OF BALKANS IMPERILLED?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20054, 11 March 1935, Page 9

IS PEACE OF BALKANS IMPERILLED?

NATIONS PROFESS NEUTRALITY APPEAL TO LEAGUE PROPOSED. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. “The Daily Chronicle” in a leader, urges the prompt summoning of the Council of the League of Nations to promote the maintenance of peace between Greece and Turkey. Professions of Neutrality In view of certain misleading reports it is officially stated that the British Government has not as any time expressed any opinion on the present disturbances in Greece. The action of his Majesty’s Minister at Athens has been confined to expressing his personal sorrow that recent events had led to bloodshed. The Turkish Government maintains impartiality and refuses to take sides, though watching the attitude of Bulgaria. The Turkish Minister at Geneva reiterates Turkey’s Pacific intentions and fails to understand Dr Antonoff’s allegations. He explains that the only troop activities are those of recruits undergoing training. The policy of Turkey regarding the Balkan Entente, is the absolute maintenance of the status quo. This statement has greatly eased the situation.

Dr. Antonoff now declares that Bulgaria does not doubt Turkey’s pacific intentions.

The Greek Minister at Geneva, in drawing the attention of the League to the grave danger to Balkan peace, caused by the concentration of Bulgaria’s troops on the frontier, said it was feared that Bulgaria may support the rebels.

CAMPAIGN CONTINUES GREEK AIRCRAFT .ACTIVE United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 9.30 p.m.) SOFIA, March 9. Greek Government aircraft, are attacking Demir-Hissar, preliminary to a new offensive against the rebels. The Greeks are reported to have mobilised all men between twenty and thirtyeight in this area. CONFLICTING REPORTS VENIZELOS BELIEVED INJURED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 6.30 p.m.) ATHENS, March 8. The Jugo-Slav steamer Vitsovar intercepted a wireless announcement that a destroyer is taking M. Venizelos, who is seriously wounded, to Alexandria. The report that M. Venizelos is wounded is not believed in Athens. His son has not heard anything. Greek Women as Nurses Madame Tsaldaris has inspired the despatch of two ambulances to Macedonia. Many society women are volunteering as nurses. LOYALIST FORCES CONFIDENT VENIZELOS WARNS LEADERS IN GREECE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 11.30 p.m.) ATHENS, March 10. The Governor of Mytilene, accompanied by two deputies, has arrived at Ankara after a perilous journey in

an open boat, during which he was fired on by Venizelists. Warning: By Aircraft Three aeroplanes, after dropping a proclamation in Crete, appealing to Cretans not to recognise the rebels, bombed the barracks at Reth and Candia. They claim that they also hit an oilship which was entering Candia harbour.

General Kondylis has issued a communique that in spite of bad weather, twenty aeroplanes heroically bombed the rebels’ concentration camp and the railway station at Serres. They also reconnoitred the Serres Plain, the greater part of which is flooded. The mutineers are in a lamentable condition. The Loyalists, however, are in excellent spirits and are now making efforts to discover a way of crossing the Struma and the floods. “We are fighting both Nature and miserable adversaries.” General Kondylis is superintending the final arrangements for the offensive, the artillery bombardment for which has begun in readiness for the attack to-morrow, but the Prime Minister told the journalists that it would not be carried out if the insurgents laid down their arms, as is probable owing to continued desertions, although reports from the rebels declare that their strength is 100,000. M. Venizelos, broadcasting from the Averoff, declared that he would hold M. Zaimis (the President), M. Tsaldaris (Prime Minister) and General Kondylis personally responsible in the event of the fleet being harmed. M. Tsaldaris announces that the telegrams received from the Greek colonies in New York and elsewhere denounce the rebels, and demand their most vigorous repression. The French cruisers Foch and Tourville have arrived at Piraeus and joined the other French units. Ships of the Italian and British fleets are also present. General Plastiras has applied to Jugo-Slavia for a visa to enable him to reach Macedonia. Balkan Pact Keeps Order In spite of military activities creating tension in south-eastern Europe, several reassuring opinions have been issued to journalists by the Foreign Office spokesmen in the various capitals. The Italian spokesman declares that Italy is neutral and there is no question of supporting M. Venizelos. Moreover, Italy did not know of any secret understanding by which M. Venizelos, if victorious, would grant Bulgaria an outlet to the Aegean Sea. The Yugo-Slavian spokesman said it was not believed that there was the slightest danger of international complications. It would be sheer madness for Bulgaria and Turkey to intervene, while if a foreigner came in, the Balkan Pact would become operative, and Yugo-Slavia would assist Greece to repel the invaders. The Turkish spokesman declared that Turkey was ready to accept any solution which would satisfy the League and world public opinion. M. Zlateff, the Bulgarian Premier, denied that Bulgaria was mobilising, and added that Bulgaria’s enforced reduction of armaments would prevent her from even thinking of a violation of the peace.

M. Titulesco, president of the Balkan Entente, said: “We are all with Greece and hope that she will speedily overcome the crisis. Present events are certainly proving the efficiency of the Balkan Pact.” STATEMENT WITHDRAWN TURKO-BULGARIAN INCIDENT CLOSES United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 10, 11.30 p.m.) GENEVA, March 10. M. Antonoff, the Bulgarian delegate to the Assembly of the League of Nations, has sent a letter to M. Avenol withdrawing the statement that Turkey was concentrating troops on the Turco-Bulgarian frontier. It is now considered that the TurcoBulgarian incident is closed.