THE BALKAN PROBLEM

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14697, 31 August 1915, Page 5

THE BALKAN PROBLEM

SIR EDWIN PEARS’ VIEW. CONFLICTING INTERESTS. Press Association.—P^elegraj.h^—Copyright', Received August 31, 8 a.m. , ■ LONDON, August 30. Sir Edwin Pears, m an interview ill fche> Daily Chronicle, said 3 : "if Bnlgar.a becures a promise nom fcscrvia. mm tlic Allies’ ’that. Macedonia will be. restored to tier 1 believe that, despite King Ferdinand,, who has Austrian leanings, she will ■came’in’, if. she joins the A lues. Greece win follow. King Ferdinand ’is a born diplomat. . He began tile as an Austrian oa.cer, and possesses vast estates in Hungary. he is very vain and ambitious, ana, I lear, unscrupulous, in Jus foreign policy: Owing to the Bulgarians’ group system, they are almost entirely-iu his hands. Nevertheless, Bulgaria is democratic in name, and may become, in a crisis like the .present- democratic in reality. King loidinand regards Bulgaria as the Prussia of the Balkans, i fancy ho even once made preparation for Ills own coronation as Byzantine Emperor in St. Scpliia, Constantinople/ It would bo a mistake to over-estimate the influence possessed by the royal families, but it must not be under-estimated at this moment. In Rourriauia, Bulgaria, Greece, Sweden, and Russia there are strong proGerman elements in the Courts. The democracy, however, mostly-takes a different view. 1 am sure the Bulgarians, but for chagrin over the second Balkan war, ivould long since hare Joined us.’ Regarding Greece, the Queen, who has great influence with King Constantino, quite recently brought Greece within measurable distance of a revolution. M. Venizeks’ concern to-day is rather how far ho can rely on the army, which is not inclined to take great risks. Vcnezelos is in favour of conciliating Bulgaria, and for adequate compensations would perhaps surrender Kavalla. Had Greece joined the Allies originally she:'would have had the province of Aiden, with Symrna, the capital. Even now the abominable Turkish outrages on- Greeks at. Aivali, make it certain that the Allies’ success, if Greece supports them,, will imply ,a very large extension of territory in Asia Minor. The key to the situation is an arrangement between Bulgaria' and Serbia. If Serbia surrenders Macedonia this will probably assure the aid' of Roumania and Greece. The King of Eoumaniu, as a Hohenzollcrn, naturally looks towards Germany, but this itself is insufficient to keep Roumania neutral. She, like Bulgaria, is somewhat afraid that Russia’s success will imply the occupation of Constantinople, and consequently tho transformation of the Balkans into Russian provinces. The danger from their standpoint is less great than formerly. The German alliance with Turkey compels them to favour Russia rather than the Teutons. Roumania is populous, wealthy, and powerful, and I am hopeful her re-, lations with Bulgaria and Russia will soon, enable . her to participate in the war. . ' 1 “Regarding Turkey’s future, if the Dardanelles is forced she must leave EuropA She has lost the Acgeans, aud will lose part of Asia Minor, and Adrianople will revert to Bulgaria. My solution would be to ci-cat Constantinople and’ tho country surrounding the Sea of Marmora, the Bosphorus, and . the Dardanelles into;, an international State, governed by an international Commission, similar to the Daiurbian, which lias been so. successful, Constantinople and the Dardanelles would •not bo fortified, inasmuch as the new State would ,he .guaranteed; internationally, and defences would he unnecessary." GERMANS TO INVADE SERVIA. EFFORTS TO EMBROIL BULGARIA. LONDONj August 30. The Times’ Bucharest correspondent -ays that Austria and Germany arc usng every moans to cause war between Bulgaria and her neighbours, while the Entente is trying to promote an unlerstanding on the basis of ServianTrecian concessions to Bulgaria. Comoqtent experts jexpeot that -the Gorman invasion of -Serna will begin -in. a-- few. lays.

ROUMANIA MAKING READY. ROME. August 30. All, Roumanian officers in. Switzerland 'lave been recalled. HEROIC ITALIAN: ENEMY GUNS LOCATED. LIFE GIVEN FOR COUNTRY. The. victorious advance of; the Italians ■has -been marked bv great bravery on ,be part of all ranks. On the Carnic front, wrote Mr Martin Donoliue, last month, many deeds of heoism have been performed during the ■econt severe fighting. Everybody in Tome is talking of the gallantry of two Italian artillerymen, - life-long friends, vho under cover of night set out to 'ocate a hidden Austrian battery which luring the day had grievously 'the Italian outposts. After scaling the mountain and clambering over the difficult peaks, the two soldiers discovered the hidden battery. r t, wanted some hours to daylight. How o convey the information obtained to the far-away Italian lines was the problem of the two scouts. They had taken with'them some, coloured lights: . these thev ignited, and thus the Italians were ipprised of the position of the Austrian tuns. ' „ -sA-fo .'- A But the enemy/ on seeing the lights; opened fire, killing, one and wounding the second scout. The Italian artillery, vas quickl v trained upon the hidden batten', speedily putting jt out of action,, iud avenging the life of one brave soldier who so nobly sacrificed himself for bis country. , ■■■■■/