1916-01-15 — Page 8

THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH.

DIPLOMACY AND BAITLE IN THE BALKANS

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF ITALY'S CAMPAIGN.

[By Frank H. Simonds in the American Review of Reviews]

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1916

For the British Empire the maks Bulgaria the Praia of the them, that be deceived and fooled dismissed Venizelos. His own the aid of the Serbians, Her Garman hire always rightly Balkans and his hope was sad is them completely, and at the pro- sympathise doubtless dietated his centrality on the whole seems to maintained that Suez is the most to be crowned the Czar in St. per time, having taken s pose sction, but who can blame any have leaned toward the Allies and vital point, the "Heel of Achilles," Sophia, Czar of the restored boirs from Tasker in the shape king, with Belgium's fate in his against the Austro-Gertomus, as to use their phrase. Egypt com- Byzantine Empire. This ambition of the western bank of the Mari- eyes, for declining to risk bringing shown by various bitter commente quered, the Suez Canal closed, explains the Second Bulkan War., giving him a railroad on his apon his country the rain that in Berlin aswspapers, but Rounst- India would be isolated, British It led to complete Bulgarian own territory to the Aagean, pro- bas afficted Belgium?

nian aid remains an Allied dreamea rala in North Africa destroyed. disaster, because Basis, hitherto ceeded to fulfil his promises to Eid the Allies taken the pre-rather than expectation, and Tarsish expeditions would be įthe champion of Bulgaria, refused Austria,

caution to pat 200,000 men in Roumanien neutrality, the best able to push east along the route to support Ferdinand, permitted

IV Greece.

Salonica before Balgaria mobili possible eventuality. of Mohammedan conquest to Trip Roumania to attack Bulgaris, In the case of Greece there waa, ed, Vanizelos might possibly have oli, Tanis, and Algeria, and first and thus brought the defaut, a distinct and decisive popular prevailed; the Greek people would Such, briefly, is the story of British and then French and which led to the inglions Treaty sentiment in favour of the Allies not have been faced with the Balkan diplomatic campaigns in Italian colonial power would be of Bacharest, by which Balgaris among the people. The Kmg danger of fighting the Central recent months which bava: led te I The War Goes Szath From Germany by indirect and imperiiled, alike by invading was ahora of most of her con- and his Queen, who was the sister Powers, with Bulgaria thrown in, great Allied defeat. Germany of the Kaiser, were wholly Ger before Allied troops had arrived won because she had Bulgaria In November the great Allied direc: routes rumours of peace armies and revolting subjects queets.

In this war Fardins i had been man in their leanings, hat Venise Not alone their own fortunes, not in her hand to start with. The offensive in the West dropped to chatinced to flow,peace which still faithful to Islam. mere fitful cannonading, the great ras still described as "victori- Under the shadow of such a driven by his own ambition and los, the great Cretan statesman, alone those of Serbia, bat the Allies lost because they never drive was over, and it had amoratous," but peace founded ca con- catastrophe, before Egypt were by the urgings of Vienes, which was sa preme in the Hellenis Par- political power of their best and could recognise that Balgaris was ed to a local success in Champagne ditions discoverable only to Ger- lost or India mensced by invasion hoped to destroy the Balkan liament and the advantage was all truest friend in the Near East, beyond their reach and wasted Venizelos, was sacrificed by Allied precious months in bargaining and a smaller local triumph in man eyes and disclosing the grow and by insurrection, already sug-League, a Bussis creation, to with Ailies.

This advantage they sparificed blundefine, which cannot be ex-with Ferdinand, weakening ther Aris. The German lines and ing lodging of the German people rested in November reports, modermine Russian influence a

With these Britain might consent to make neither been pierced nor broken for an end of strife.

They lost, too, because their Du On the other hand, the Germans, rumours came reports of suffering peace. To save her empire she has, and pave the way for when they attempted to restore the cased and can hardly be satia- preetige in Bacharest surthere

Austrian advance through Serbis old Balkan confederacy and asked factorily explained.

Greece to sacrifes a province to Greeca did permit the Allies to danelles campaign was anʼahao- having brought many divisions from food shortage, the descrip- might agree to betray her Allies, to Constantinople and Salonicthis end. Greece was ready to send troops to the Serba. She lute failure, destructive of pres- After the disaster Ferdinand might have lost his throne but for Ane enlist, she was willing to fight for could only prevent it at grave tie and military reputation. train aid, aid which be promised the Allies, but her enemy was peril, becane all her coasts are

Aside from Bulgaria all the to pay for at the proper time and Bulgaria. She knew that Bal- open and a quarter of her popula-

the Maritza

France. striven to reach Gress Britain in bia fight for world empire. To Turning now to the main mili-England b-longe the responsibility remaining to them, including tary cperation, I shall try to das for his fical destruction, because

apparent Britain alone, immune from a 130,000 prisoners, a ten weeks' cribe briefy the bag. Everywhere they were 03 reasons for the third great Ger- tack, could give financial and the offensive, but nowhere did man bid for decision, the march other support to his enemies. their offensive re: achieve ma-on Constantinople, the attitude of England was playing the same terial resale Batit was azmis Greece, Bulgaris, and Roumanis, role again with the same success. takable that what had occurred in the failure of Allied diplomacy The war had become a duet vinces, to have vengeance or Saeb] at Valons, was the true menace about to be destroyed, because of Car, who showed himself the

France after the Marne and the and the progress of the campaign Yser was taking place in Russia. itself. I shall also summarise the The Sisvs, like the French, had Italian campaign, which was escaped destruction, were begin-marked by very severe fighting ning to come back, making their particularly on the Isonzo frui firs: pashes against the German post nibbles" of the Allies in positions, wholly similar to the the West many months before.

conevery German believes, im from the Russian front, made des- tion of new regulations ta perate bat nasticcessial attempts serve food products, calminating plicitly in the legend of perfid to regain lost ground. Aside in the taking over by the governous Albion" she might per- from very minor incidental sacment of all food supplies Marinade her stricken Allies to join there,they failed with bears "the German people is in dis would give Germany much in/bas now paid for in full. Bat the garia meant to take Salonica some tion live on jalands. She was advantage lay, with, the Allies cesses, trench here, a hilltop milian Harder's frank statement, in the appeal furs peace which

the most tangible territory, but leave them territs a great disaster to Ferdinand | day. She knew that Ferdinand at the mercy of the Allies, but Bath in Greece and Bosmania the topes was a similar disister to was pledged to the Austrians. She here her assuance ended. Con- whole weight of populary sym- losses, and the deadlock remain- tress," was

evidence of the situation. Even ally undiminished save is the Bulgarian aspiratios, founded realised that her future was im-ceivably great Allied victories in pathy was with them. In Greece the ed.

On the Eastern front the life in the face of this, the world be case of Russia. For colossal in upon the dream of regaining perilled if Balgana were increased the Balkans may enlist her, bat

greatest statesman of the nation'WER went out of the German effor: lieved German scarcity was ex-demnities German armies would Macedonia which anciently bad as her expense. She had asked of such enlistment will probably in power and ready to aid them evacuate Belgium and been Balgar, and occupying the the Allies that in return for her come only after victory had made La Roumanis a conspicious leader, about Riga By mid-November aggerated, but in it was found agree to German ballens conceded the new Allied confidence that the

For ten years Napoleon hai Argean coast from the Siruma to aid they guarantee her integrity Greek help unnecessary. At the Jonesco, worked for an alliance and they had replied by proposing aritical moment Greece might day and night. Bussian disaster abandonment of some positions British blockade was at last mak

have thrown 250,000 troops into played in part. The failure in along the Dwins, the Russians in itself felt positively as well as

By the Treaty of Bacharest her partition something over one million Bul Venizelos believed the price the field against Balgaria and the West, the tremendous efforts claimed material successes on the negatively.

are were turned over to Greek,

was worth paying in view of the saved Sorbis, but she would have of the German agents, the laviar south in the thin strip of Galicia

Serb, and Rozmaniae. For this is in sight. Es car Allied risked al and she saw first, that use of money, all santributed to treaty there was Russian warrant protection against both Bulgar no considerable Allied troops were the end. Bet the real explans- sad no protest from London and and Italia, and be recognised that at hand, and, second, that, in a son must be sought and found in in similiar situation Belgium has the willingness of the Allica to Paris. Henceforth the teak of the Italian already seated the Balgar was to regain let pro- Rhodes and the Dodecanesus, as been rained, nay more, Serbia was listen to Ferdinand, the Coburg and Greek Until Macedonia and to Fallenism. He might have trust in Allied promises.

match and the superior of all the V. Roumanis.

Allied diplomatista. Ha tricked between Carmany and Great the Kavale Deams district were prevailed had the Allies cow en- tering the Gallipoli campaign до

Rodmania's part.in all the ne- them and be deceived them. If he Britain. If Great Britain were regaizai, there call be brought to terme Germany's other thought of permanent pesce or succeeded, but instead, while the gotiations remains more obscure.loses, his throne will be the price, foes might be expected to seek friendly relations with his neigh Greek elections were still in pro Yet it is plain that under carsain

Even in Bulgaria: the Allies ge, the King having dissolved circumstances she might have possessed many friends, Romis pesce, but unless Britain were bot IL Germany's Purpose. stract, or at least threatened and

parliament to prevent Greek en been enlisted. Before the Bowsian was the hereditary friend. The Everyone is sufficiently familiar terrified into a pesce, then mam

listment, the Allied fleet met with disaster she had named her terms, stains of the Car-Liberator still. now with the two great efforts of bere, wealth, and sea power would

disaster and the naval campaign Bakovina, Transylvania, the Ban- stands in Sofia, but Busia had at. But Russia had claimed part failed to save Bulgaria in the Se German military strategy, to re ultimately win against William

was abandored. German newspapers and militcognise both their character and I as they had agamas Napoleon

Venizelca came back to power, of Bakovina for herself and a por-cond Balkan war and had prevent Here is the foundation of Ger-

bat only with the understanding tion of the Banat for Serbia ed the Bulgarian entrance into ary writers now recognised the their failure as means to end the fact at the excrk to put Russia war by decisive victory. The first man strategy. The campaign

that neither Kavala ner Drama While the negotiations proceeded Constantinople in the First At Again Russian disaster azived. With the least Ferdinand so belieres, out of the ranaing had failed. blow, that at France, failed at the through Serbia 10 the Golden

should be surrendered. They recognised it by comments Marne sad the Yser, but left all Born is a blow aimed at Great

Greece was to be bad, if the Allies the disaster there was an end to and Germany had now whispered which showed Russia on the offen Belgian and some 8,000 square Britain, an effort to strike at the

were prepared to have done with Roumanian participation for the the promise that if the Germanic the bargaining with Balgaria,moment. sive and still determined to push miles of France, the great indus. foundations of the British Empire

powers won, the Turk would leave With the entrance of Ealgaria Constantinople for Caro and the the war.

They recognised by trial and mining regions, in Ger- and compel peace by bringing to

Serbia, now reorganised and reason the one foe still free from

ready, saked permission to attack and the advance of the Austro-Coburg would reign in the By- their comments on the new Balkan man hands.

The second blow, against Raseny scars of German invasion or

Balgaria and Greece would have German armies, however, a new zantine Empire. Perhaps Ferdia campaign, in which they agreed

followed. But the Allies besitat situation arosa. Under Tenton and in his turn was tricked by that the promise of "victorious sia, finally failed at Vilna in 805 rounds incident to German What the Allies would not recoged, still believing Ferdinand was hegemony Bulgaris now thresten- this promise, perhaps he plans to un Lugnet, when the Slave evaded cccupation. In going to Constad nine was the: there was no hope playing fair. While they hesitated to become the great power of change sides azain, when he has sum, in the West, Noyember made the last and most dangerous ea- tinople the German opened a new in Sofa it patent that any Allied intention veloping movement, but this field and took on a fresh campaign, Accordingly they persuadeded the land operations at the Dar the Balkans. She was resolved to won his Macedonian price, bus danelles were undertaken and take from Boumania the Dobrudjs out of the Balkan diplomatic em- to break through the German campaign left all Poland, the because it was the single avenue Serbia to make concessions, but

·lines had failed completely of its Courland, and considerable of approach to Britsin and natil Greece would make none, and led to new defeat. Instead of easy districts seized by Boumania in broglic he emerges the dominant Second Balkon War. figure. His only tival is the greater purpose, despite local portion of Old and White Rawis Britain was reached, until the Allied urgings resulted in a dis- conquest there was instant check the success, and in the same fashion in German bands above 125, British Empire was threatened, it tinet loss of Allied influence and permanent deadlock Greek victorious, Austris,

too, Queen of Greece, the sister of she was clear to them peace was Kavala was a Greek tows. The soldiers and Greek citizens be would mean established the fact that the Ger-000 square miles.

the end of Kaiser, whose will, has been man campaign to eliminate Res Only England of the original impossible to a Drama district had been won by hald with amazement Angio-all hope of liberating the Bouman- supreme in Athens in rest -sia had equally definitively failed foes had eo far escaped any seri- It is necessary to recognise that battle. Venizelos. in seeking to French troops falling against the fans of Bakovina and Tran-crisis in the history of Hailema after far greater accesses. To cas harm. The submarine ca German writers expected and ex-persuade his countrymen to yield roopa they had defeated with ease sylvania,

and has been exerted not for Feln the deadlock in the West there paign had failed.

In Bacharest the people were lenism but for Teutonian A The Zeppelin pect that the threat will have the these cities, lost his hold upon two years before. In addition, to had been added now the deadlock raids bad proved useless as mili-effect desired without a protracted Greece. Kmg Constantine, niso sweli the account, German victor almost unanimously in sympathy victorious Germany could hardly fary operations. Safe in her is campaign, they expect to make the champion of the Germans, les aver assis began to fill the with the Allies, with France and fail to heed her claima for Greece. Meantime the great German lands, Great Britain was following peace at Cairo, not Bombay; on ostmanceared the Allies by play-world and the speedy elimi, ation Italy, Latin sister-tates. But the

(To be Continued next Weck) drive to the Golden Horn occupi- her ancient course and supplying the Nile, not the Ganges, but to ing upon national desire to hold of Russia seemed in sight. court was. Germanis, the King a After the Allied defeat at the Hohenzollern, and German finance ed the attention of the whole the enemies of a continental fos understand the campaign world. In France a cabinet fell with money, with supplies, with be accepted as a blow at G eat gained territory, largely Greek in Dardanelles there is little res had long ago become predominant

population. because of the failure of Allied growing land forces, while using Britain, which is of small im As the appropriate moment on to believe that there was at the Roomanian capital and-by diplomacy at Athens and Sofaber feet to suffocate the economic portance in the whole war, if it Ferlinand this ofthe mask, The King, popular with the army, politicians, including the premier, Į say chance of enlisting Greece. ita influence controlled many

peace was now to be arec.

in the East.

it must

with the conquest of the nation of Turkish Anatolia.

tical crisis, which ended without sweep up his outlying calories. Balkene or the temporary domi

All this the Allied statesmen only partially grasped. After Turkey entered the war they came to the Balkan with a purpose to restore the old Balkan League by of Macedonia and Greece, to sur- prexusding Serbia to give up most render Kavala and Drama for promises of territory elsewhere. What Serb and Greek knew was that Balgaria was pledged to the Austrians in any ereas and all the smooth promises and pledges of Sofia were merely to gain-time.

were still

Boy Scouts at Singapore. Scout Captain Frank C. Sanda

mobilised his armies, and pared to strike Serbia and a change of ministry but in a re- As England had so far escaped

stretch out a hand to meet the ecce, was committed to Ger- part of Veniza.03 in Greece, making of military organisation, injury, there could be no peace

III. Balgeris.

dvancing Germans, The Allies, any. His people

struggled to enlist his fellow the first signs of which were the with her on German terme until Two things combine to explain who had failed to see that this way in sympathy with the countrymen. But the Allies st is organising a Camp for the Boy visit of Jofire to Lončon and of Britain had been seriously hurt the Allied diplomatic disaster in was bound to come, were taken their own enelerce was red, Bachares; were eager that Bul- Seats at Chinese New Year, Kitchener to the Mediterranean How could this be done?

the Balkans, the failara of the unprepared. They had no armies their own existence ass insured, gatis shouli b. placated, in the says the Singapore Free On the whole, the area of British The only possible approach to Gallipoli campaign and the com- arailable to go to the aid of Serbia and thin the Allies ne ter did an opening days, and suggested He gets more training in the loss

British plete miscader: fanding of the They could only rely upon Greece, that Greece would be forced tonis, ike Greece, feared and hated of ordinary traiming But

sure. They believed to the last Roamanien retrocessions, Roms days in Camp than in four we discontent and disappointment | Britain wse through dras greater than ever beinte since colonies accessible by land. There Bulgarian situstices, which was promise Greece provides in fight on their side in the remote Bulgaris because the Boumaniens, is a little but the the war began. Yet out of both were Egypt and India. If Serbia at all times the key to the diplo Minor and islands in the Aegean;| the French and British crises were conquered and Bulgaria matie problem of the Balkans. but Greece had to weigh these contingency that Bulgaris took like the Greeks, realised the im- money, and $50 is rat there emerged anmistakable proof enlisted, the road from Berlin to The failure at Dardanelles resulted against the immediate peril of refused to believe what Greece and the completeness of his de- pockets. Only once the Kaiser's shilling, and they mensity of Ferdinand's ambitions sum to come out of that the determination of the the Golden Horn" would be open in a loss of prestige that was fatal, Bulgar and German armies. knew, that Ferdinand was already tion to the Austro-Germans, an appeal been m „French and British peoples was to German munitions and officers, because, coupled with the Russian Against the Allied promre, abe

anshaken, tast there was no pro and these would mess needs of disasters and the deadlock in the could also weigh the pledge of in the pay of the Austro-Geruch harm was done in Buchs, object, three years -mise of thought of peace. In thousands of Turkish troops lack-West, it gave rise to the con- the Kaiser that a neutral Greece When the crisis came, when to win concessions for a Balgaria disional appeals (and Test, as in Athena, by the effort though this is a bad Briand France called her ablesting in arme, ammunition, or fain-viction that Germany was bound would not be troubled. man. Briand reaffirmed Vivianie od leaders. Once this help were to win. The mistakes at Sofia left Thus Bulgaria strack. Greece to attacking Sercis, Greece from nations that were still free eums that were low Bulgaria mobilised, preparatory already gone over to the enemy, bad if one conside Ping as well as Belgium was re- German direction might be dir of aid when the trae Bulgarias ed of her and the ruin of Serbia was perfectly willing to have remains insolable. Ostensibly the pledge of war until Alsace-Lor applied, Tackish atack under Sertia helpless and beyond rescis failed to fulfil the mission expect mobilised, 100. Constantine to choose The Roumanian riddle mas and New claimed, while Sir Edward Greg ected against Egypt by Suez, purpose was disclosed,

became inevitable Alwara, in the army against Ladis by the valleys of

Now the situation in Bulgaria attempting to understand the Bil-bende. But when the Allies, sgain repeated Asquith's famous, declaration of the inflexible par- the Euphrates and the Tigris resulted from two things. Its kan atuation, it must be recog sving a few paltry thousands of pose of Britain to dietate peace on One campaign wonid revive the King, who was complete master, used that for long months For- “zváïlable, invited Gizens, to the ming of Prussian militarism, strategy of Napoleon, the other is a former Austrian subject who dinand Continued to conviños When Belgiam had been freed the memories of Alexander the remains in sympathy and in loyal- Allies that for a price - Ibar and France made éscure.

Great

ty Austrian. His smbiti

own Roomania has forced the German

ATLOS

permit the