Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-20
National Assembly Call a
Hint Of Concessions.
Otherwise, Early Resumption
OF War Is Likely.
Heavy Losses In Sea Engagement
Lasting Several Hours.

London, Jan. 19.-Tie Porte's deci-
sion to call National Assembly, on
Tuesday, to take under amusement
the Balkan situation probably heralds
further concessions on the part of
Turkey-concession which could not
be yielded by the cabinet without risk
ing its fall In any case, the Balkan
delegates in London do not believe
that the Porte's reply to the Joint note
of the Powers will be such fiat re-
fusaI as foreshadowed from Constan-
tinople.
Yesterdays dispatches reported that
the Turkish government had reached
decision not to cede Adrianople or
the Aegean islands, but was willing
to enter into negotiations respecting
those islands some distance removed
from the Dardanelles. If Turkeys an
swer is unsatisfactory the allies in de-
ference to Europe. will ask the Pow
ers whether they have means to COM
pei Turkey to comply with their
wishes. If not, the allies will carry
out the plan already announced lead
ing to the resumption of the war
In such event, the allies will regard
all concessions heretofore made fer
the sake of peace, either to Turkey
or the Powers. as void Thus they VIII
not recognize the undertaking consent
ing to an autonomous Albania or the
promise Of Servia and Montenegro to
retire from the Adriatic. Questioned
as to the. possibility in this case of
Austria employing force. the head of
one of the delegations said. today
I'VE shall see whether the Triple
Entente and especially Russia. will
permit such action on the part of Aus
tria. If we are forced to fight anoth-
err war, the cost of which Is nearly 81
100000 daily, we will not abandon ter
ritories already occupied unless driy
en- out by force. That would mean an
European war.
IF Austria were permitted to march
on Belgrade and to lombard our troops
on the Adriatic and we We're crushed
we should prefer to become Austrian
rather than belong TO the Slav race
when our mother Russia lacks the
force or the will to protect US"
The Balkan allies, after consider
ing the whole situation among them
selves, Saturday had already decided
to wait until the middle of next weak
for the answer of the Porte TO tho
joint note of the Powers.
If then the reply was not received or
was unsatisfactory, they were to adj
dress a communication TO the Turkish
delegation in the form of a definite III
timatum, allowing Turkey 9S or Z
hours for a final decision.
Should Turkey at that time be nn
able or unwilling to come to the Al
lies terms, the Balkan plenipotentia-
ries decided that a rupture of the
peace conference was inevitable. Sofia.
Belgrade and Cettinte would denounce
the armistiee, and four days late the
war would be resumed.
Throughout all the Balkan states.
according to the plenipotentiares in
London, from the largest towns to the
humblest hamlets, only one cry goes
up: WAR to the bitter end-until cur
eternal enemy is driven out of Europe
foreveri"
The Allies do not admit, or to be
more exact, do not see the possibility
OF such proposals from Turkey or
the Powers as would allow OF re-
sumption of the negotiations at st.
James Palace unless the Porte openly
declared its readiness to give up Adj
rianople.
So far. the instructions of the Bull
earian delegates are categorical on this
subject and do not admit Of discus
sion of the proposal that Turkey re-
tain Adrianople ever after dlsmant-
ling the Notifications, or of continhns
the negotiations on the other condi-
tions of peace, leaving the question OF
Adrianople to be disposed of last