The Washington herald., 1915-10-11
FRENCH SPLIT
over BALKANS
Premier .Viviani to Outline
Policy in Parliament
Speech This Week.
URGE ACTION BY ALLIES
Newspapers Demand Stronger Co.
operation by Russia and Italy.
Weak Spot in Balkans.
URGE ACTION BY ALLIES
Rv c. F. BERTELLI.

BN 4. r.
Snecsl -Cofrespond.nt o. The Washington Herald
Paris. Oct. l0-The grave situation II
the Balkans was the subject discussed
at the special meeting Of the caolne,
this afternoon Premier Vivian VIII
make a speech in Parliament this Week
in which he is expected to Outline
Frances position.
There is an extraordinary divergence
of opinion in official circles regarding
the steps the allies ought to take in face
of the crisis. One section. headed by
Senators Clemenceau, Pichon and ber-
enger, is emphatically against send
ineo a strong French expedition to ala
Serbia They argue that Frances most
vital interest is to take advantage OF It's
demonstrated superiority over the Ger
mans in the western front and orlVe
them from France. and that any weak
ening of Gen. Joffre's striking power 10
wage war in the Balkans would be play
ing into Germany's hands.
Urge Action by Allies.
On the other hand powerful news
papers like the Temps. the Journal des
Debats and the Journal urge that the
allies should regard the Balkans as the
keystone of the whole military situation
and demand that France. England ana
Russia throw every available soldier
into Serbia to bar the road to CONSTANT
nople. The journal des Debats, which
heretofore has been the soundest prophet
in Balkan affairs. is positive that II
Serbia is crushed Germany will persuade
Roumania to attack Russia in order to
secure Bessarabia in lieu of the Banat
of Temesvar, Pennsylvania and Buko-
wilma, which Russia promised her at the
expense of Austria.
That there is an absence of agreement
among the allies rel ardins the Balkan
expedition is very apparent. Even the
newspapers which are strongest Tor
French action in the Balkans urge that
Russia cooperate Immediately, and hint
that Italy ought to invade Bosnia with
out delay. The Journal des Debats says:
France is already shoulderinS enor-
NOUS burdens and those among her allies
who expect the greatest gains from the
war must make proportionate SacrthceS
Our allies must not forget that France
has the least to gain territorially-
Weak Spot in Balkans.
The French successes in the Cham
pagne and the escapes of the Russian
armies from development have compelled
Germany and Austria to seek the Balkan
field of effort for the accomplishment of
decisive results. as well for the at
tempt to break through the ring of the
allies. This is the opinion of both dtplo-
matte and military officials.
Europe is one vast theater of war and |
the allies are now maintaining effective |
resistance against further German ad- !
vancess through France to the west, |
through Italy to the south. and through |
Russia TO the east Thus only one weak
spot, 1t is pointed out here, is in the
Balkans.
This is believed to be one of the chief |
reasons for the extent of the Austro-Ger-
man movement to force a way to Con-
stantinople and the routes leading to the i
Orient. as well as for the counter move
monts Of tho allies in landing large forces |
NJ Saloniki interposiny a barrier across
this path of exit.