The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-31
TURKS MASS TROOPS,
Gathering 20 Aid TeutOns In Their
Attack ON SaiOnica.


ROME, Dec. 30.--Great numbers of
Turkish troops are being hurried to
Macedonia and massed on the Greco
Bulgarian frontier to cooperate In ar
Austro-GermaH attack on Salonica, ac-
cOrding TO dispatches to-day from Athens
and Bucharest.
II Is presumed In the dispatches that
this body OF troops, forming as 1t will
the left wing OF the army about to de-
scend on the Salonica defences. Is des.
tined to make a quick dash for kavala
to prevent u landing OF Anglo French
troops there. and to seize the Drama
Seres Railroad. thus cutting OFF all east.
ern Greece from Salonica and at the
same time isolating any allied troops In
that territory.
But while this view OF the plans for
the Turkish forces is said TO be based
on reliable Information 1t is not re-
Ceived here without some degree of doubt
so many reports OF troop movements in
the Balkans, both on the side of the
Teutonic Powers and the Allies, have
arrived since the end of the Serbian
campaign that the question Is asked,
who's guessing now?''
Military opinion has veered from one
side to the other respecting the Balkan n
campaign to such an extent that the
conviction IL becoming firmly lodged that
Is at a standstill. There is no doubt.
OF course. OF the serious situation there,
but nevertheless II Ia apparent that
one side or the other must have ulterior
designs which 1t is using that field to
shield.
1t IL suggested that the Germans, with
hopes OF catching the Allies unprspared
In Egypt. are simply holding the Salo-
MICA front as feint, and that to encour-
age the deception they are causing re-
ports Of heavy troop movements to be
spread into the Entente camps. On the
other hand II Is possible that the Allies
are making a demonstration at Salonica
In order to divert a large number OF
Central troops while a new blow from
another direction Is prepared.
Much more credence Is placed In the
report received to-day that Turkish
troops In great numbers are being sent
TO the Black Sea coast OF Bulgaria and
the Rumanian frontier in fear OF a Rus
sian attack.
Another report from the Balkans has
II that the German expedition against
Egypt is to be held In allegiance until
the Salonica business Is completed. and
that only advance guards are now in
the vicinity OF the Egyptian border. al
though reports OF great army In that
neighborhOod have been freely circulated
for some time. In q word. there seems
TO be grounds for the belief that all talk
Of a German invasion Of Hkypt IL SIM
ply another species Of blum to prevent
the Allies from Withdrawing troops on
that front to strengthen the lines at
Salonica.
Field Marshal Won Mackenssn. Ger
man commender In chief In the Balkans,
paid u visit yesterday to Sofia where he
called on King Ferdinand and the Teu-
tonic Powers diplomats representatives.
He returned to headquarters. This news
tends to contradici the recent reports
that Won Mackensen is to direct the
prospective German invasion Of Egypt.
The Turkish island OF Castelorixo. be-
tween the Island Of Rhodes and the
Gulf Of Adalia. has been seixed by
French troops for use as naval base.