Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-10

have no reason to fear any attack b3
have to make some concessions to
Italy. This is the basis of the case OF
the king for neutrality.
Fears Loss of Saloniki.
On the other hand. Venizelos recog-
nizes that Bulgarian success against
Serbia would inevitably be followed by
a Bulgar attack upon Greece and an.
immediate or ultimate attempt on the
part of King Ferdinand to get posses
sion of Saloniki. The Greeks and Bull
gars are age-long rivals, as well as re-
cent contestants in bitter war. The
hatred of Greek for Bulgar and the
natural apprehension Of Hellenic pa
triots over the evident determination OF
Bulgaria to obtain the hegemony Of
the Balkans explains the general SYM
pathy of the public with the French
and British.
In the meantime 1t is certain that the
first steps OF Bulgaria will be met by
an attack by the Russian fleet upon
hardly likely, that Russia may be able
to land force upon the Black sea
coast of Bulgaria. This would recall
many Bulgarian troops from the Serb
frontier. But is is difficult to believe
that Russia has any army available
for such an operation.
Austria. on her part. has already be-,
gun to stir up the Albanians to attack
the Serbs in the rear along the Black
Drina from Prisrend to Dibra. But
there is reason to believe that such
an attack will be fairly countered by
Montenegrin operations and Italy is
claim 10 the possession of this little
state after the war. AS she now holds
Valona, she has a good base for an.
expedition. a,
sidiary. The real problem must be.
found for the allies in the defense OF
Serbia until Constantinople falls and
for the Germans in the clearing of a
allied fleets penetrate to the Sea OF
Marmora or the allied armies conquer
Thrace. -
First Blows Of Campaign.
In sum. the first phase of any new
Balkan strife will unquestionably be
marked by the main German thrust
through Serbia from the Danube to the
Bulgarian frontier. Coincident with
this will come a Bulgar blow at the
| Serbian rear from Sofia toward Prot
and Nish and a more considerable push
| east at the Salonki-Nish railroad about
Guevgheli.
Allied assistance to Serbia will. in
| the opening days. be confined to an
eHort to reinforce the Greek army
about Nish and there and along the
/ the railroad to the south hold of the
Bulgar invasion and keep the vital
| railroad line open.
II Greece participates, she will at
first defend her portion of the Constant
ltinople-Saloniki railway from the Mes
ia west Of Drama to Dorian. She will
also cooperate with the allies in de-
| Tending the Saloniki-Nish railroad
about Guevgheli. which will become
Greek territory when Greece enlists.
| Later she will unquestionably partici-
pate in any drive east toward Constan-
tinople through Bulgarian Thrace. for
she hopes to gain this region as far as
the Martha and retake Dedeagatch.
Ultimately, II the German advance.
can be checked and the Bulgar inva-
sion halted, there is bound to be an
allied drive through Thrace beyond the
Martha to the Chatalja lines where
the land attack will be aided by the
! Russian fleet. Once Gallipoli is iso-.
lated from Constantinople and the,
Turk masses recalled to defend the
capital, this position may be carried
and the sea road to Byzantium opened.
A tremendously exciting race to Com
stantinople now seems inevitable, and
| upon the ultimate attitude of Greece
practically everything depends. II the
Hellenic people enter the war and their
army Is thrown into the balance, chance
| will favor the allies. But IL Greece
| ing on her soil. then Serbia is doomed
| Horn seems almost inevitable. -