The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-02
Coincidence Gives Credence to Report That Francis Joseph Was Negotiating for. Separate Peace
VISIT OF THE KAISER
 ADMITTED TO BE
 OF GREAT MOMENT
Grecian Note Insists on Neu- trality-Operati0ns in the Balkans Continue With Unabated VigOr

London, December A-Emperor Will !; Hams visit to Vienna, which coincided with the resignation of three Austrian abinet ministers. is the cause of much speculation. The two events are variously
 assumed to be connected with the report ed effort of Germany to force Austria into
 a German zolverein, a desire of Emperor
 Francis Joseph to secure a separate peace through the intervention of Pope Bene-
 dict, and r,lmored dispute between Aus vian territory.
 There is no authoritative basis for any of these reports beyond statements in the German newspapers that Emperor Will iliam's visit was of the highest importance Meantime operations in the Balkans and the movements of the armies of the cen tral powers continue with unabated en- crgy. Like Germany, Bulgaria announces that with the capture of Prizrend her 'campaign against servia has ended, which seems to support the suggestion that to avoid a dispute with Greece, King Ferdi- 'rard of Bulgaria has decided against the 'occupatscn of Monastir. the only town of 'any importance remaining in Servian hands.
 MONASTIR IS NOT TAKEN Monastir was still in the hands of the 'Servians until late Monday night and no !officia1 news that there has been any change there has been received since. Austria, with the assistance of some {Cror,,. troo,,u no1+;,,,,ae l,or o,,aro+i.,pe ,against Montenegro, the frontier of which has been crossed. but not without con ls1derable opposition from the Montene- lgrins. who are masters in mountain war
 fare, ana who have been Joined by some Iportions of the Servian armies that es- Eeaped from the invaders of their country. IN THE BALKANS In southeastern Servia, where the Brit. fish, French and Servians hold strong po- Isitions, the snow still prevents any move 'r1ents of importance. No news has been lreceived of the Austrians and Germans lwho proceeded to Rutchuk. on the Dan- lube river, to keep with the Bulgarians land Turks to oppose possible Russian Invasion through Roumania.
 The attitude of Roumania is still un- Rcertain. The latest reports say that she. Ellh6 NITeCCcb IS lIytu6 ILO iCIiltAiIl ucuti al gbut with two belligerent armies on her pborders, this, it is believed, may prove A6ifficult-
 Greece, in her reply to the latest note Gof the entente allies, insists upon neu- Itrality and independence, and a final |settlement of the points at issue between Ethe Hellenic kingdom and the entente powers is not yet in sight. Greece ob- fleets, according to Athens dispatches, to 1.-the evacuation of Saloniki by her troops Bthe handing over of the railways to the Hentepte allies and the policing by the Nnavies of the entente powers of her coast 6al waters to circumvent the activities of Herman submarines.
 The Italians continue their offensive Relong the Isonzo river. On the other fronts comparative calm prevails. IN THE ALPS
 Appalling losses for the Italians on the |Isclizo are reported from the front" the GOverseas agency says. .The Italians ap- GpareEtly have decided to take Gorizia without regard for their immediate sac- riflces. General opinion is that the fury Eof the battle has not reached it's highest lritch All positions are firmly held by the Austro- Hungarian forces, although some of them have been nearly destroyed Each night the Austrians and Hunga- r.ans repair damages inflicted during the day, notwithstanding heavy artillery fire ar infa ntry attackS'