Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-11
OPINION IS DIVIDED
ON BALKAN PROGRAM
French Leaders Fail to Agree on
Steps Which Should BE Taken
in That Theatcr.
GRAVE DANGER is REALIZED
That Allies Have Reached No Agree
mont on Plans to Close This Exit
OF Central Empire Toward Orient
Is Apparent.
BY C. l.. DEItTEI.II.


PARIS, October lO.-The grave sit
uation In the Balkans was the subject
discussed at special meeting of tho
Cabinet this afternoon. President Poin-
care presided
Premier Niviani Will 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 Clemcnceau, Pichon and
Bergender, is emphatically against
sending strong French expedition to
aid Serbia. They argue that Frances
most vital interest is to take advan-
tage of It's demonstrated superiority
over the Germans on the western
front and drive them from France and
that any weakening Of General Jofrre's
striking power to wage war in the Bal
kans would be playing into Germany's
hands.
On the other hand, powerful news
papers like the Temps the Journal
des Bats and the the journal urge that
the allies should regard the Balkans
as the keystone of the whole military
situation. and demand that France,
England and Russia throw every avail
able soldier into Serbia to bar the road
to Constantinople. The journal des
Bats. which has heretofore been the
soundest prophet in Balkan affairs. is
positive that IL Serbia Is crushed Ger
many will persuade Roumania to at
tack Russia in order TO secure Bcss-
arabia In lieu OF the Banat OF Temcs-
var. Transylvania and Bukovina,
which Russia promised her at the ex-
pense of Austria.
ABSENCE OF AGREEMENT
AMONG ALLIES APPARENT
That there Is an absence OF agree
ment among the allies regarding the
Balkan expedition Is very apparent.
Even tho newspapers which arc strong
est for French action in the Balkans
urge that Russia cooperate immcdi-
atcly, and hint that italy ought TO In
wade Bosnia without delay. The Jour
nal des Bats says
France is already shouldering cnor-
nous burdens and those among her
allies who expect tho greatest gains
must make proportionatc sacrifices.
our allies must not forget that Franco
has the least TO gain tcrritorially."
The French successes In tho Cham
payne and the escapes OF the Russian
armies from development have com
PEELED Germany and Austria to seek
the Balkan field OF effort toward the
accomplishment OF decisive results, as
we'll as for the attempt to break
through the ring OF the allies. This
is tho opinion OF both diplomatic and
military officials
Europe is one vast thcater Of war,
and the allies arc now maintaining cf-
fcctivc resistance against further Ger
man advances through France TO tho
west. through Italy to the south, and
through Russia TO the cast. Thus only
one weak spot. II Is pointed out here
IL in the Balkans.
This IS believed to be one OF the chief
reasons for the extent OF .he Aus;ro-
German movement to force way to
constantinop!c and the routes leading
to the Orient. as we'll as for the coun-
tcrnovcncnts Of the allies in landing
large forces at Saloniki. interposinE a
barrier across this path OF exit