Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-12-11
The king OF GREECE
EXPLAINS ATTITUDE
CONSTANTINE SENDS TO AMER
ICA A MESSAGE WHICH EX-
PLAINS POLICY OF GREECE.
R0UMAN!k'S STRANGE move
The British Army Has Been Forced to
Retreat From Near sasdad With
Turks Hammerng at Their
Lines-ltalians Progress.


Athens. via Malta and London
Constantine l. king OF the Greeks. re-
ceived a correspondent Monday and
gave him a message for America on
the attitude which Greece has as
sumed in the world war and the rea
sons for the policy which has been
followed by the Greek government.
Il am especially glad to talk for
America" said the king. for America
will understand Greece's position. We
are both neutral and are altogether
determined, if it is humanity possible
not to court destruction by permitting
ourselves TO be drawn into the fright
full mortex of the present European
conflict. Both are trying by every
honorable means to guard our SOY
ereignty, protect our own people and
stand up for our national interests
without sacrificing that neutrality
which we recognize as our only saliva.
ton.
America is protected from imme-
diate danger by the distance which
separates her from the battlefield.
We, too, thought that once. But the
battlefield shifted and may shift again.
What is happening in Greece today
may happen in America. Holland or
any other neutral country tomorrow
if the precedent now sought to be es-
-, Of il
fixed"
Latest News From the War Fronts.
So far as is known, Greece has not
complied with the demands of the en-
tente allies for absolute freedom for
their troops on Greek soil. 1t is as
serted that the Greek cabinet again
discussed the demands that the pre-
mier laid before King Constantine, and
that the entente ministers in Athens
have been assured that Greece's re-
ply will be satisfactory.
Meanwhile the forces OF the Teu-
tonic allies are continuing their gains
against the Serbs and Montenegrins in
the north. In the south, however, at
tempts by the Bulgarians to capture
French positions near Kosturino and
along the Cerna river were checked by
the artillery and infantry fire of the
French.
The fighting near CelebriO, on the
Moptenegrin border, and around
Plevlje is described by Vienna as VIC
lent, in both places the Montenegrins
having taken the offensive, only to be
repulsed.
Berlin reports the defeat by the
Bulgarians of the retreating Serb
army southwest of Pristend Railway
communication between Nish and So
fla has been re-established.
On the front in France and Belgium
there has been considerable artillery
activity, in which German positions
have been effectively sheIIed, accord
ing to Paris. There have been no in
fantry engagements here.
The fighting on the Russian front
has consisted only of sporadic artillery
duels. On the Austro-Italian line the
violent fighting around the Gorilla
bridgehead has lessened perceptibly.
Constantinople reports the British
in Mesopotamia still in retreat.
A large German ammunition factory
at Halle, Saxony, is reported to have
been destroyed by an explosion, with
the loss of several hundred lives. Dis
contented VOL kmen are said to be sus-
pected of blowing up the plant.
The recruiting plan of the earl OF
Derby has not come up to expecta-
lions in England, according to labor
member of the British parliament,
speaking before his constituents, the
earl having told him that "the SUI
preme effort must be made in the next
few days by those who valued their
freedom and were opposed to conscrip-
ton"
The attitude of Roumania remains
undecided. Since the dispatch an
nouncing the close of Roumanian ports
to foreign ira lie was received silence
has descended on Bucharest, and every
one is awaiting anxiously the next
move which will give meaning to
this order. The general belief is that
the Roumanian government is waiting
for the concentration Of a sufficient
force in Bessarabia and large enough
Anglo-French army in Southern Serbia
to make victory certain before joining
the allies.
The check suffered by General
Townshend in Mesopotamia is a Sc
we're disappointment to the British
public, which had looked upon this ex-
petition as the brightest spot thus
far in the war, with the possible ex-
ception of General Bothas conquest OF
German Southwest Africa. Nothing
has been heard from General Town
shend since he reached Kut-El-Amara.
The position Is a very strong one,