The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-01-20
THE CAPITULATION
OF MONTENEGRO
WAS EXPECTED
According to What the English
Newspapers Say
SOME REAssURING REPORTS
Are Received From Rome-Is-
land of Corfu Occupied by
French Troops-No Fighting OF
Consequence Along Western
Front

London, EIlpldlu-iil SlNhl =
the news of the capitulation of
the government of Montenegro
! the press generally explains that
the event was not unexpected as
a consequence of the crushing OF
Serbia.
Dispatches from Rome are OF a
more reassuring character, from
the viewpoint of the allies with
regard to the position of Albania.
They state that the latter country
is now defended with adequate
forces and that Italy, in this way,
has taken proper measures for
safeguarding the future prospects
of the kingdom of Montenegro. 1t
is added that the occupation by
French troops Of the island of
Corfu secures for the allies nav
al base of the greatest value, as
| the island is regarded by many
military experts as the key of the
Adriatic and as position OF
great value for the purpose of
landing troops in Albania.
A dispatch from Berlin by way
of Amsterdam says that an Off
cial announcement was made in
the Prussian diet before its ad-
journment of the capitulation of
the government of Montenegro.
The news was hailed by those
present with enthusiastic ap-
plause.
No advices have been received
here concerning the whereabouts
of King Nicholas of Montenegro.
1t is supposed the monarch of the
fallen country has hidden him
self, with portion of his army,
in the remote mountain Businesses
of his tiny kingdom, overwhelm-
ed after more than eighteen
months of bitter fighting. The
remarkable defense put up by
King Nicholas and his small army
was made possible only by the
fighting spirit of his people and
the splendid natural defenses of
his country, which is very noun
famous.
News of the capitulation of the
Montenegrins, first of the entente
allies, indeed first of any of the
countries at war to seek for
peace, has had little effect on pub
lie opinion here, and it is not ex-
pected to have much effect in
other countries bound to the en-
tente. The fall of Montenegro
was regarded as an assured. fact
when Mount Lovcen was taken by
the Austrian forces some ten days
ago. Mount Lovcen dominated
the capital city, Cettinje, and its
fall was foreseen. 1t was taken
within few days. There was
little possibility then for King
Nicholas forces to make decid-
ed stand because he-Austrians
were over-running Montenegro,
even as the combined German,
Austrian and Bulgarian forces a
few weeks ago overran Serbia.
The victories of General
Townshend's s forces in Mesopo-
tamia over the Turks, the gains
made by the Russians over the
Turks in the Caucasus and along
the Galician front where they
are opposed by the Austrians and
Germans, are taken here to mean
that the eastern campaign will be
pressed with vigor throughout
the remaining months of the win
ter. The Russian objective in the
Galician campaign just now is
Kovel. 1t is a railway junction
of immense Importance to the
Germanic allies.
Along the western front there
is no fighting of consequence. Ar
tillery duels at isolated points is
about all the news from that Sec
tor.