Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-15
EASER MASSES
100000 MEN FOR
SALONTCA DRIVE
Allies Move Up Toward
(,reek-Bulgar Frontier as
Reinforcements Arrive
ptrMANIA MUST DECIDE
LONDON. Feb IL

LONDON, Feb, 10.
An,ens dispatch to the Exchange
..n,u.ranh Company states that 100000
nsan soldiers have been concentrated
nc Ghergeli Dorian-St -Strumnitza front
el ,be campaign against Salonica.
~ leasing activity in the Balkans Is re-
ls.S from Athens An Exchange Telc-
poIS dispatch filed yesterday says that
Hssppatrg the arrival of French and Brit
s.inforcements at Saionicn the French
~ nroceeding up the railway, concen-
az ~ troops as far forward as the Bull
..r,ar frontier.
Tso Bulgarians says an Athens tele.
~ are reported to have occupied
..tbird of Albania. According to a
s.r,sr message, also from Athens, the
n.issr advance has included the occupa.
,Ion @ Of Fieri, about 16 miles from Av-
~" ~ Austrian official communication, is
"a ~ last night in Vienna and received
hsre, says
The Austro- Hungarian vanguards In
.hspla have reached the lower Arzen
plver. six miles from Dura22o. The
.sor,v has retreated to the southern
bank
dspatch from Athens on February I
,.ld that according to advices from Aus
I'D Austrian and Bulgarian troops had
so,msd n junction in Albania and occu-
III Tho town of Elbassan. Elbassan is
x miles southeast of Durazzo and so
..tlss northeast of Avlona. The Austrian
anclal statement announced that on Feb
s,syv Austro- Hungarian troops occu-
,.d Tirana, which lies about 20 miles
rorfhwest of Elbassan.
Tho present announcement that the Bull
ysrlans have occupied Fierl, which is
shont 81 miles to the southwest of FL
hsssan may indicate that the Austrians
md Bulgarians have started separate
campaigns from that point, the former
savanclng on the important Albanian port
Al Durazzo, while the Bulgarians are aim
Ing at Avlona, whlch Is occupied III lorce
BY Italian troops.
Tbere has been no confirmation of the
r,nort received yesterday from Athens
mat Bulgaria Is seeking separate peace
with the Allies. The Evening Standard
has learned from its Athens correspond
ont that definite negotiations have been
opened for a change of policy on the part
II Bulgaria which will incline her to the
dde of the Allies.
The actual military situation in the two
chief Balkan theatres of war, Macedonia
and Albania, remains stationary.
According to confidential Information
available here, from Rome and other dis
patches, Germany, prior 10 attaChlnB Sa-
lonlca and resumng the offensive on the
western and eastern fronts, has decided
10 try to compel to keep Rumania neu-
tra throughout the war. Hence, Turk
ish and Bulgarian troops are being Sc
cretly concentrated on the Rumdnan
frontier along the Danube, while Aus
TRAN and German forces are concen-
trated In Pennsylvania.
When this concentration Is concluded,
Germany is expected to demand formal
assurances of Rumania,s neutrality be-
sides insisting upon the rehabilitation
Of the Rumanian army She may resort
70 the occupation of the Rumanian from
tier provinces with the promise to re-
store them after the war.
Meanwhile Germany is said to be striv-
ng 10 provoke n Cabinet crisis In
Rumanla with the object of having the
proGerman ex-Prepiers Carp and Mar
chl6nhan, replace the present Govern
ment which is suspected of being favor
able to the Allies.
Once Rumania's neutrality is assured,
Il Is argued, Greece's intervention will
be impossible and thus the Austrians and
Germans will be enabled to neglect
Salonlca and continue in their hold on
the Balkans and exploit Rumania, as
they do Bulgaria and Turkey.