New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-20
Major Operation by
Sarrail Unlikely-A
Greek Republic
Under Venice
los Near
Copyright lsI7-The Tribune Association

milton their army. The only other road
northward into Serbia follows the Vardar
Valley and the Belgrade-Salonica Rail-
road.
I When General Sarrail made his demon
stration last fall his strategic purpose
was to push up the Vardar Valley and
also to push from Monastir over the Ba-
buna Pass; but his troops were unable
ley and came to dead halt just north
Of Monastir. year before that French
force, moving up the Iardar Valley to
succor the Serb.3cs, Y><>hed the outskirts
of Kuprili just too late to join hands with
the Serbians, who had been driven over tina
Babuna Pass and in upon Monastir.
Still further to the eastward there is
road up the Struma Valley from the
Rhodopian Mountains which joins Sofia
with Kustendl. 1t was up that road that
King Constantine led the victorious Greek
army in the Second Balkan War, but he
was checked in the mountains before he
had crossed the old Bulgarian frontier.
Golden Moments Gone
The only other line of advance open to
nople, along the railroad between the
lEgean Sea and the Rhodopian Mountains;
but this is long, difficult line, holding
out very little hope Of successful cam
paign so long as the Allies are resolved
to hold the whole front from Valona to
the Struma.
| Conceivably Sarrail means now to repeat
| lis operation of 1916 and try to advance
| rom Monastir over the Babuna Pass and
| D the Vardar Valley into southern Serbia.
The fighting so far reported would point
such desire, but the country is very
| lifiicult and the profit TO be gained from
m advance in this direction-even il it
were successful-is relatively so small
that it is hard to believe that Sarrail
means to go beyond making demonstra-
ton sufficiently considerable to hold Ger
man divisions in the Balkans or to exert
pressure upon the Bulgarians for political
ends, if they have already been deserted
/ by their German and Austrian allies.
/ The golden moments in the Balkans, so
/ far as the Allies are concerned, seem to,
/ Rave gone. The chance Of interrupting
communications between Berlin and Con-
stantnople ended last fall when the col
lapse of Rumania gave the Central Powers
other lines of communication besides that
which passes through Belgrade, Nish and
Sofia and is, theoretically at least, open
to an attack by an army coming up out
Of Salonica.
The situation in Greece is worth passing
notice, because unless all signs fail we
shall presently see a new effort to upset
King Constantine. It is an open secret
that he would have been deposed by the
Allies but for the objections Of the Gar,
who was supported rather alphabetically by
the British royal family for time.
With the coming Of Lloyd George the
British attitude changed utterly From
that moment the British government was
satisfied to see Constantine dethroned, -
was the French government, but the veto
Of the Car prevented this last year. Nov
that the Car has gone there is strong
reason for believing that we may see new
revolution in Greece, the establishment Of
a Greek republic and the eventual passing
of the control of Greek affairs from the
hands of Constantine to those Of Venizelos.
This would no longer have a great mean
Y 81 hut tnhf h
salvation of Greece from many Of the evils
which may otherwise follow in consequence
Of her course.
Chance Of Greek Republic
A Greek republic, headed by venizelos,
whose loyalty to the Allies is beyond ques-
lion, might escape the loss of territory to
Bulgaria, to Serbia, to Italy, which cannot.
il would now seem, be escaped in any other
way.
So far as it is now possible to judge.
there Is little chance of a major opera
ton in the Balkans this year, unless tina
Russian situation totally changes or the
pressure in the West is so great that Ger
many has to recall all her divisions and
also call upon Austria 10 give her Austrian
troops now supporting the Bulgarians. II
this should happen, it is far from improb'
able that Bulgaria might consent to mako
a separate peace; nor is it more improb.
able that Turkey, now that Russia has
renounced her claim upon Constantinople.
might also change sides. But these ara
considerations of remoter bearing. The
change of sides by Bulgaria and Turkey
would put wholly different aspect on the
war. But it would be idle to expect this
on the face of evidence that is now OF
hand. for it is at least rs reasonable to
expect Teutonic drive which may roll
Sarrail back upon Salonica.