AGAINST HEAVY ODDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2620, 16 November 1915, Page 5

AGAINST HEAVY ODDS

SERBS IN FIERCE BATTLE ANOTHER BULGAR REVERSE RUSSIAN STROKE IN THE NORTH BIG MOVE PENDING THE PIRATES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN . [The local teJegraph authorities hs,ve. received the following advice from Marseilles: "Pans reports several lines down through storms j wording precariously with England, Denmark, and west of France.: no communication with Spain or Portugal; delay in consequetnce."] Line interruptions due to storms in Europe have broken the flow of news from the great war theatres to .this end of the earth. In tlie Balkans tihe Anglo-French offensive has developed in another forward move and a fresh blow to the Bulgars, who have lost heavily. Tho Serbians, are making a desperate 6 fcand against overwhelming odd|s, in a heroic resolve to hold out till the Anglo-French troops effect a ■ junction with the main Serbian Army. From Monastir comes a report that the situation is brighter, but the "Times" Balkan correspondent bakes a gloomy view of the whole situation. An Anglo- ' French cruiser squadron is lying at Malta ready for instant action in Greece Should events take an unfavourable! turn in that shuffling State. The news from' the ; Russian front cells of fierce fighting, and of impending big events in General Ruseky's offensive in the. north. Italy has protested to the neutral nations against the attack on the Ancona. BULGAR BEFEAT, WITH HEAVY LOSSES FRENCH SUCCESS ON STRUMNITZA FRONT REPORTED IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION 3E)r Telegraph—Press Association—Oojpyright . Salonlka f November 14. The French have routed the Bulgarians in tho Strumnitza sector, inflictflg heavy losses. ' The Serbians,h»ye.captured,,Tetovo, putting to flight two Bulgarian rejiments.- Some guns were taken.' ' The total Serbian casualties from the outset, including prisoners, is thirty housand. The mailt army is concentrated northwards of Tetovo and the mouiiiains towards Old Serbia. Novibazar, Mitrovitza, and Prishtina are able to lifer stubborn and prolonged defence. ■ BULGARS' FORCED TO RETIRE. Rome, November 14. Advices from Mitrovitza state that the situation has greatly improved. The stemy's attempts to Separate the Montenegrins from the southern Serbian loroes have failed. The Bulgarians vrene defeated 61 miles front Nish and forced 1 to retire. ; . _____ ' DESPERATE STAND TILL THE ALLIES COME UP .(Rec. November 15, 5.50 p.m.) London, November 14. A Serbian official massage states: "A fierce battle is proceeding at Kachtnek, where the Serbians are making a desperate stand against a largo force )f Austrians, Germans, and Bulgarians, equipped with long-range guns. Tho Serbians' principal hope is to hold up the enemy until a junction has been sffected with the Anglo-French troops." FRENCH DOUBLE THEIR TERRITORIAL GAIN / (Rec. November 15, 10.50, p.m.)' . 1 London, November 15.. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Salonika reports that the Italian >rui6er Piedmonte has arrived at Salonika. , "The French troops are advancing, and have doubled the extent of their ;6rritory, capturing several villages on the Strumnitza front, and repulsing the Bulgarians with great losses. "The British continue to receive reinforcements and are advancing and olearag the Bulgarians from their allotted sector. "The Serbians' advance in the Kachenik region has resulted in the capture >f Tetovo, near the Albanian frontier. • "Considerable Bulgarian, reinforcements are likely to prevent the Serbian idvance in the Uekub region. The landing of troops at Salonika is being accel3rated." TRAPPED IN A NARROW DEFILE THE BULGAR REVERSE AT. ISVOR,(Reo. November 15, 10.50 p.m.) . Roone, Novembor 15. He Italian journal "Corriere della Sera" publishes a dispatch from Prilep vhicib describes the Bulgarian repulse at Isvor. _ The Serbians, when quitting [Teles, and not desiring' to waste time in defending unimportant points, recreated ten miles to the Babcina Range, behind Isvor, and organised their doiences, awaiting tlio Bulgarians, who numbored twenty thjousand against six ;housand. , . - Bulgarians attacked furiously, and the Serbians were in danger of >eing overwhelmed, wheal by a fortunate error the Bulgarian column marched nto ar. narrow defile* Tho Serbians allowed them to advance to close range, rnd then charged with the bayonet, and completely routed them. This success slectriiied the remainder of the Serbians, who drove back, tho enemy. Then ;he distant sound of the French guns compelled the Bulgarians to withdraw a lortion ,of their forces from this region. '■ GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. November 15, 10.50 p.m.)' Amsterdam, November 15, !A! Getrmanofficial communique states: Generals von Koeyeas and von Gallwtz have; repulsed the enemy along his entire front. There jhas been obstinate lighting ab various points. KING* CONSTANTINE AND THE SALONIKA ILANDING (Rec. November 15, 5.5 p.m.) • Paris, November 14. The "Pcitit Journal's" Geneva correspondent states that tlie Austrian and 3erman Ministers at Athens demanded that the disembarkation of the Entente troops at Salonika should bo prevented, even by force, to which King Constantino repdied: "Greeco will remain neutral until ono or oiler of the belligerents has. ceased to respect her rights. Salonika being a frco port the disjmbarkation (si tho troops did no't constitute a transgression of neutral rights." POWERFUL ANGLO-FRENCH CRUISER SQUADRON READY AT ' MALTA. Paris, November 14. A messagfe from Athens, describing the unrest in Grccce, mentions that i powerful Ajsßio-French squadron of cruisers is at Malta under steam. Salonika, Nevsmber 14. The llctht iyui*<« Di »oioata has arrived.

A GLOOMY VIEW OP THE SITUATION ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Serviices.) London, November 13. The "Times" Balkan correspondent says: "A British communique announcing the impending dispatch-of Anglo-French troops, and the news tliat tho Germans are fortifying the Serb bank of tho Danube has deeply impressed Bucharest. , The satisfaction caused by the prospect of opening tlio river for t'lie export- of Rumanian produce is considerably dliminishod by the menace of German military domination of the great commercial waterway. Apprehension is felt in Rumania that she will soon be isolated except on the Russian side. "Military opinion views with gloom tho strategical situation in Serbia. It ls not believed' that any Allied efforts can now save tVio Serbian army, from the combined Austro-Germari-Bulgarian attacks,'whoso forces total sis hundred thousand. If 'Russia would send two hundred thousand troops, disembarking them from the Black Sea or via Reni (a Russian town of Bessarabia, at the .PrutliV influx to Danube, ten miles evist of Galatz), while England and Franco landed a similar army on the Aegean coast, it would probably result in tho adhesian of Rumania and Greece and the failure of the German advance on Constantinople, because Rumania could attack the Bulgarians in the Tear of tho German front. "Tlie Balkans aro watching events in Greece with ihe keenest interest, the outcome of the crisis in Athens greatly affecting tflie attitude of Rumania. It is believed that if tlie Allies simultaneously, dispatched adequate forces to tihe Balkans Greece would resolve to support the Allies. This would decisively affect Rumania's policy, and tho German prestige would be diminished in the Balkans because of the checks in Russia. "Tlie early British capture of Bar!clad would make a. considerable impression, but tho determining fActor for Rumania and Greece will he proof of the Allies' ability and readiness to inaugurate a great Balkaft campaign, and Russian participation will he of prime importance. "The Court partv at Athens is taking advantage of every device to discredit M. Venizelos.' TEUTONS BOAST OF CHRISTMAS DINNER IN CONSTANTINOPLE. (Reo. November 15, 10.50 p.m.)' Salonika, November 15. Passertgers from Constantinople 6tate that the Pera Paliloe Hotel is being prepared for the reception of the Kaiser, who, it is boasted, Trill accompanied by the Austrian Heir-Presumptive and King Ferdinand of Bulgaria. The Hungarian Press says that one hundred thousand Austro-Germans will eat their Christmas dinner in Constantinople, FIGHTING IN THE CAUCASUS (Rec. November 15, 10.50 p.m.) Petrograd, November 15. , "K Russian officiaj communique states: "In the Caucasus we Tepulsed Kurdish) forces on the west coast of Lake Ormis." THE WAR IN THE EASTERN THEATRE BIG EVENTS ANTICIPATED SOON (Rec. November 15, 11.30 p.m.) Petrograd, November : 15. This military authorities anticipate a speedy development of 'General BVussky's aggressive against von Hindenburg. Japan has been rendering oppprtune aid with shells. The Germans round Mitau are emptying their depots of munitions. ' _ General Russky says: "We are now guaranteed against any suiprises. llie Germans are surrendering readily, and are worn out from privations. Tlie lUilkans campaign is an episode. It is not there' that the fate of the nations will be decided." RUSSIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Reo. November 15, 10.50 p.m.) Petrograd, November 15.; 'iV Russian official states: "We have repulsed the enemy's ! attacks in the Boerhmunde-Exkul district. ".Desperate fighting continues near Medvejie, north-west of Chartorysk. "'.rhe enemy's offensive in the direction of the Styr front has 'bren stopped." TSAR INSPECTS THE BRITISH SUBMARINES. ! v Petrograd, November 14. Th b Tsar inspected the British submarines at Reval.- and' decorated tho o.fficors.' ' " ' ' He inspected;-the defences at Riga and Dvinsk, and thanked the troops for their hctrtiio services. RUSSIA'S WAR FINANCE. ' Potrograd, November 14. The iSudget sliowg a deficit of 327,000,000 roubles (£34,787,230), which will be covwed by credit operations and increased taxation, including income, lands, Ousitoms, and excise duties. The Minister of Finance alludes to Russia's regeneration by the temperance ordinances. LATEST NEWS FROM THE BALKANS (Reo. November 16, 1.55 a.m.) Athens, November 15. Five Russian transports, with troops, left Odessa, on Saturdays. The Bulgpiians have retaken Netovo.

THE WAIR IN THE WEST

GERMANS IREKNFORCED FROM T.HE ! EAST By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Amsterdam, November 14. The Dutch newspaper "Telegraaf" states that larjice ! reinforcements have arrived in Flanders from the east. Owing to the Ilritj sh bombardment the Germans are uriabie to dredge Zeftbrugge, which is tdierefore choked. FRENCH OFFIdA L COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. November 15, 10.50 p.m.) l>ar!'B, November 15. A' French ofßofcll communique states: "A sharp German ati;aok penetrated one of our first line treiiches, whioh, however, was recovered by a, counterattack."

THE MOUNTAIN WAR

AN AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE By Telegraph—Pr<3sß *ciation—Oopyrlsht Amsterdam^, November 15. An Austrian communt que states: "The Italians have kept up a heavy fire on Gorizia. : "Their offensive agaiß .st the northern part of Doberdo plstteai u was not suc"North of Sayiohele, p art of our. front Was lost, but we :reca| ptured it, the enemy.losing heavily." .

ONE OF THE MAKVI2LS OF THE WORLD

KITCHENER'S A RMY. Br Telegraph—Press Associat lon—Copyright (Rec. November 15.10 '.60 p.m.) Now York, Noi /ember 15. Mr. Frederiok Palmer ('. the war correspondent) dcclaros thifit ! the war will end next summer, with ' the Kaiser beaten. "The British," 'he says, "wash their 1 dirty linen in public, hut if the German steel curtain coui Id be lifted tho revelation "would amaze the world. "Kitchener's Army is ol le of tho world's marvels." •

A GERMAN COMPLEMENT. (Rec. November 15, 10.5 0 p.m.) Rotterdam, Ncive mber 15. The German newspaper " Tageblatt" pays a tribute to Lord Kit<!h< mcr, likening him to Wellington, as tl le embodiment of the military spiriti fl f the British. "Alt.li ouahour G'ernlaU mothodn tisii. "Although cur GarWftji methods u

THE MEDITERRANEAN PIRATES

ANCONA'S SURVIVORS i ANOTHER ITALIAN STEAMER SUNK By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Rome, November 14. The Italian journal "Messagero" states that 299 out of 507 people on board the Ancona were saved. One of the ten American passengers was saved. A submarine, flying tjhe Austrian flag, sank the Italian steamer Bosnia (2561 tons) off Sicily. One of her boats, containing twelve people, is missing. AN AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION Amsterdami November 14. An Austrian communique states: "Italy has instructed her merchantmen either to flee or to ram our submarines. The Ancona disregarded a warning shot across her bows and steamed off at full speed. She only stopped after she was hit several times. Forty-five minutes wore allowed for lowering the boats. _ Several boats were not launched, owing to the panic. The crew alone were blameworthy. The submarine was compelled to submerge after fifty minutes, owing to the rapid approach of another vessel. Not a shot was fired after the Ancona stopped. It is not true that the submarine fired on the lifoboats.

'AN ITALIAN PROTEST. (Rec. November 15, 11.40 p.m.)' Rome, November 15. . Tho Italian Government is forwarding to neutrals a strong protest against the sinking of the, Ancona, which, it is claimed, was against all tho principles of international law; and all the feelings of civilisation.

"THERE'S A YOUNGSTER!"

BEN TILLETT'S TRIBUTE TO THE PRINCE OF WALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec., November 15, 10.55 p.m.) London, November 15. ■' Mr. Ben Tillett, lecturing on the war, paid a. tribute to the bravery of the Prince of Wales, and said: "There's a •youngster 1 Out at fclio front he does :iiot seem to have any fear, and goes through the mud and the thickest danger, accompanied by other officers, one !>{ wlimn ftimarked: 'All vary well for wm» but if he should be killed we