IMMINENT CRISIS AT MINASTIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2624, 20 November 1915, Page 5

IMMINENT CRISIS AT MINASTIR

BULGARIAN PRESSURE INCREASES APPEAL FROM STRICKEN GARRISON By Tefcgrapli—Press Association— Copyright A .(Bee. November 19, 11.30 p.m.) .1 Rome, November 19. The "Tribuna's'" Salonika correspondent reports that the Bulgarian advance guards have reached Monastir. GARRISON IN SORE ' STRAITS. (Rec. November 19,11.30 p.m.) - - y Athens, November 19. The Monastir station and roads are crowded with refugees hurrying towards .Greece. The Serbian garrison has been reduced to a few thousands, and is without munitions and bread, and is starring. The Commandant has sent two officers to Salonika with a piteous appeal for help. The Sertian force at Monastir is cut off from communication northward, the 'Bulgarians having reached Albania., BABUNA PASS EVACUATED (Reo, November 19, 11.30 p.m.) Athens, November 19. The Serbians'in the Babuna Pass, finding they were unable to detach men to check the Bulgarian enveloping were forced to retire. The evacuation was carried out without the loss of a single man. GREECE SHOULD PREVENT THE FALL OP MONASTIR. (Bee. November 19, 11.30 p.m.) Athens, November 19. The Greek Liberal newspapers declaro that it is Greece's duty to prevent tho fall of Monastir. ALLIES' SECOND BIG LANDING COMPLETED. (Reo. November 19, 11.30 p.m.) Athens, November 19. The disombarkation of the second portion of the Allies' troops has been completed. - 1 ■ FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. , " (Reo. November 20, 0.15 a.m.) ; Paris, November 19. A French communique states: "All our positions on the Cerna, Vardar, and at Kosturino have been maintained." /~ \, " THE ONLY HOPE OF SAVING SERBIA " AN ADVANCE THROUGH ALBANIA. ("Times" and Sydney, "Sun" Services.) .(Reo. November 19, 5.35 p.m.) London, November 18. The "Timos's" correspondent at Rome states that tho Italian staff is inspecting Durazzo. Tho debarkation of the Allies' troops in Albania is the only hope of saving the remainder of the Serbian army. The bridgos to Tirana have been specially' examined. Albania is restless, favouring the Austro-Bulgars, while Greeks are pushing. towards Berat, which district is unfavourable to Greek influence. The bazaa-rs aro refusing Serbian notes. The Serbian troops have been withdrawn from Tirana and El Bazan to subduo' the Bulgarian comitadjis round Monastir. _ Greece has cilosed the southern Albanian frontier, and is massing troops, and threatening the Italian occupation of Valona. Bulgarian cseapees state 'that the Bulgars think they are fighting tho Germans. DISCUSSION IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT MR. BONAR LAW IS OPTIMISTIC. . (Rec. November 19, 11.20 p.m.) London, November 19. In tho House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law (member of the War Committee) said that it would be -unwise to tell all tlie facts concerning tho situation in Serbia, but ho could say that in spito of what had happened in the Near Host he was more hopeful now than ho had been for many months. Things were not coins sp badly ns they seemed. Sir Henry Dalziel nrged an inquiry into tho Dardanelles campaign, and also asked for a complete explanation of tho operations. • He denounced the lack of economy in national expenditure, particularly in tho Navy. Mr. Bonar Law, in reply, said that tho Admiralty was anxious to savo rnonoy, but tho fleet must bo kept in a position to meet tho enemy. Wo had to .risk national bankruptcy in ordor to bring the war to a successful conclusion. He admitted that the financial position was extremely dangerous, because while wo were able to borrow freely n fictitious prospority was created,- and tho people, instead of making sacrifices, wcro actually better off than over they wcro before. Ho deprecated an inquiry into the Dardanelles campaign chapter by chapter. It would bo bottcr if it were considered as a whole at tho proper