SERBIANS RETIRE FROM MONASTIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2636, 6 December 1915, Page 5

SERBIANS RETIRE FROM MONASTIR

BULGARIANS ENTER THE TOWN , pathetic scenes during the retreat By x Telegraph—Pmsb Association—Copyright ' ' ■ London, December 3. Reuter's Agency reports that the Austro-Germans entered Monastir yesterday, and hoisted the flag. The Bulgarians enter the town to-day. London, December 3. ■ ' Salonika telegrams detail the last agony at Monastir. For. days the Allied, commanders telegraphed to General Vassitch, asking if all was well, and he invariably replied: "We are still holding 'out." On Monday afternoon, however, there was an nnaccoiuitable delay in replying; it was midnight before General'V?ssitch telegraphed: "Wo are holding our positions on the Chorna." . ' " Other telegrams from the frontier showed that the end had come. The Bulgarians had . advanced south-east- fifteen kilometres (over nine miles) beyond Monastir, and were threatening to surround the little Serbian army. General Vassitch's only chance was a precipitate retreat on Ochrida'. • Six thousand men from the north arrived at the last moment, and this would enable General Vassitch to prolong tlie defence. But the troops were worn out, and had been foodless for forty-eight hours. Their uniforms were in rags, and there were hardly any boots among them after a seventeen days' march along mountain roads. They lost 120 by cold and hunger, the men being left to die in the mountains. When they marched in they seemed haggard spectres, fitter for ■ hospital than the firing line, but they were immediately ordered to join the battle outside the town. They fought like tigers. As the Serbians withdrew, the Bulgarian comitadjis, under the brigand Paul Kristov, took possession, and placarded the town with a manifesto, reading: "For five hundred years ye have been- under the 'Turks, and for threo under the Serbs. Now ye are free." - . _ . ■ The comitadjis parade the town singing, and looting the deserted housesand public buildings^ There were pathetic scenes during General Vassitch's retreat. The Serbians trudged, footsore and famished, in a hurricane of snow, the stronger en-. couraging aiid helping the weaker men. It was only a ghost of an army. The ■wonder was it still held together. The Bulgarians pressed them hard, but were teaten off.:-V.. . The retreat from Ochrida has been resumed. The civilians of Ochrida are pafiic-stricken, and have commenced a general exodus to Albania and Greece. , THE FINAL SCENES BEFORE THE RETREAT "WE HAVE FAITH IN THE FINAL VICTORY OF THE: ALLIES." (Rec. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) ~ Milan, December 4. Senor Magrini, who witnessed the retreat frotfi Monastir, says- it began at ten o'clock on Wednesday night, after a civic militia had been organised pending occupation. The American flag was hoisted on the hospital, where the American mission is tending tliree.hundred 'wounded. General Vassitch entrusted the American mission with a stock of provisions, which he could not remove, for distribution among the poor. General Vassitch, farewelling Senor Magrini, said: "Our mission now is to defend the Gorge of ; Resna. We will fight to the last soldier and the last ■ drop of blood.' We have faith in the final victory of the Allies, and the resurrection of a greater Serbia." General Vassitch placarded the town: "The army must retire, but we are leaving you its bread. In separating from you, I pray for your life.' Au revoiri" He then motored to Resna with his Staff. ONLY ENEMY 'OFFICERS ENTER MONASTIR. 1 (Rec. December 5,11.30 p.m.) Athens, December 9. No enemy troops 'entered Monastir, only Austro-German and Bulgarian officers. _ RETREAT OF THE £>!ERBS HAS MODIFIED ANGLO-FRENCH ' POSITION. ■ (Rec. December 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 3. The "Paris Journal's" Salonika_ cor respondent says the general Serbian retreat' has modified the situation. We have no longer reason to maintain the extremely adventurous position northward of Derirkapu, where eight feet- of snow is hindering operations. . _ We abandoned the left bank of the Cema, and removed southward the supplies and munitions which were concentrated at Krivola-k, when the march on Veles or Psalep was intended. , SERBIAN ARMIES RETREAT SAFELY INTO ALBANIA. (Rec. December 5, 11.30 p.m.) _ • Paris, December 5. The "Eoho de Athens correspondent states that the whole of the Serbian northern and southern armies h avo retr6ated safely into Albania. The Greek Government has given assurances not to disarm them. ' M. Pasitch, the Premier, telegraphs that tho Serbians are going to re-form in Albania and Montenegro. ALLIES' PRESENT EFFORT DOES NOT PROMISE RESULTS. (Rec. December 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 3. Correspondents state that the position of the Allies at Vardar is presenting difficulties. Mr. G. Stevens, the "Daily Telegraph" correfpondent, says: "The field operations have little changed, but certainly are not satisfactory. The intense cold has necessitated the troops_ being withdrawn from certain advanced positions, and a slight concentration in tho rear is taking place. The Allies' present effort does not promise results, and some other factor is required to render progress possible and bring security." ON THE EVE OF EVENTS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE GERMAN COLUMN CHANGES THE DIRECTION OF ITS MARCH (Hoc. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 4. The Paris "Journal'' states that tho Allies hold the whole of the railways from Salonika equally with a natural, en trenched camp at ljccmcd, at the bend of tho Vardar. Meanwhile a big German column is abandoning the march southward, and making eastward. It has penetrated considerably beyond Bulgaria. Wc arc awaiting loiiifoiconimits, attd doubtless are ou tho eve of evculs oi meat jamoi'tmco.

SPECULATION AS TO THE MOTIVE OF THE SUDDEN VOLTE FACE. (Rec. December 4, 5.5 p.m.) * London, December 3. It is evident that the most important happenings are imminent in the Balkans. The British have received telegrams that the Russians have set foot in Bulgaria. This has not been confirmed, but half of General von Mackensen's army has entered Bulgaria, apparently to counter the Russian • attack. The General Staff in Paris has received a.telegram stating that the Austro-Germaiiß in Serbia aro changing direction, and are making all haste for Bulgaria. There is great speculation as to the motive of the sudden volte face. Some experts opine they are going to the Dardanelles; others that they are reinforcing the Bulgars at Strumnitza, intending an attack on the Allies' in the direction of Hondova to turn tho Anglo-French right wing. BULGARIANS CONCENTRATING ON THE DANUBE. (Rec. December 5,'11.30 p.m.) Geneva, December 5. The "Neuse Wisener" Journal says that, anticipating a Russian attaok, the Bulgarians have concentrated forty thousand troops on the Danube, and much material is arriving at Rustchuk. THREE DIVISIONS OF BULGARIANS CROSS INTO HUNGARY. (Reo. December 5, 11.30 p.m.) m. «ir i* ~, T, i .. , , Par,3 > December 5. . fh® Matin's" Bucharest correspondent states that three Bulgarian divisions, have crossed into Hungary, either for the Italian front or the British Western front. GERMAN CLAIMS OF PRISONERS CAPTURED. (Rec. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) » tj v • <>T.r , London, December 4. A Berlin communique says: "We oaptured twelve hundred Serbians, who were .lighting in isolated detachments, on Thursday, in the mountains southward of Mitrovitza." ALBANIANS JOIN THE AUSTRIAN TROOPS. (Rec. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) ... . Amsterdam, December 4. An Austrian communique says: "Numerous Albanians joined ns during the fighting between Mitrovitza and Ipek." GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS OF GERMAN BRUTALITY. ,■ (Rec. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) . .. . Amsterdam, December 4. _ Dutch Red Cross Sisters from Serbia give graphic accounts of German brutality at Kragujovatz. Many of tho Serbians, they say, were wounded with dum-dum bullets. Tho Germans painted a red cross on the foreheads of slightly wounded prisoners; also, with nitrate of silver, they made a cross on the cheek. They goaded a man with a fractured skull until the bayonet covered lik body .with red bleeding wounds. AUSTRIANS DEFEATED IN A SHARP FIGHT. ~r , . . London, December 3. A Montenegrin communique says: 'There was a sharp fight at Fotchi The Austnans retreated ill disorder." . MONTENEGRINS EVACUATE PLEVLIE. (Rec. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) . , ~ , . . ' . London, December 4. < A Montenegrin communique says: "Owing.to the arrival of stronir enemy contingents at Metalka, we .evacuated Plevlie and retired to defensive positions.'' A SLIGHT VICTORY TOR MONTENEGRINS. (Rec. December 5, 11.30 p.m.) . ~ , London, December 5. A Montenegrin communique says: "The enemy violently attacked us at the Clieliotinar River, near Plevljc, and was repulsed." INTELLIGENT BULGARS DISPLAY AN UNEASY FEELING. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. December 4, 5.5 p.m.) ir ™ . ~ , , London, December 3.' •i 1 Wa'ti p rice, the war correspondent, states that a Greek wh 0 has arrived at Salonika says that despite successes the intelligent Bulbars display an uneasy feeling at being made tho catspaw of Germany in a perilous adventure, and they expected greater help. The Bulgar losses are heavy, sonfe estimates placing the. number at a bundled thousand. Rigid martial law exists throughout Bulgaria. The mass of the people are inclined for peace, but the 1 German influence is paramount There are_ numerous German officers in the peaS£t: 3 them, privately assort that they will not fight .GENERAL VON MACKENSEN SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. (Rec. December 5, 11.30 p.m.) 'ri • i ,' , , „ , „ t ~ , , Potrograd, December 5. It is reported that a Serbian bullet slightly wounded ' General von Mackensen.