MONTENEGRINS AT GRIPS WITH AUSTRIANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2678, 26 January 1916, Page 5

MONTENEGRINS AT GRIPS WITH AUSTRIANS

A TWO DAYS' BATTLE THE TURKISH DEBACLE IN THE CAUCASUS By Telegraph—Frees Association—CopyrleM / London, January 24. It is reported that the Austrians have occupied Scutari. In the House of Commons Lord Robert Cecil (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said that telegraphic communication with Scutari had been interrupted. No information was available about Montenegro. THE PEACE OVERTURES : MERELY OOMIO OPERA. Roma, JanuaTy 24. The Montenegrin Ministers are making light of the peace negotiations, describing the peace as a joke. The Austrian anger is only to be expected, but invaluable time has been gained. THE LAST STAND AT MOUNT LOVOHEN. Paris, January 24. M. Naudeau, the French correspondent, telegraphs to the "Journal" from Petrograd, denying that the Montenegrin Army at Lovchen numbered 35,000, or that 30,000 Serbs helped them to defend Lovchen. Only 6800 Montenegrins occupied the mountain. They had four old 12-inch guns, recently purchased from Italy, and six o Id Russian guns, for which there were no shells. . The Montenegrins had no help from any quarter, and Antivari was open to bombardment by Austrian battleships, which were able, to bombard Lovchen. . j The Montenegrins could not wait for help any longer, as an eighth of the population had died of famine. They had thirty-three field guns, with only thirty shells apiece, the rifles were out of repair,, and there were only 120 rounds for each. The men had worn out their boots and clothes. Of 70,000 available at the outset of the campaign, only 15,000 were left. They were half-starved, and fighting against odds of twenty to one. MONTENEGRINS FIGHTING A VIOLENT BATTLE. (Rec. January 25, 8.30 p.m.) Zurloh, January 24. A Vienna message states that the Montenegrins are making- such a desperate and violent resistance in the Tarabosch Mountains that the Austrians have been obliged to send reinforcements. A battle has been raging for two days. I AUST RO-BULGARIAN DESCENT ON j^LBANIA Salonika, January 24.' The Austro-Bulgarians have ocoupied Berat. The Bulgarians' objective is the Albanian port of Valona (in the Italian sphere of influence), and that of the Austrians, Durazzo, where Essad Pasha is organising forces. BIG AIR RAID ON MONASTIR SOME BRILLIANT EXPLOITS BY FRENCH AIRMEN. Salonika, January 24. Forty-live French aeroplanes raid ed Monastir on Sunday morning. A fight took place and occupied two hours, ii; boisterous wind from across tho mountain ranges. Some of the planes bombarded the Gorman and Bulgarian headquarters by gunfire, and others dropped bombs, damaging the railway stations, barracks, and munition depot. An aviator, though vigorously shelled, returned safely after dropping a few bombs on the Bulgarian encampment at Ghevgheli, a feat regarded as the most brilliant of the exploits of the French aviators. ° BOMBARDMENT OF DEDEAGATCH Athens, January 24. Thirty-three naval vessels took pa rfc in tlio bombardment of Dedeagatch, aeroplaues correcting their fire. GERMAN SUBMARINES IN THE AEGEAN. London, January 24. Athens asserts that threo German Bubmnrine# lis.vu nfrivnd nt XmJth) in sections, intending to operate iu the Ae geaa Sea. They will be based on Porto Latws.

' ' THE IRON HAND IN SERBIA. ("Times" awl Sydney "Sun" Services.) r, i i-Li. i •ii. i m • Lont| on> January 24. The Germans have prohibited night trafjbo m Serbian towns, under the penalty of death. They are rigorously inflicting public "corporal chastisement, without regard to age or sex. for the slightest infringement of the regulation. SECRET PETROL PLANT DISCOVERED. (Rec. January 25, 8.30 p.m.) _ _ . „ . . ~, „ , ~ Paris, January 24. The "Petite Parisicnno's Salonika correspondent states that the French have discovered a secret depot of fifteen thousand litres (roughly, 3300 gallons) of petrol, buried in iron cases. General Sarrail has ordered the seizure'of the supply, RIVETING THE GERMAN YOKE ON TURKEY 60,000 HUN TROOPS AT THE CAPITAL, London, January 24. The "Times" correspondent at Salonika says that 50,000 German troops have arrived at Constantinople. They are primarily intended to rivet the yoke under which Turkey is groaning. Enver Pasha governs by terror. T here are secret executions daily. One night twenty-one Turkish officers* were dropped with stones around their necks into the Bosphorus. Ten Turkish and five German officers were recently killed in a single brawl, THE TURKISH COLLAPSE IN EASTERN ANATOLIA RUSSIANS BEFORE ERZERUM m, r. • 1 1 it ~ , Petrograd, January 24. The Russian advanced cavalry has reached the defences of Erzerum. The Turks are in headlong flight, and enormous quantities of material have been abandoned. Detachments have Mattered, and are hiding in the mountains.' ENEMY IN' HEADLONG FLIGHT. London, January 24. The "Daily Chronicle's" eorrespon dent at Petrograd says: "There are no railways, no 16-inch guns, and no elaborate entrenchments in Eastern Anatolia, but there is the snap'of gallant adventure in fighting in the mountains and valleys of Armenia and Kurdistan. The Turkish 3rd Army suffered a picturesque collapsc while gathering forces at Melashkert tc striko a blow at the Russian centre. The Russians, however, concentrated 'more rapidly, and struck hard, sending the Turks in pellmell flight over the snow-clad mountains. The Russians hotly pursued th em to their basa at Camel's Back Mountain, which is strongly fortified, and guards the approach.to Erzerum. The Turks on the flanks were also demoralised and,panic-stricken. It is expected that tho Turks will seek reinforcements in Mesopotamia. Meanwhile the Russians, under the dashing Georgian General Barattoff, are clearing the ground in Persia by,seizing tho fortified pass of Kencover and entering Sultanabad, where they stopped communication by tho IndoEuropean telegraphs between Persia and Turkey. The German Consul fled with a band of irregulars he had organised. RUSSIAN RAIDS IN THE BLACK SEA. Petrograd, January 24. Torpedo boats raided the Black Sea coast of South-eastern Anatolia, destroyed forty sailers, and bombarded Samtoon, Onnie, and Patz, destroying the harbourages, store-houses, and barracks. DESERT CAMPAIGNING IN EGYPT BRITISH ATTACK ON SENUSSI CAMP. The High Commissioner reports:— London, January 24, 11.30j>.m. "In Egypt on Sunday General Wall ace's column attacked a SonusshCanro, ■ dispersing the enemy and burning the camp. There are no further details yet." . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. January 25, 10.5 p.m.) Cairo, January 25. General Wallace's column, which included all arms, successfully engaged considerable enemy forces, accompanied by an aeroplauo, 35 miles west of Mersa Matruh. The enemy lost heavily. The Exchange correspondent at Rome states that fclje expedition to Egypt has been abandoned by the enemy in fa vour of 'a campaign in Mesopotamia, having for its objective the Persian Gu If. NEWS FROM KUT-EL-AMARA i GENERAL TOWNSHEND REPORTS ALL WELL. The High Commissioner reports:— ■ ; London, January 24, lffi6 n.m. "Further telegrams from Sir Percy/Lake (the British Commander in Mesopotamia) reports that an armistice was concluded for a few hours on Saturday for the removal of the wounded and the burial of the dead. The Tigris rcse during the last, two days seven feet at Kut and two and a- half feet at Amara, thus preventing all land movements of troops- General Townsjiend reports that he has sufficient supplies, aud that his troops, are not further be*ng engaged." RUSSIANS NEARING KUT-EL-AMARA PERSIAN BANDS GO OYER TO THE ENEMY. (Rcc. January 26, 0.50 a.m.) Petrograd, January 25. The Russians west of Hamadan are now within ten days' march of Kut-el-Amara,. but the country is mountainous, and the Germans are doing their best to keep a wedge between the Russians and General Aylmor's force. The local forces which Persia had armed to put down risings have gone over to the enemy. They were recently mustered for an attack in the Kandelan Pass, but were repelled.