THE MYSTERY OF MONTENEGRO

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2679, 27 January 1916, Page 5

THE MYSTERY OF MONTENEGRO

OCCUPATION OF SCUTARI DENIED SERBIAN EX-MINISTERS AT THE MERCY OF THE GERMANS Bl Telegraph—Prcsß Association—Oopyrlffbt ' Rome, January 25. The occupation of Scutari by the Anstrians is denied. (''Emes''-and Sydney '"Sun" Services.) London, January 25. The German Press finds it difficult to explain the Montenegro position. The schools in,the Empire were given a holiday to hear lectures entitled "Montenegro's Separate Peace." DESPERATE BATTLE NEAR PODGORITZA. (Reo. January 26, 8.15 p.m.) ■ . ~ Rome, January 25. A few thousand Montenegrins and Serbians fought a. desperate battle near Podgoritza, and held up two Austrian divisions. The enemy's losses were enormous. The Austrian vanguard which is ad vancing on Scutari has been checked. AUSTRIANS CLAIM SEVERAL "OCCUPATIONS." (Rcc. January 20, 8.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, January 25. An Austrian communique states: —"We occupied- Scutari on January 23. 'The garrison, which consisted of several thousand Serbians, retreated without risking a, battle. "We have also occupied Nicksich, Danilovgrad, and Podgoritza." 1 THE HUN REGIME IN SERBIA , . ' Paris January, 25. The "Petit Parisien states that the Germans have requested the ScAian ex-Ministers to convoke a new Skuptcbina, (National Assembly), which the Kaiser promised to open, and to appoint a son or an Austrian prince as King. The ex-Ministers refused, despite the worst threats. Their fate is unknown. Germany is not allowing anybody t 0 leave Serbia. . RE-MAKING THE SERBIAN ARMY. , , , - ~ Athens, January 25. The Allies continue to land Serbian troops at Corfu. THE AIR RAID AT MONASTIR BRILLIANT EXPLOIT BY THii AIRMEN. . • Salonika, January 25. > Tho air raid at Monastir surpassed that at Stuttgart, for a distance of 190 miles was covered, and the squadron crossed several great ranges of mountains, of which the enemy occupied the ridges. Forty-five machines left the aerodrome at 7 in the morning, in regular squadrilla. After a two hours' flight they reached Monastir, where tho Germans and Bulgarians were concentrated, taking refuge from the winter weather in the comfortable buildings of the town. A section' of the aeroplanes dropped two hundred bombs. Many fires broke out. The gunplanes then ' heavily shelled the German and Bulgarian headquarters, carefully avoiding the buildings used as hospitals. When the last squadron, flying in regular order, circled ovor the town preparatory to returning, the observers saw great clouds of smoke rolling up in many places. Mean whilo another squadron threw a hundred bombs into Ghevgheli, with similar results. GERMAN OFFICIAL REI'ORr. London, January 25. A Berlin wireless message Btates "Sixteen French aeroplanes made another attack on Ghevgheli. There were a hundred victims, ami considerable damage was done to the Bulgarian positions, and to the Bulgarians." TURKISH ROYAL YACHT DAMAGED BY FRENCH SUBMARINES . Athßns January 25. Advices from Constantinople state that a French submarine in the Bospliorus at the end of December torpedoed the Imperial yacht Ertogroul, 900 tons, and seriously damaged it. '

SIX-HOUR BATTLE IN MESOPOTAMIA

AS TOLD IN A TURKISH COMMUNIQUE. (Rce. January 26, 8.15 p.m.) ' Amsterdam, January 25. A Turkish communique states: —''The British attacked us thirfcy-fivo miles cast of Kut-el-Amara, on both sides of the Tigris. The battle lasted for six hours. Our counter-attacks drove'the enemy back some kilometres. Wo counted three thousand English dead on the battlefield. Our losses wore comparatively small. "We granted General Aylmer's request for an armistice for a day. Prisoners state in the previous battles at Sheik Shad the British lost three thousand dead of wounded. "We attacked another British column at Oerua, conipeliiui; them to re-t.i-Ait, lf.av.m2. a. hundred dead. 11

THE TURKISH COLLAPSE IN THE CAUCASUS ENEMY SURPRISED IN A BLINDING SNOWSTORM. Petrograd, January 25. 'i'lie first Turkish positions in the Caucasus was stormed liy the Russians oil the Russian Now Year's Day. The Russians, advancing at night, in a tcrriblo blizzard, floundered into snowdrifts, and then crawled oil all fours, and completely surprised the Turks. The latter used rockets and searchlights, hut these were useless in the thick snowstorm. The snow-covered Russians were Invisible, and fell on tho enemy with the baronet. Panic seized the Turks, who had not believed that an attack was possible. The Russians remorselessly pushed on, and soon the whole Turkish army of a hundred battalions was on tho run. Mounted Cossacks, fresh from _ Manchuria, swept iho country, cutting down the fugitives, and digging prisoners out of hiding in the villages. They passed by hundreds of frozen groups, which had huddled together for warmth, and had died as they slept. (Reo. January 26, 8.15 p.m.) Petrograd, January 25. The Turkish effectives in the Erzer um district number 120,0130. Tho Turks, apart from losses in the recont- battle, lost fifty officers and four thousand men during the flight. 1