THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1915, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

AFTER PRIZREND. .SERBIANS AWFUL SUFFERINGS Received Dec. 21, 12.5 a.m. New York, Dec. 120. A correspondent of the Chicago Daily News says that after five days' bloody battle at Prizrend the Serbians fired the last shell, spiked their guns, and fled in disorder towards Albania. Three thousand retreated through the Ipek passes, which the Austrians quickly closed, and the Bnlgars closed the Dibra route. Seventy thousand Serbians engaged at Prizrend struggled to enter Lumkulus Pass by a narrow gorge. One half entered, and then the Bulgars got the range and closed the entrance, all attempting to enter being killed, the artillery for five hours wreaking a terrific slaughter on the non-resisting Serbians. Finally the Bnlgars carried off forty-six thousand prisoners. The first contingent of those traversing the Lumkulus Pass were mainly men who were infected with wounds and blistered feet. Though faced with starvation they reached Scutari, after thirteen days' march from Prizrend. They started with only three days' supply of bread, and when a horse fell exhausted the solders skinned it and ate the meat raw, which was torn by bayonets from the carcases. The road was snowcovered and shelterless. The men waded nine streams, which were up to their armpits, and their clothing was frozen, but they dared not stop to light fires. They plunged on day and night, fearing death and hunger. Subsequent contingents killed all their horses for food. General Putnik, com-mander-in-chief, was so feeble thtat the men carried him across the mountains to Scutari. •Received Dec. 21,1.20 a.m. Salonika, December 20. One hundred and fifty thousand Serbian refugees are gathered on the plains of Kossovo. One quarter of a million submitted to the Austro-Germans, and the remainder fled westward, prefering the horrors of the snow-clad mountains of Montenegro. Thousands must have perished. Correspondents state that if ever the story is told it will surpass in horror the Napoleonic retreat from Moscow, GREECE'S REPLY. THE ENEMY CAUTIOUS. Received Dec. 21, 1.20 a.m. London, December 20. The Daily News' Rome corespondent says that Greece's reply to the AustroGerman protest declares that she is powerless to prevent the fortifications at Salonika as these are indispensable, to the safety of the Anglo-French armies, which she guaranteed as Serßla's alty. The reply is not Jikc-lv to satisfy the Austro-Germans, but the latter are cautions, fearing that the insistence of their demands will compel Greece to join the Entente. THREE WAYS OPEN. FOR TUP. ADVANCE OX SALONIKA. Received Dec. 20, 7.2.? p.m. London, Dec. 20. Mr. Stevens, in the Daily Telegraph, writes: There are three ways open for the enemy's advance to Salonika—from the north by Ghevgeli and Dorian, from the east by the Djirhissar, crossing at Strumnitza' or at Odaksi and reaching Lachana; and from the west by Monaster, following the railway. The eastern route presents transport difficulties, and from the western the enemy must pass the Greek army. Meanwhile the Allies are fortifying the approaches to Salonika, which they are confident they will be able to defend. The Bulgarians have begun a new offensive west of Strayga, with the object of occupying the road to El Bassan.