THE BALKANS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15461, 14 December 1915, Page 7

THE BALKANS.

THE CAMPAIGN. ALLIESV SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT. STRONG POSITION NOW HELD. GALLANTRY OF THE ltfth (IRISH) DIVISION. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, December 12 (10.5 p.m.). Tho War Office reports that, after sustaining violent attacks delivered by the.enemy with overwhelming numbers, the 10th (Irish) Division succeeded, with the help of reinforcements, in retiring to a strong position, extending from Lake Doiran westwards towards the Valley of the Vardar. in conjunction with our Allies. Tho 10th Division is reported to have fought well against very heavy odds, and it was largely due to the gallantry of the troops, especially the : Munster Fusiliers, the Dublin Fusiliers; and the Connaught Rangers, that tho withdrawal was successfully accomplished. Owing to the mountainous nature of tho country it was necessary to place eight field guns for purposes of defence in a position from which it was impossible to withdraw them when the retirement took place. Our casualties were 1500 men. (By Cable.—Pre« Association.—Copyright.) (Received December 13th, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON. December 12. A War Office communique says that after sustaining violent attacks by the enemy, tho 10th (Irish) Division, which was reinforced, retired in conjunction with the French to a strong position, extending from Lako Doiran. towards tho Vardar Valley. The 10th Division fought v ell against heavy odds. The success of tho withdrawal was largely due to tho gallantry of tho Munster Fusiiiers, the Dublin Fusiliers, and the Connaught Rangers. Owing to tho mountainous nature of the country it was necessary to place eight field guns in positions from which it was impossible to withdraw them during the retirement. Our casualties were 1500. The 10*.h (Irish) Division is part of ihe First New Army, and was one of tho earliest divisions formed. Lieut.General Sir Bryan Mahon was appointed jn August, 1911. to command tho division, and wa* responsible for its training. Ge.ue.rnl 'Mahon is vow in eoinmnnd of the British forces in Macedonia. THE FRENCH POSITION. BULGARIAN ATTACKS REPULSED. (Received December 13th, 11.00 p.m.) PARIS, December 1". An official communique says "The French troops on Friday night retired without fighting on the SmokcituwDoiran line. Several Bulgarian attacks were repulsed on Saturday. '

THE ENEMY'S CLAIMS

DECISIVE DEFEATS INFLICTED ALLIES IN A "WRETCHED SITUATION." (Received December 13tb. 7.10 p.nO LONDON, December 12. A German communique* says:— "Tho Anglo-French forces, after derisive defeats, inflicted by General Thoo'dorow, are in a wretched situation, and are retreating, toward* and across the Greek border. They an* suffering extremely heavy losses in men and every ■kind of war material.

d.?nlfiwian communique states:— The Franco-British, though desperately resisting, are hastily evacuating positions under a strong pressure Wo aro pursuing tho enemy along both banks of. the Vardar. J "Wo have arrived southward of the railway station of Mirovos and are advancing southward of Kosturino. We have reached Hudovo, which was formerly General San-ail's headquarters. The French burnt tho railway stations at Hudovo and Mirovos. i "Wc captured much French material. five British machine-guns, and many "Our losses were insignificant, but the enemy s were enormous. The onomy took with them in their retreat the entiro population."

THE FIGHTING DESCRIBED.

HEBOIC IRISH DIVISION. STRUGGLE AGALXST GREAT ODDS. (Received December 13th, 10.80 p.m.) LONDON, Decembor 12. Tho difficulties of tho fighting in Macedonia are described by Renter's correspondent with the British Headquarters. Last week, he says, he visited Hill 516, his tour embracing ten miles of the British front. Tho hill marked the junction of tho French and the British positions, tho British being east of the Doiran-Strumnitza road, which is tho only motor thoroughfare, tho others being goat tracks through hilly scrubcovered country. The difficulties of the country are illustrated by the fact that it took him two hours to reach men a mile from the track.

The French destroyed the tunnels and railway bridges as they withdrew. Tho first attack of the Bulgarians was not vigorous, but their second onslaught was severe, - Under cover of a dense mist, which prevented accuracy in the fire of our long-range field-guns, the Bulgarians used their mobilo moun-tain-guns, opening a murderous fire at close range. Exposed to this hot gruoliing, and threatened on tho flankowing to the French retirement, opposition scon became untenable. Tho 10th (Irish) Division was therefore withdrawn to a prej*»rcd second lino. There was much bayoneting work, in which the Connaught Rangers, the Minister Fusilier*, and the Dublin Fusiliers surpassed themselves. Again and again the enemy -iras driven off in a scries of doso encounters, but the enemy's superiority j n numbers could not fail to predominate. While wo were retiring to our second line, the French abandoned their bridgehead at Gradetz and Hill -516.

It is difficult to exaggerate the importance, of our stand. Had the Bulgarians pushed through, they would havo cut. of! the retreat of the main l-ody of the French and British forces. Our new positions sua now of great strength. UNOFFICIAL REPORTS. VIOLENT BULGARIAN ATTACKS. LONDON. December 12. Paris messages ftate that the Bulgarians are violently attacking tho Kos-turino-Doiran sector, and are developing an attack on the Boog-Pvtrovo-Strumniiza-Hudovo line. and also against tho eastern line held by the British forco. REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVING. RUMOURED LANDING AT KAVALA. (Received December I3Lh. 9 p.m.) SALONICA, Dowmber 13. More British troop* landed here on Friday. (Received December 13th. 0 p.m.) COPENHAGEN. December 13. A Gorman rumour hays that two British divisions have lauded at Kavala. h is also said that 2000 Serbians have

arrived at Salonika from Durazzo, and that others are on the way. Kavala is a Greek port on the Sen, about £-5 miles cast by north of Salonica. It is on the railway line flora Sakmica to Turkey. ON THE GREEK FRONTIER. RETORTED OCCUPATION OF GIIEVGELI. (Received December 13th. 11.30 p.m.) ATHENS, December 13. The Bulgarians have occupied Ghcv£e!i. THE SERBIAN ARMY. THE ENEMY'S STATEMENT. PURSUIT IN ALBANIAN MOUNTAINS. (Received December 13th. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON. December I:.'. A German communique says:— j "The Austrians are pursuing the j enemy in the mountains on the Al- | banian frontier, and have captured OoO'J prisoners during the last two days. "Tho enemy was forced to abandon forty guns between Rozaj and Ipck." Ipek is in the south-east, corner of Montenegro, a few miles from the Serbian 'frontier. Rozaj is about eleven miles north by west of Ipck. THE SERBIAN RETREAT. HEADQUARTERS AT SCUTARI. | ROME, December I". King Peter, tno Government, tho Serbian Heado.uarters Staff, and two Divisions of tho Army havo arrived at Scutari. Tho rest of tho 'JOO.OOO troops aro encamped on the slopes of the Albanian mountains facing tho Adriatic, between Scutari and Durazzo, where thev may bo rcvictuallcd by Italy. The Serbians were forced to abandon their field guns on tho Ljuma, and all carts and waggons, as the mountains were only passublo by hoites and mules. Among those killed at Krogujevatz was the famous Comitadji leader, Tankossieh. who was accused of organising tho murder of tho Archduke at Serajevo. Tankossieh assisted in tho desperate defenco of Belgrade, and finally fell with the last of 200 volunteers. Tragic tales are told of the suffering of tho retreating civilians, who were famished. Doss, wolves, and vultures are preying on tho bodies of men, womftn and children who aro dying on tho mountain pathways. The wives of several members of the Serbian Cabinet have camped on the Greek frontiers, which thev reached oa foot.

GREECE AND THE ALLIES.

A REASSURING STATEMENT. BRITAIN AND PRANCE IX COMPLETE AGREEJIENT. GREEK PERIL SAID TO BE ENDED. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received Docember 13th, 7.20 p.m.) PARIS. December 12. A highly important statement by tho "Matin" suggests that tho clouds are clearing in the Near East. Tho British and French have reached a complete agreement regarding the conduct of tho campaign. Identical instruction's, signed by Sir Edward Grey and M. Briand, liave been sent to the Allies' representatives at Athens, and identical military orders signed by General Joffro and Lord Kitchener have been despatched to tho commanders of the French and British Eastern Annies.

Tho "Matin" soys:—"This precedent is of great importance. Never before in their history have tho British and the French acted as a single nation. There is no question of the Allies abandoning the Balkans Expedition. King Constantino has already given proofs of sentiments of a more reassuring nature. He only asks the Entente Powers to permit Saldnica to preserve its Greek character. If that is granted, King Constantino is Trilling to leave tho field open fcr the Anglo-French operations. The Entente Powers haVe accepted King Constantino's viewpoint, noting his assurance that it is certain that tho railways will remain at tho disposal of the: Allies. In view of the faVt that the Bulgarians will probably not be able to resist the temptation to secure reparation for their losses in 1913 in tho event of their crossing tho Greek frontier, it appears that the Allies considered it would be unwiso to insist upon Greek demobilisation. The Allies, tn return for concessions by Greece, will peiTnit the free resumption of Greek commerce between Greek and Allied ports." The "Matin" declares that tho Greek peril now ceases to exist, and that the British Ministers concerned have accomplished a valuable and fruitful work. FOBTJFYING SALONICA. GENERAL SARRAIL'S INTENTION. \ Received December 13th, 11.30 r>.m.) SALONICA. DocemlK'r 13. The French newspaper "L'Opinion" states that General Sarrail has notified the Greek Government of his intention to fortify Salonica immediately. THE NEAR EAST PROBLEM. PROMPT DECISION NEEDED. i.Reccived December ltth, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON. December 13. The ''Daily Telegraph" saya: —"The problem of the Near East is complex and menacing. IVc niun arrive at a decision with promptitude and definitcncss. The Greek interpretation ol benevolent neutrality does not agree with ours. The Greeks must br. swiftly undeceived, and our troopa must be guaranteed against enemies, whether open or covert." REPORTED GERMAN THREATS. REPRISALS AGAINST ALLIES. (Received December 14th, 1.10 ATHENS. December 13. A message troni Berlin to the nc-vs-

paper "Nca Hellas-,'' states-that. Ger-i luanj and Austria will bo unable to j help Greece against the Allies with I men, owing to their shortage of men, j but if the Allies blockade Gm;:e, Germany will reduce, the rations of her j prisoner* of war, and if (Meek parts a re bombarded, Genua iu- "ill retaliate by destroying French, and Serbian towns. SATISFACTORY SOLUTION APPROACHING. GREEK OFFICIAL STATEMENT. LONDON, December V 2. An offi.-iai eontmurytpto, published in Athens to-Jay states that the pourparler.* nl Salonica between military leader; cf thf Kntoi.to rower.-, end Greece are irnv definitely approaching n satisfactory so'.iuion. LONDON. December 12. Cop.fiicting report.- continue tr» be received i'rnm Salonica. Router fransmits a .sensational statement published iii Salonira. thai the Grck Staff officers wlio are conferring with General Sarra'd the latter that in the event of tho Bulgarians cro-sing the Greek frontier in pursuit of the Allies, the Greek army would retire before the Bulgarians, in order to avoid a dangerous contact. (Received December 13t_Ii, 7.'20 p.m.) ATHENS. Doc-ember 12The newspapers announce that a partial demobilisation of the Greek forces is being seriously considered. LONDON, December I'-'.. The Athens correspondent, of the 'Obsirver"' states that -M. Gounaris, whoso hatred of M. Youi/.olos goes to unknown bounds, was so incensed at M. Veni-ae-los's recent, manifesto that lie proposed to arre.-b him on the ground of being disrespectful to the King. Hi.- colleagues, however, rejected the proposal, fearing to inercaso M. Vcnizelos's prestige. SYDNEY, December 13. A meeting of Greek residents of | Newcastle decided to close their shops for the time being, fearing further demonstrations. GREECE AND BULGARIA. AN INTERESTING STATEMENT. (Received December 13th, 9 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. Router definitely announces that the Allies will not quit Salonica." Mr Martin Donohoe, at Athens, says he learns from the highest source that Greece is prepared to go to any lengths to prevent the Bulgarians, who are Iter hereditary enemies, from setting foot on the sacrod soi] of Greece.