WAR IN SERBIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 7

WAR IN SERBIA.

ALLIEB RETIRE.

A GENERAL WITHDRAWAL. aij TtUfr»ph—Pr««» Awoeiition—Copyright LONDON, December 10. A Reuter message from Salonika states that the Allies' general retirement from the front has began.

SEVERE FIGHTING AT GHEVGELI. ALLIED GUNS ON GREEK TERRITORY. (Received Deoember 12, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 11. Mr Martin Donohoe, writing from Athens on the evening of December 9, says that the Allies continue their retreat in good order. A quantity of artillery is already on Greek territory. Wounded in large numbers are arriving at the frontier station. At Ghevgeli the fighting was severest, the Allies repulsing furious attacks. The French rearguard was heavily engaged, tljp attaclsers including German cavalry. A heavy German concentration is reported at Uskub and_ Philippopolis. At * Salonika is is reported' that General von Gallwitz, commanding the Germans, occupied Ghevgeli on the morning of December 10. GHEVGELI NOT OCCUPIED. LONDON, December 12. Mr Martin Donohoe says that the report of the occupation of Gllevgeli is .untrue. FRENCH DIFFICULTIES. OPINIONS IN LONDON. LONDON, December 10. “The Times” states: “If the Bulgarians really annihilated a French battalion at Petroz, they are well behind the French, and there is a risk that they may cut the railway on which the main body of the French is depending. It cannot be denied that both the British and the French forces are likely to have great difficulty in extricating themselves.” BULGARS LOST HEAVILY. LONDON, December 9. Mr Martin Donohoe writes from Athens: “The Anglo-French on Wednesday were fiercely attacked by a large Bulgar force on the Blagucha plateau. The enemy attacked tho French flank, and the latter changed their front to meet the onslaught. The Bulgarians encountered' the British at Valandovo, and the British repulsed four attacks, decimating the Bulgnrs. Heavy reinforcements in the evening threatened the British right.” BULCARB PURSUING. ATTEMPT TO CUT RAILWAY FOILED. # LONDON, December 10. Reuter’s correspondent with the French headquarters staff in Macedonia reports that all was quiet on the morn-

ing of December 9. The Bulgarians claimed a great victory because they bad occupied abandoned territory. The Bulgarians, who are numerically superior, are following the Allies. Comitadjis penetrated Greek territory with a view to cutting the railway, but the Greek authorities frustrated the attempt. NEW FRENCH POSITION. OPPOSED BY BIG FORCES. DEFENCE OF SALONIKA. (Received December 12, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 12. General Sarrail's latest communiqhe states that the retreat from the Tehama front was effected methodically without great loss, though the attackers were heavily punished on December 8 and 9. The FfeiTcTT now occupy a front along the course of the Bojimia. Other telegrams estimate that 150, (JpO Anglo-French are facing 200,003 Bulgarians and 150,000 Germans. _At least 250,000 are required to fortify Salonika, where the geographical conformation make* the defence difficult, apart danger from the Greek army, which is entrenched on a hill commanding the town. BULCARB STILL PRESSING. ALL ATTACKS FAIL. (Received December 13, 1.50 a.m.) ) LONDON. December 12. A French communique states:— The Bulgarians on December 10 attacked the entire French front, particularly on the extreme .left. All the attacks failed. TAKE BRITISH GUNS. BULGARIAN CLAIMS. (Received December 12, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 11. A Bulgarian communique claims that the French were expelled from detz, and thrown into great disorder, after hand to hand hlghting. Bulgarians captured many prisoners and ten British guns near Pletovo. The Anglo-French casualties southward of the Rabrovo-Valandovo line were extremely heavy. TO REMAIN AT SALONIKA. DECISION OF WAR COUNCIL. A FIRM NOTE TO GREECE PROBABLE. (Received December 12, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 11. The conferenca attended by M. Briand, Sir Edward Grey, Lord Kitchener, General Joffre, Lord Bertio (British Ambassador in Paris) and General Gallieni (French Minister of War) has aroused the most intense interest. There was general relief at the report that the conference had removed the divergence of opinion between France and Britain reparding Salonika and that there is now no question of abandoning Salonika.

The decision renders energetic attitude possible inX» recco . and . >*J* P ro " bablo that a joint Note will bo presorted to Athens, couched in him language, requiring an immediate settlement.

(Received December 12, 5.6 p.m.) LONDON, December 11. A telegram from Paris says that Sir Edward Grey, Lord Kitchener, M. Briaiul and General Gallieni attended a fresh conference, to-day, when urgent questions were settled in full agreement.

REINFORCEMENTS TO GO.

ALLIES WILL RESUME THE OFFENSIVE.

(Received December 12, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, December 11. "Le Tomps" says that the Allies have decided to remain at Salonika and to send sufficient reinforcements to enable them to resume the, offensive under favourable conditions.

PORTION OF GREEK ARMY

LEAVES,

LONDON, December 11. Reuter’s agent at Athens says that a portion of tlio Greek troops at Salonika have been removed, lest they impede the Entente’s measures to place the town in a state of defence. CONTENT TO WAIT. GERMAN NEWSPAPER OPINION. OPPOSE IMMEDIATE ADVANCE ■ INTO GREECE. (Received December 13, 1.40 a.m.) GENEVA, December 12. Some German newspapers profess to question the wisdom of advancing on Salonika, declaring that it would cost several army corps. The Germans should be content to wait outside Greece, but would advance if the Allies attempt an offensive from Salonika. Reuter’s agent at Athens states that it is considered that 50,000 will suffice to hold Salonika, if it is to be held merely to close the outlet to the Aegean Sea. CERMAN MOVEMENTB. PARIS, Deoember 10. The “Paris Journal” reports that von Mackensen’s force approaching Monastir seems to have split up into two sections The larger has crossed the Vardar and is marching to Nevrokop. German cavalry is reported from round Ishtib to tho Strumnitza district. At Salonika and in surrounding hills and plains we are now in a position to resist attack. We are protected' against surprise and the regrouping of units ia proceeding methodically. The Greek Staff officers are shortly expected to arrange with Generali Sarrail the material condition of our installations. ENEMY CONCENTRATED. SEEKING DECISIVE BATTLE. (Received December 13, 1.50 a.m.) LONDON, December 12Reports continue to arrive describing the Bulgarian-Austro-German concentration at Strumnitza for one of the most decisive battles of the war, in which the enemy will make a supreme effort to drive back tlm A Pies or compel their retirement by encircling them. Meanwhile the situation on the AngloFrench front is unchanged. GRAVEST ANXIETY. WAR COUNCIL’S MEETINGS. RETIREMENT TO SALONIKA EXPECTED. LONDON, December 10. The “ Daily Mail’s correspondent in Paris says that tho necessity for the Allied War Council to meet on four successive days indicates the difficulty of tlio> problems confronting it. Everybody is asking what is going to happen in thei Balkans? There is no disguising of the opinion in military and diplomatic circles that the situation is causing tho gravc.-t anxiety. Everything points to the Expeditionary Force, deprived of reinforcements and depending for its supplies on the line between Salonika and the front, being obliged to face the Balkan winter and being forced to rotivo on the Salonika region. THE SITUATION CRAVE. EFFECT OF ABANDONMENT. DR DILLON’S WARNING. ROME, December 10. Dr Dillon states: —“Never was the need of unanimity and co-operation more indispensable than to-day. Au error of judgment coupled with prompt decision is pret'ernblejto hesitation and delay. There is good reason to believe that, in the evfcnt of the abandonment of the Balkan expedition. Greece and Rumania wilEj>robably ‘join with Austria and Germany, thus depriving the Entente of 1,000.000 fighting men, and making them available to our enemies. The matter is of vital importance, because at this moment every man counts. On the west front, in Egvpt and in tho Near East everything possible ought to be done to swell the ranks of the Allies. “ I believe that the remnants of the Serbian army are being reorganised, but from everything I know I am still disposed to regard the military situation as grave.” HELP FROM ITALY. TROOPS LAND AT AVLONA. PARIS, December 10. Advices from Rome state that the Italians are busy landing troops at Avlona, Albania, of Durazzo. (Received December 12, 5.5 p.m.) RO7\IE, December 11. The Italians were disombnrCTlng continuously at Avlona for three days. FUTURE OF SERBIA.

THE HUNGARIAN VIEW

" Times " and Sydney " Sun " Services. LONDON, December 10.

The " Vossischa Zeitung," discussing the future of Serbia, says:—"The prevailing Hungarian view is that it would be unwise to incorporate Serbia in Austria-Hungary, as it would mean increasing the number of Slavs to a dangerous extejit."