THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144854, 4 December 1915, Page 3

THE BALKANS.

MONASTIC ABANDONED. BUT NOT TAKEN BY BULGARIANS LONDON, Dec. 2. There aro conflicting reports as to the position at Monastir. Latest Athens advices state that although the Serbians have evacuated tho town, the Buigariaus have not yet occupied it. Messages from Salonika state that four thousand recruits who were sent to join General Vossich arrived in a state of exhaustion, after marching for sixteen clays on only half a loaf apiece a day. Eight thousand dying people were removed from Monastir hospital and four hundred were placed in ox wagons and sent to Ochrida, no doctor nocom* panymg thorn, although the journey occupied three days and three nights. The Echo de Paris’ Romo correspondent reports that sensationalists say that the Kaiser’s visit to Emperor Franz Josef was due to bitter AustroGernian dissensions on the Question of Poland, arousing conflicts and complications similar to those leading to tho trouble of IBG6. Zurich reports that harmony has been restored, and that the visit will probably be followed by a theatrical display in the form of cn entry into Constantinople. A German wireless describes the stories of the Russian concentration in Bessarabia ns merely bluff, and says that only recruit*-and schoolboys are drilling. ROME, Doc. 3. II Corriere della Sera’s Bucharest correspondent states that Russian boats are cruising day and night on tho Danube and near tho shore of Bessarabia. A Zeppelin has arrived at Rusichuk, and the Austro - Germans have taken intimidatory measures on tho Bulgarian bank. Austrian monitors have withdrawn to Orsova, fearing that they should he frozen in. PA R 1 . Dee. 3. Le Temps says that the Bulgarians have crossed tho Upper Teherna and taken possession of all the bridges and roads loading to Monastir. The Bulgarians are constituting a now army in the Struma valley. A communique reports that the Serbians were still occupying Monastir on December 1. AMSTERDAM. Deo. 3. A German communique claims that the Germans captured four thousand Serbians south-west of Mitrovitza. REINFORCEMENTS TOO EXHAUSTED. TO BE OF ANY VALUE. (Received Dec. 4, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Dee. 3. Salonika telegrams detail tho last agony of Monasiir, i-u’r days the Allied commander telegraphed to General Vassitch asking if nil «-w well, and lie invariably replied ‘-'•Mill holding out.” On Monday afternoon, however, there was an unaecouutable delay in replying, and il was inidnighi beioie General Vassitrh Liegraphed. “We aro holding positions on tiie Cenm.” Other telegrams from tho frontier showed that tho end had come and the Bulgarians had advanced south-east fifteen kilometres (nine miles) beyond Monastir. threatening to surround’tho little army. General yasbltch’s only ehnneo was a precipitate retreat to Ochrida. Six thousand men from tho north arrived at tho last moment, who would have enabled General Vassitch to prolong the defence, but They were worn out. They had been without food lor 48 hours, their uniforms were in rags, and they had hardly any boots, after 17 days’ march on mountain roads. They lost 320 by cold and hunger, who wore left to die on tho mountains. When they marched in they seemed haggard spectres, more fit for a hospital than tor tho firing fine, hut they were immediately ordered to join the nnttlo outside tho town and fight like Ae tho Serbian? wiflidrow the Bulfnrian commitadjis, under tho brigand hisl Kristov, took possession ami placarded tho following manifesto; ‘‘For five hundred years ye were under tho Turks, and for three under tho Serbs; now yo aro free.” Tho commitadjis paraded tho town, singing and looting the deserted houses and public buildings. THE RETREAT TO OCHRIDA. There were pathetic scenes during General Vassitch’s retreat. The Serbians trudged, footeoro and famished, in a hurricane snow', tho stronger encouraging and helping tho weaker men. It was only the ghost of an army, and it was a wonder it still held together. The Bulgarians pressed them hard, but were beaten off, and tho retreat to Ochrida resumed. Civilians at Ochrida were panic-stricken, and commenced a general oxodus to Albania and Greece. - A MONTENEGRIN SUCCESS. (Received Dec, 4, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. A, Montenegrin communique says:— There was a sharp fight at Fotchi, and the Austrians retreated' in disorder. ’ THE ENEMY ENTER MONASTIR. (Received Dec. 4, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Doc. 3. A Reuter’s message says that tho Austro-Germans entered Monastir Yesterday and hoisted tho Austrian flag. The-'Bulgariana enter -to-day.