WAR IN THE BALKANS.

West Coast Times, 25 November 1915, Page 2

WAR IN THE BALKANS.

THE SErMuMPAIGN. THE DEFENCE OF MONABTIR. END OF TDK RESISTANCE. ARRIVAL OF FRENCH MARINES, A DESERTED TOWN. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. I/ONDOX, November 23. The Daily Telegraph’s Monastic correspondent, cabling on Kith inst., said he witnessed what was believed to lie the last days of the Serbian defence of llonastir by a small force of brave troops which had long defended it. They had n 'ached the end of their resistance as they were outnumbered and outclassed in armament, hut they had put a fight evoking the admiration of friend and foe. General Vassitz and his troops hliil fought incessantly for fourteen days to preserve a corner of Serbia whidi was trie from invaders. General Vassit/. is suffering from a cruel malady which is destining him to an early grave. He is resolute to fight on to the end but cannot save .Monastic. Tile correspondent found Monastic practically deserted and in total darkness. The empty streets re-echoed the footsteps of the civilian guards and a few' seared officials alone remained in addition to the military. LONDON, November 23. The Daily Telegraph’s Monastic correspondent states that the three war correspondents groped their way through Mionastir. The only one place lighted was a cafe where a group of priests and officers talked in whispers. All were anxious and expecting to hear the worst news. One question they asked war; “Will the enemy appear to-night or to-mor-row y” An officer announced that General Vpssitz had warned the consuls that he would no longer lie able To protect (hem, and that they and the Nationals must leave, excepting the Frauoo-Bri-tish Consuls, who were awaiting the arrival of the Anglo-French Marines from Belgrade. Finally they prepared to depart in the last train and wen- standing at the station when General Pinal arrived i na French naval uniform. He informed the eager bystanders that he had ridden ahead of hi.', men to reconnoitre the town which he was 'afraid was in the hands of the Bulgarians. l|ie French Marines arrived later after a forced march of twenty miles. The British Consul, Mr. Craig, decided to wait, hoping for the arrival id the British Marines, They were two days’ march behind the French and were due at Libera ou the night of the loth November. Mr. Craig sent motor ears to fetch Ihnii, and it was hoped they would arrive on the morning of the 17th. RUSSIA AND THE BALKANS. PETIiOGIiAD, Nov dier 24. Ten German divisions hi lieen with drawn from the northern front and sent towards the Balkans. M hut the Russians are undertaking in the JJulkaiis cannot us yet he revealed, hut in all respects the requirements We fully adequate. ITALIANS IN ALBANIA. GENEVA, November 24. According to the usually well-iulunu-ed newspaper “LasiiisHe" Italian troops hare begun to land in Alba-

THE FRENCH IN SERBIA. A AViEIRD SPECTACLE. CARTLOADS OF SPENT SHRAPNEL Jl FLEETS. FIERCE *COM BATS. liONDON November 24. Ueinviek, the Daily Chronicle's eor- • respondent, describes a visit lo the > French front in the Helastchitsa inoun- ; tains during the night. He witnessed a weird spectacle of , fires dotting the hill-tops, and seareiii lights were sweeping the valley and . approaches. He visited Hill RjO, the . key lo the important Hill 51(5. It is ■ of lower eminemy. and is "poe-marked i with shellholes, and shrapnel bullets ; could be gathered by the cartloads and hundreds of abandoned rifles were lying • on the hill. From the trenches a good view of the Bulgarian lines near the ; villages of Kostnrinm and Islismaly was obtained. Duels between snipers in trees uni! • from other points of vantage resolved in Pi fierce combats. Rayhseeke, a tributary of the Oma, marked the farthest j«»int of the , French advance, and the result is that the French hold a strong oosition near an important bridgehead at Foyaarts. This is the controlling point of tom. mnnication between the French position and the Tpehangel hei-hts, facing Gradsko, on the Nish-Salonika railway. It also dominates the route to A'ele*. The enemy attacked the French position, and distinguished the whereabouts of their artillery by the smoke rising on the hillsides. Then the French infantry advanced with rifles and maehine guns, it was slow work but eventually the top was reached and then after a fferce bayonet encounter, the enemy were dislodged. A BF.IsATF.D AfH'Ol'N’T LONDON. November 23. The Anglo-Russian and French marines who assisted in die defence of Belgrade since Oetolier.l9l4. reached Monastir on the Kith inst and the two following dbys. Picot the French Commander, states they left Belgrade a few minutes before Herman occupation, hut first destroying their guns. The French contingent by enforced marches reached Monastir without the loss of a single man and suffered «inii» hardships across the Albanian fastnesses and trackless paths and through the

nuMt JuMpoaUc irfpm of th<> work). Tk*» imatingents only food was lifted. This sitiiatwM* at Jlonastir is still mwc hanged. Ik Bulgarians »in still arrested snack of Prelip. It is repotted that Gala it/ with an arms carp* is ruining to the ant of the Bulgarian-. again, l th.‘ Anglo-French CVFXtpH-. the Servians on the morning [ the ilst. iltMp back the BulganaWs from around MwOastlr eight kilometers, this cnemv's c-a-ualties were lfV.tr*»>. j j j |