The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
Hellenic Force So Placed 1t
Could Easily Join With
Former Foes.
AUSTRIANS AGAIN
SUFFER A REPUISE
Driven Back by MOntene-
grin>-TcutOn and Bull.
garian Officers Clash.

specil' cGj'- despatch TO Tul SrS.
LONDON. Dec. 2j.--A,hens dispatches
say that the Teutonic attack on Salon!ca
has begun. News Of actual operations is |
a. yet very meagre. but from the ad-
vice. at hand It seems certain that the
Central Powers have massed their armies
in almost continuous line along the
western and southern borders of Serbia.
Their strongest contingeEts are on or
near the Greek frontier.
The Athens correspondent of the Paris
Journal telegraphs that heavy German
artillery on the banks of Lake Dorian.
forty miles north Of Salonlca. are direct
ing steady fire against the frs, line
positions of the Anglo-F'rench forces. 1t
.s IN this general locality that the main
stress Of the German attack is expected.
The heavy German guns began to fire.
says the corr. spondent. Immediately fol-
\ loving an extensive reconnaissance OF
= ;he allied positions by German and Aus
,.lsu aer0planes.
Bulgarian. Mass on Frontier.
Paris T.riDs gives this view of the sit
Wl1g,
The Bulgarian- remain at the from
:ier on serbian territory. Trustworthy
niormation announces large concen-
ration of troops. which may mean an
5fensivc at an early dntc
"BugJrians are assembling on the
front comprising Monastir, Gicvgeli and
Dutau II an attack IS begun against
81. tf ~ he
lei simultaneously from the west by
NonA>tr from the centre 10y tn. Nardar
Valley ana from the cast by the valley
Of M, Strumicl.
The utreuchei camp of the Anglo
1 French forces Al Salonica is now pre-
pad 20 Withstand an attack.
1rn rorrtcint - a. tnt uespatchcs am
Houao.us the opening of the attack
again Salonica is doubted here. as none
OF ire otti,ial statements gives hint OF
r. The German and Austrian official
statements referring to the Balkans is
sued to-day contain the Identical words !:
"IA,fe is uO news while the British
snU Frcucn statements fail to make any
mention of operations in the Balkans.
Messages from both Salonica and
Athens indicate that the Allies are solidly
rtrench.d and that II will take hghting
OF % most bitter description TO dislodge
Uens Ne flgNt Wltg OF TIE
line IS held hy the British and the left
\ by the French The line runs eastward
from the Nardar River and railwa.' line
ami extends to the northward OF the
Chalcdice peninsula,
Turkish Troops Massed.
A. Nolastir an army of $4,000 Ger
m,ns Is concentrated. The Bulgarians
ts'e the French and British troops In
lh- N.rdsr Valley as well 40 TO the
east, while on tine extreme eastern por-
ton OF t0. front a strong Turkish Yorce
ls SAID 10 he massed.
At the eleventh hour keen interest
centres on the Greek forces. Every
Wnere lie question is asked. VIII Greece
\ manage 10 remain neutral? Some OF
II the critics believe that Greece Will
finally bo forced 10 throw In her lot
With the Allies. while others, taking a
moro gloomy view of the situation, eN-
Press tu" opinion that ~ the last mo-
mept the Greek army will Join tine Teu-
tons a1t JON i'm the attack on Salonica.
II T. pointed out that tho very
considerable Greek forces which were
Concentrate AZ Saionca have been
mov-n to Seres and kavala, In eastern
Macedonia, and that from those POSI-
IONS tuoH could readily join with Bul-
edrs oId TURKS, bringing an over
H.e'm.nE weight OF numbers to bear
ags.',' the Allies.
FRESH Hcpuise Tor Austriams.
T. Austrian army, which has beer
n"Nns sow progress through Mon
en'-7'. tas met with a serious reverse
-o'or 10 an official Montenegro
statement received here to-day. Tina!
statement saws
"ir SunJak army attacked the
t9euy near Pepenatz Thursday and
si'er stubborn battle drove him
ha'h ON Bielo Pole. The enemy
ahanlrscd more than 500 dead and
hii 3D. our hands "A hundred 'pris-
0tcr.
td'..- from Rome to-day say tina
NJ S"tniln army l. still intact AM
Nla' aa soon az IL nv been repro
N,'""'d rs effective strength will b
considerable The main force OF Serb
Is 'ou ontratiug a, Elbasan In Albanis
Vh"' 70 junction Is reported to hav
be'n .trotad with the Italian cxpedi
notaH force sent ecross the Adriati
some uuI" ago.
former Serbian Minister to Rome
i'u'' NOpuovich, made official denis
''-a., Of the possiDiStic accounts re
~ the, Serbian army sent oft b
lnudents. He said heavy losse
.'' ''' lNnl'lti on 'ne .AhSbo-''eTNia
hr. lighting against the Serbs, who's
rt.r'. has been orderly. They ha
wa N.. ed 10 take with them. he declared
\ t1 Wei" artillery except the hcav
y piece which could not be transporte
aclo." me Albanian mountains.
r. ""al hundred wounded Britis
N"f. arrived at Plymouth from III
v" tt.I- to-day. They say that weatht
rpSt.iuf.d as Thhd puDe.