Middletown transcript., 1915-11-06
THE BULGARS
MENACE NISH
PIrOt, Key to Serbian Capital,
Held by Enemy
ALLIES FLEET Bon IBARDs
9ul0arIans Now Hold the Key To the
Serbian Capital and the Teutons
Are Gradually Closing In
Their Net.

London.-The Serbian fortress Of
Pirot, described as the key 10 Nish, is
In the hands Of the Bulgarians, while
the Austro-Germans, advancing from
the north, are endeavoring to form a
ring around Kraguyevatz, where the
Serbian arsenal is situated. Thus, be-
sides endangering both the Serbian
war capital and the town where the
Serbian munitions are manufactured,
the Central Powers, with Bulgaria, are
narrowing the gap through which the
Serbian army in the northeast must
escape.
simultaneously the Austrians are
attacking Montenegro to remove, If
possible, the danger of havin an enemy
army on their flank. Little has been
said about the fighting between the
Austrians and Montenegrins along the
Drina River, but apparently it is of a
most sanguinary character, as it took
the Austrians, with far superior euuip-
ment, more than week to force a
crossing Of the river at one point
alone, that south Of Vishegrad.
The Anglo-French troops are firmly
establishing themselves along the
southern end of the Nish railway, and,
crossing into Bulgaria, have occupied
the hills surrounding Strumitsa, al
though the capture of that town, which
has been reported, is not officially con.
firmed.
The allied fleets, too, have again
bombarded the Bulgarian towns on the
Aegean Sea. While these efforts take
some Of the strain off heavily tried
Serbia, there is no reliable informa-
ton as to the moveme nts of the
greater porces which, it is hoped, will
save her. Reports continue to circu-
late Of a Russian army which is to
march across Roumania ia the rescue.
But of the British and French rein
forcements no news has been received.
1t is possible that, in addition to direct
assistance, the Allies will try indirect
means, whereby the Austro- Germans
may be prevented from sending rein
forcements to Serbia.
Italy on her part has already un-
dertaken this by a general offensive.
and there is talk of another offensive
on the western front. The Germans
seem to have anticipated this, as thew
launched a general attack in Cham
payne over front of about five miles
in an effort to recover ground which
the French recently took from them.
They succeeded in recapturing the
Butte De Tahure, but, according to the
French account, they repulsed every
where else, suffering extremely heavy
losses, and to the north pf LIE Mesnil
they actually lost one Of their own
trenches
AS usual the attack was preceded
bv an artillery combardment. and the
french report speaks Of masses of
infantry being decimated. There has
also been some fighting in Artois.
Despite the coming of winter there
has been more activity on the Rus
sian front. True there has been luII
in the fighting in Courland, where the
Germans have apparently failed to
take Riga or Dvinsk OF 10 improve to
any marked degree their position.
1t is believed that the ey are prepar.
ing for another drive. It must be made
soon, as snow is already falling and
the movement Of heavy y artillery is
becoming more difficult.
Along the Styr the Germans are en-
gaged IN counter offensive and have
recovered some territory which Cen.
eral Ivanoff took from them. Farther
south, in Galicia, the Russians have re-
turned to the offensive, and, accord
ing to Vienna, have made unsuccess.
full attempts to cross the Stripa.
The Turks report Increased activity
of the allied artillery and warships in
the Dardanelles.
"The Bulgarians have succeeded in
occupying part of Veles, situated on
the right bank OF the Vhrdar, notwith-
standing the heroic resistance of the
Serbians, according I'd Saloniki ad-
vices.
"The other part Of the town remains
in the hands of the Berbians. The
Bulgarian losses are placed at 25.OO0
men.
There has been no important en-
gagement on the French front. Cen
Eral Sarrail, commander-in-chief of
the French forces in the Orient, has
inspected the Anglo-French lines from
Gievgeli to Krivolak, including Demir
Kapu, which are now strongly forti-
fed.
"The Allies continue to land forces
at Salonilki."