Evening star., 1915-12-03
AUSTR0-GERMAN FORCES
REPORTED DEFLECTED
Feeling Exists That King Ferdi-
nand's Men Might Not Fight
Fiercely Against Slavs.
MONASTIR SAID TO BE OCCUPIED
Fall of Last Important Serbian City
May Bring Threat to Flank of
Allied Army-Montenegrins
Retreating.

LONDON. December ,-
News that the Russians have en-
tered Bulgaria has aroused in
tense interest. and there is much
! speculation aS to the next dc
velopment. Reuters correspond
ent at Saloniki telegraphs. Ii
is expected this move will have A
far-reaching effect on the internal
situation oi Bulgaria. and will
modify the whole aspect OF affairs
in the Balkans.
No direct and specific confirnla-
ton has been received in London
of this message. 1t is recalled.
however. that last week Emperor
Nicholas was said to have prom
1 ised Premier Pachitcil OF Serbia
! the appearance OF Russian army
in Bulgaria within week.
Cnconfirmed reports from Sa-
loniki also state that the Austro-
German forces which were III
possession OF the Nelcs district
have been suddenly DETECTED to-
ward the Bulgarian Rumanian
frontier to meet possible Rus
sian attack.
According to these dispatches
there is feeling that the Bul-
garian army might not fight
against the Russians with the
same spirit as against the SER
bians.
Serbs Reported Defeated.
| Scattered Serbian detachments in the
region southwest of MitrovitZa. near
the Monteuegrin border. were defeated
| by Teutonic forces in engagements yes
! terday. and more than 1900 Serbians
were taken prisoners. il was announced
today by German army headquarters
Occupation of Monastir by an Austro-
German force at 3 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon is reported bN ktuttT cor
respondent at Saloniki.
The correspondent. who says his in
formation was received in telegram
from FIorina, Greece. ADDS that the
only flag hoisted when the city was oc-
cupied was the Austrian The Bui-
garians did not enter Monastir, re-
naming at Kenali, south of the city.
1t is reported. however, that taey viii!
march into MonastiT today.
No Official Report Received.
Circumstantial accounts Of tie occupa-
ton of Monastir, in southwestern Serbi.'.
by an Austro-German force. and The cut
ting of Geographic communication with
the city. are regarded here as ample evi-
dence that the Macedonian capital has
fallen although no official report to that
effect has reached London
The effect o: the capture of Monastir.
the last Serbian city of Importance 10 hold
out, on the position of the .AngloFrench
forces is awaited with the greatest in-
terest. for the penetration by The invaders
Of this part of Macedonia may threaten
the flank of the allies in the Nardar and
,,erna valleys where they are on the de
fensiye No important events have oC-
CURED there for some time. but with
Monastir in the hands of their opponents
the allies may soon be engaged IN an I'M
portant battle.
Advance in Montenegro.
In Montenegro the Austrians continue
their advance. Elsewhere in the north
ern Balkans no heavy lighting has been
reported of late.
\ further retreat of the Montene-
erins under Austrian pressure. the ret
rograde movement involving the evac-
uation of PleylJe. is admitted in an Of
fetal statement from Montenegrin
headquarters.
Two thousand Bulgarian rifles wer.
found in q trench taken Wednesday BY
French troops. according to a Havas
dispatch from Saloniki. The French
are strongly intrenched before krivo-
lax 100 yards from the Bulgar ad
vanced posts The British troops are
also we,t dug in in their sector.
The Bulsarians have crossed the Ger
ma at Noxaci and occupied Canal.
southeast of Monastir, near the Greek
frontier The Serbs are reported to
have retired toward Resna.
The Bulgarians have dropped few
shells on the railway station at krivo-
lax on the allied front. There have
been artillery duels on the Strumnitsa
line where the Bulgars have abstained
from, resuming the offensive since No
yember 3. when they suffered heavy
losses the correspondent says. The cold
weather in the hilly country occupied
by the allies is less severe.
Serb Officials at Saloniki.
ATHENS. December 3.-Members o.
the Serbian chamber of deputies ana
the minister of war have arrived at
Saloniki, while the minister of finance
is at Florina. Greece, fifteen miles
southeast of Monastir. Other Serbian
governmental offices now at Elbassan
and Koritsa will be removed to Avlona.
Albania.
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