New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-14
SERBS RE-ENAO
THERMOPYLE
AT KATCHANIK
Defend Pass Against Huge
Forces and Roll Back
Bulgar Wave.
fBy Cable to The Tribune. ]


Monastir, Nov. dispatch to "The
Daily Chronicle" London, by George
Renwick) The great cardinal features
Of the situation in Serbia remain un-
changed; that is to say, the Serbian
army remains intact, and in at least
two places the waves Of the Bulgarian
invasion have beaten in vain against
the heroic nations battle line. At yet
other points on the tremendous front
the Serbians have shown in a most
striking manner great military skill.
Nowhere have their adversaries taken
any great number Of prisoners, and
there has been no rounding up OF Ser
bian forces, though both the Bulgarians
and the Austrians have tried to the ut
most of their ability on several points
Of that front to effect Wholesale capt
ures.
do not, Of course, mean to say that
the Serbian n4situation is not very Sc
rious one. II Is serious and difficult,
especially in regard to provisions, and
there is every need that suceor be both
speedy and in overwhelming strength
Still, "a glance at the map shows the
great Importance OF the preservation
intact OF the Serbian forces which has
been achieved by their leader. When
The nres,ure on The enemy in the south
strengthens into ST advance, the Ser
bisn srny will soon be able 20 move
forward ssaia. so that the Bulgarisns
Kill be placed in sueh position as
Serbia = row ii With ,he tremendous
d:sAGvxatSess thz, ;hsir strength vii!
bs diminishing day BY day. and 'ha'
ssrio9s s:,A,k wi,l &c developing in .
-,es; =s-st;-s !asAiez IL ;hsiE rear.
Serbia VIII Hold Out"
~Ss-A.s ss- s-G vii hciG cut" Ths;
$ .Ae message A-sGsa: treri ,he nerth
~ sxsx-, whs Asve rSssAsi heve. oae
e~sx- cs -y sscgs.E:Sres tells re
80. e AsS 'e=s ak w,:h General
Yvsa,k s yss Gays sSr. s-3 ,AA: he
ysura .Ae ve;srsr ssrr!el /. % she
Sessis, s,;vs;ssc.
rAs e.S ,as-a 80 Serbia las eon-
gi.as& - me>. marvellous defensive
tactics rr,sssegs ~sc hsve eeea
tskee sS-s,, SEA: - .he various bat
slsselSs - EVyere ;hey hsye sSpe-
y,erssl resA,rs - gate sash 81 er-
sgseg2iasyy nature As che stubborn way
IN whssh sAs men q Mersvs have
slowed down she German advance. Be-
tween rslspks and hgssuyevs,s I. has
Nc, all been question ~ retreat An
esAesr preser. a, the action 81 the
Shsuraais division before kraguyevatz
described ~ nc = erilitan, lit;le battle
IN which the Germans were made aware
once more Of ;hc fshung qualities
~ colonel rers,,eh's men.
On the hill before the town the divi-
sion took UP good position. The colo
mel. though the orders were 70 retreat
knew the spirit OF his men and de-
mnndcd that at least once they should
be allowed 10 tackle the invader, so the
order was given 20 advance and AT
tack.
March to Attack in Rain.
7, wa. magnificent. my officer friend
told me, to see the light IN the - ,,s
ewes as they heard the weic0me nem
that they were to be alioweu ~ asv ~
r;ng rain and mist sweeping down
dsnse enyeloping shrouds from tne
,nounts;rs - Through this cover the
Worava men advanced. and almost De
So. ,be foe was aware OF their pres
an.s the Serbians were IN among the
Carrans with bayonet and bullet.
~ q, last they could see the enemy
- Tor 40 long had been sheltering be-
Mind numerous batteries OF powerful
ar,;iIerv Nothing now could hold back
the Serbians. Reinforcements were hur-
ried up the slope to aid the attacked
force. and soon the Germans numbered
two and a half divisions against the
weakened divisions of Shoumadians.
For an hour the battle ragged. but
from the very first the Serbians were
masters of the situation. Rush after
rush of the Germans stopped at the
wall formed by their own dead. Artil-
lery came into action. but in vain. Soon
the Shoumadians had the foe on the
run. pursuing them some distance.
The field was covered with many hun
dreds Of German dead, and no fewer
than three thousand prisoners were
taken. The artillery brought up By the
Germans, consisting of several field
guns and half dozen machine guns.
was captured. Then. in better heart.
the men of Mornva continued their
stubborn, slow retreat. Il was q battle
such as the Shoumadian loves and In
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