Evening star., 1915-11-24


via London, a:s5 p.m.-The
Serbian towns of Mitrovitsa
and Pristina have been cap
tured, the war Office an
nounced today.
PARIS, November 24.-Reports
are in circulation in Greece that
Great Britain and France are pre-
pairing for important new efforts
in the Balkans. The Saloniki
correspondent of the Petit Journal
says he has learned fres,s~a men,
Der OF the Serbian government
that Premier Asquith of Great
Britain sent telegram on Mon
day to the Serbian government
giving firm assurance that Great
Britain and France will carry
through the expedition. Mr..
Asquith is quoted as having
said:
L can assure you France and
England are preparing surprises
in the Balkans. You will shortly
have corroboration thereof"
Balkan News Conflicting.
LONDON. November "a, 11:49 am
Contradictory claims to victory in the
Balkans leave the present situation in
doubt. but it is evident the advance Of
the Austro-German armies and their
Bulgarian allies is not so rapid as
earlier reports indicated. Apparently
heavy fighting is under way in the Sec
ton of the country where the Teutonic
invaders are attempting to form juno
ton with the Bulgarians.
The fate of Monastir is still in the
balance. Reports emanating from
Athens state that the Bulgarians, hav-
ing regard for Greek susceptibilities,
are waiting for the Germans to come w
and occupy the city.
italian Troops Landing.
Italian troops have begun landing on
Albanian. territory. according to
Chasso dispatch to the Journal La
Suisse. forwarded by the Central News
correspondent at Zurich.
Telegraph from Athens, the Morn
ing Posts correspondent says:
The Bulgarians claim to have cap
tured Mitrovitsa. but this would nol
al Serbian
obstacle to the retreat is the Bulgarian
wedge in the Uskup sector, where des-
perate fighting continues and the Bull
garians evidently are hard pressed, as
they have withdrawn their forces from
the Babuna pass and the French front
in order to reinforce this sector.
Bulgar Offensive Suspended.
"On the Babuna front the Bulgarian
offensive is still suspended. which is at
tributed in competent circles to ex-
haustion from the strenuous fortnight
conflict and lack of ammunition owing
to difficult communications.
The Neon Asty. the organ of Min
lister of the Interior Gounaris. rsaf1lrms
the existence of an agreement between
Germany and Bulgaria providing that
Monastir shall, be occupied by the Ger
and not the bulSdrldHs
A Bucharest dispatch to the Times
saws that advices from Rustchuk re-
port that fourteen wagon loads of mu-
nitions, as well as artillery and medi-
cal supplies. from Hungary have been
landed in Bulgaria. The artillery in
cluded two siXteen-inch guns, to be
transported to Gallipoii.
Serbian Refugees Suffer.
The conditions among the Serbian
refugees gathered around the plain OF
Kossovo are described by a Serbian
staff officer, who left Kossovo Novem-
Der Is, in a dispatch to the Daily Tele-
graph from Saloniki-
probably half the population of old
Serbia has soasht refuge around Kos
soyo" the officer is quoted as having
said. Famine has set in among them
and the greater part remain without
cover. exposed to the severe winter
weather Owing to lack Of fodder. cat
tie are dying by the hundreds.
"a way out by way of. Albania is
closed to these unfortunates on account
of the lack of transport: There is a
Retreat through Montenegro also is
closed"
Rushing Troops to Monastir.
PARIS, November 24.-The Serbian
army at Monastir is being reinforced
by troops from Govdvar, krushevo,'
Dibra and Ochrida, according to dis
match from the Serbian front dated
Monday and transmitted by the Havas
at Saloniki Tuesday
Guns and munitions are being sent
from Saloniki. The Serbs occupy posi-
tions southwest Of Prilep at Pribilci.
Krushevo and Brdo.
Gen. Bokovitch, Serbian minister OF
war, is arranging for the shipment into
Serbia by way of Monastir OF QuAn-
titles of provisions which have ac-
cumulated at. Salohiki. MinibtSr OF