The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-12-09
BAL. kAAS

United Press Leased Wire Service.1
ATHENS, Dec. 9.-AnsIo-French
forces have begun to retire from
southern Serbia toward the Greek
frontier, according to official dis
patches today. 1t ls believed hero
tho withdrawal Is part of general
plan determined upon Immediately
after the Serbian retreat.
How far the expeditlonary forces In
tend to Withdraw was not Indicated.
But dispatches from Greek frontier
points during the night reported tho
Anglo-French front under heavy at
tack by large German and Bulgarian
forces.
The 6uIsars are smashing hard at
General Sarrairs right and center.
against the allied left and center. BY
combined pressure, the BuIgar-Ger-
man armies are striving to squeeze
Sarrail's forces out Of Serbia and
across the Greek frontier.
| 1t Is believed here the expedition
ary forces are outnumbered nearly
two to one.
| News OF the allied retreat has
caused the greatest excitement here.
The tension In official circles has aud
denly Increased. With tho battle
drawing closer to the Greek frontier
1t Is realized here that King Constan-
tine may be forced to decide between
the entente and the central empires
within a few days.
| Anglo-French reinforcements arrIv-
ed at SaIonlka early this week.
Whether they proceeded at once to
the Serbian front has not been stated
In SaIonlka dispatches.
| @~fn RI bat l.
military authorities who visited Sa-
Ionika to confer with the Anglo
French officials have been ordered to
proceed at once to the frontier. It ls
assumed that they have been given
full power to deal with any situation
| that may. arise out Of possible
Anglo-French retreat Into Greeoo.
RUSSIANS ARRIVING.
| ZURICH, Dec. e.-The Russo-Rou
manian frontier station at Unaen
and the harbor at Reni have beer
closed. according to Bucharest dis
] patches today. Thousands Of Russian
troops are arriving at both frontier
towns. Tho Russians are displaying
the greatest activity in BessarabIa.
Ungenl lies 1926 miles north Of RenI
near railway leading through kIs
sinef and south through Roumania
with branches extending to the Bull
earan frontier. Concentration Of
| Russian troops near Reni for an Of
fensive against Bulgaria, had beer
reported several times.
GREECE Is ACTIVE.
! LONDON, Dec. s.-Greece Is taking
active steps to resist If the allies at
e. ~ - <a,f<
their demands by force, tho Rome
correspondent Of the Daily Mall
cabIed today. The Greeks with the
aid of teutonic agents, are also pre-
pairing to fight a commercial block
ade, the correspondent reported.
The Germans, the dispatch said
have assured the Greek government
that their submarines will make in
effective any commercial blockade by
the AngIo-French fleet.
an the meantime" It was added
"every possible annoyance Is being
placed in the way Of tho allies at Sa
lonika. Promised transport lines are
withheld and lines Of communication
are blocked by Greek transport"
BULGARIAN VICTORIES.
! PARIS, (via wireless to SayvllIe,
L. ~, Dec. e.-BuIgarian troops have
occupied Struga, Ochrida, Debia and
Dyakova in extreme southwestern
Serbia, clearing practically the entire
region of Serbian forces, the war Of
flee announced this afternoon.
The combats on the Vardar rIver
front are progressing" said the off.
ciaI statement. "South Of PIevJIe,
south Of Syienica and near Ipek (Mon'
tenegro) the fighting continues sue.
cessfulIy."
FRENCH DRIVEN OFF.
SOFIA, (via Amsterdam) Dec. O.
Bulgarian troops have occupied the
railway station of Demirkapu, which
has been evacuated by the French, |,
was officially announced today. The
village of Grovica has also been oe
cupied by Bulgarians.