Evening star., 1915-11-16
BULGAR|ANS FORCE
FRENCH TO RETIRE
AFTER BIG BATTLE
Desperate Fighting in Vicinity
of Gradisce, Near the
> Greek Border.
BULGARS ATTACK IN VAIN
ALONG THE CERNA RIVER
Saloniki Reports Them Beaten Back
After an Engagement Lasting
Thirty-Six Hours.
IN DRIVE TOWARD MONASTIR
Serbians Still Hold Enemy at Ba-
buna Pass. But Their Situation
Is Growing Rapidly
More Perilous.
BULGARS ATTACK IN VAIN
ALONG THE CERNA RIVER
IN DRIVE TOWARD M0NASTIR

sN-NLo-\l I'M, blCCIS, NOV SlllDCi
Is, via London. November IS,
2:27 p.m.-After heavy fighting
with the reinforced Bulgarian
troops in southern Serbia, the
French were compelled to retire
at two points in the vicinity OF
Gradisce, twelves miles north OF
the Greek border.
y Bulgarian attack along the
Cerna river was repulsed, with
heavy losses to the attackers.
Battle Lasted Thirty-Six Hours.
The battle of the Cerna was wased
along the left bank of the river. Two or
three Bulgarian divisions were engaged
and desperate attempt was made to
pierce the French center. The engage
ment was in progress with furious in
tensity for thirty-six hours. after which
the Bulgarians were beaten back along
this entire 'front.'
Ihe situation in Macedonia is develop
Ing rapidly. Large renforcements have
been brought in by the Bulgarians, who
are making renewed efforts to force
Babuna pass. The Serbians are still
holding out there, but this movement
threatens Perlepe and Monastir Many
inhabitants of Monastir are preparing to
depart The members of the diplomatic
corps have changed their plans and IN
tend to proceed to Scutari. Alba mia, In
stead Of to Monastir.
Old Serbia Wiped Out.
Old Serbia is lost and new Serbia is
in a precarious condition, in the opin-
ion of NJ. Jacowscheff, secretary of the
Russian legation in Greece. NJ Jacow-
schef arrived here today from Nitro
vitza- western Serbia. having come by
way of Albania.
The secretary asserted the Serbians
at Babuna pass could not hold out
much longer. and that the only hope
was that the Serbian force concen-
trated at Mitrovitza would prove to be
strong enough to take the offensive
aionastir.
The morale of the Serbians is splen-
did,, he continued. Half-trained re-
ci'uits march to battle singing like
.ishting in the trenches, clad = the
uniform of private. He seeks .eath,
saying: When / am killed you can fee
o. surrender
Famine and misery prevail There
is no bread at Mitroyitza- The people
are reduced to eating haricots.'
New Bulgarian Offensive.
LONDON. November 16, 1922 pm
The exact situation in central Mace
don;a is uncertain. Dispatches from
the near east are conflicting and doubt
as to the time of events to which they
refer injects an additional element of
uncertainty.
IL is clear. however. that the Bull
Garans have been reinforced and have
begun a new offensive.
The operations in central Macedonia
according to Rome accounts, present a
Ser Tbia and her allies which are operat-
ing from Tetovo through Perlepe to the
southeastern Serbian frontier. Tele-
grams received almost simultaneously
from Greece announce that Tetovo is
in the hands of both the Serbians and
Bulgaridns, but the preponderance OF
evidence points to Bulgarian occupation
OF this front.
The Buigarians are making desperate
efforts to force their way through Katcll-
anik Pass in the direction of Pristin ma
They are also attempting to advance from
Tetovo TO Perlepe and Nonastir, and by
forcing B1buua pass. to reach Perle pc
from the other side These operations are
said to have placed Monastir again in
danger.