The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-20
Unconhrmed Reports Are Cur
rent That City Is Now In
Hands Of Bulsars
FIVE THOUSAND
SERBIANS CAPTURED
Heavy Loss BY Serbs Indicates
That Iron Ring Is Rapidly
Tightening About Their
Main Army

London. Nov. i9.-Defnite news Of
the fate OF Monastir is anxiously
awaited here. The fall OF the city
IS momentarily expected and uncon-
nrrned reports are current that 1t al
ready is in the hands of the Bull
garians The only basis for hope
that the city may be saved to the
Serbs lies In the increasing strength
OF the Anglo-Freneh armies which,
should the Buigars stretch their lines
to take in Monastir. would seriously
threaten the Bulgarian flank.
The only action reported by Aha
French war Office tonight is the re-
pulse Of Bulgarian attack in the
region of Strumitza, the Buigars suf-
fering appreciabIe loses
The German war ONCE gives little
additional information regarding the
situation in it's statement. which con-
fines itself to telling of the capture
of 5000 Serbians yesterday withou.
mentioning the scene of the fight
ing. which apparently is along the
Javor- Raska-k ursumlya line. jusE
within the boundaries OF Old Serbia,
where the Austro-German forces are
pressing the main Serbian army
gradually suothward toward the Bull
gars in the southern part of the
country.
Anglo French Army Stronger.
| Unofficial reports indicate that the
strengthening OF the Anglo-French
army. upon which the brunt Of the
task OF holding back the invaders is
expected to fall. Reports that Italy
will send a force to assist in this
task continue, but. without more
/ definite details.
The Havas Agency correspondent at
athens says In = dispach, nled yss-
terday. that there is no ofiicial con-
drmation OF the reported general re-
treat OF the Serbs on the southern
front, following the loss OF the Babuna
Pass. and that the only fact estab-
aished 10 the capture by the Bulgars
OF Priiep, to the south OF the pass.
The correspondent expresses the opin-
ion that the Serbs are retiring to the
heights between Prilep and Monastir.
There are now $4,000 serbians in tho
Monastir region, he says. as against
10000 Bulgars. The military gov
ernor OF Monastir is reported to have
appointed q committee of notables to
preserve order. In spite OF this. fears
are expressed OF the possible activities
OF bands of trregulars on the OUT
skirts Of the city.
The Greek legation in Paris has de-
MED ofiicialls the recent reports from
Athens that a commission of Ger
man military officers had inspected
the allied camp at Salonica with the
assistance OF the Greek authorities.
Tells OF Rabuna Pass Fight.
! Details OF the serbian retirement
from the Babuna Pass are given by
the Salonica correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle, who says that the
Serhians repulsed repeated frontal at
tacks, in which howitzers were used
| to support the infantry. and gave In
only when the frontal attack was COM
bined with turning movement on
the Serbian left flank. The Serhians.
outnumbered. were unable to detach
enough men from their center to meet
the turning movement. which was ex-
ecuted by the Bulgarians following a
great track across the mountains. Tho
evacuation Of the pass finally was ac-
icomplished without loss. the corre-
spondent says, the artillery ard all
equipment being saved and not a sin
gle man was taken prisoner by the
Bulgarians. who did not attempt to
| interfere with the withdrawal. The
correspondent estimates that the Bull.
garians lost 5000 men in the fightir1
/ at the pass. or more than the total
Serbian force opposing them.
abandonment of the position" the
correspondent continues. meant ths
evacuation of Prilep, whence most OF
) the inhabitants already had ned. TIVE
Bulgar cavalry regiments entered the
town toward nightfa1l. This Bulga-
rian advance drove the population OF
the district into Monastir, whore .
wild panic broke out. not from fear Of
the immediate arrival OF the BulgAri-
ans. but because OF apprehension that
Komitajis, already in the town. would
rebel. The railroad station was crowd
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