The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-11-19
BALKANS

ATHENS, Nov. 1e-In an effort to
distract the BuIgars from southeast.
ern Serbia where they are sweeping
everything before them, the French
are hurting all their strength against
the Bulgarian forces on the Vardar
river today.
The French troops situation Is IA
vorable. They have already won
some successes and seem on the eve
Of gaining fresh ground, but It 10
feared they are not numerous enough
to follow Up their advantage to the
utmost. Message after message has
come back from the front calling for
reinforcements.
The Vardar river struggle has been
of the most desperate character. The
BuIgars were on the southwestern
bank Of the stream when it began.
They were forced back and across II
by the deadly French artillery which
more than offsets their numerical su.
perIorIty.
Northeast Of this battlefield, the
British backed by French cannon,
are still hammerIng at Strumnitza's 3
defenses. The BuIgars are holding
out stubbornIy. /.
In the southwest, Serb refugees are
streaming across the frontier into
Greece In ever increasing numbers.
The RuIgar Invaders in this district
seem to be ignoring the Vardar river
fighting completely. They are advanc.
ing to the southwark, through the up.
per Tzerna valley, completely over
wheIming the weak forces Of Serbs
who oppose them.
BULGARs IN MoNASTlR.
LONDON, Nov. 19.-First reports
circulated last night that the BuIgars
were in Monastir are still current to.
day. They lack confirmation, but all
accounts agree that the Serbs situa-
tion Is desperate and that the allied
forces In the Balkans are not YET
strong enough to help them much.
NEARLY SURROUNDED.
VIENNA, (v!a. Berlin, Amsterdam
and London) Nov. 19.-NearIy sur
rounded in tho mountains on the Dor.
der of the Novibazar Sanjaz, the Serbs
shattered main army Of the north Is
making today what probably Is IT'S last
stand fight.
German, Austrian and BuIgar forces
are closing In around the little fighting
force. Dislodgement Of the Serbs from
the strong positions occupied, Is a
foregone conclusion. Indications favor
their capture, though It is taken for
granted they will make final atte mpt
to escape into Montenegro or northern
Albania.
It is presumed the Serbs present
fight Is made in the forlorn hope of
arrival from the south,
Of which there is a possibility.
The Germanic allies operations are
hampered by bad weather which, In
connection with the difficult central
Serbian country, involves the utmost
hardship for the troops.
Working southwark from Uziee, to
intercept tho Serbs flight westward,
the Austrians are entering the Uvac
river section and southeast Of there
have occupied Javor, twenty-five miles
west and little north Of Razka.
A little southeast Of Javor, the
heights near GoliJa PIanina have also
been occupied.
ROUMANIA MUST ACT.
ROME, Nov. 19.-Roumania's part
in the war hangs on the decision Of a
cabinet council now in progress In
Bucharest. today's DISPATCHES from
the Roumanian capital indicate.
The meeting Is an extraordinary
one, unexpectedly convoked by King
Ferdinand. Roumanian politicians, dip
Iomats and soldiers are said to be
aoreed that neutrality Is no longer
possible for their country.
Whether it will be decided to join
the Germanic or the entente allies Is
(Continued on page 2.)