The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-10
Special Ca6ls DsspafoA TO the sus.

npectuI tuOfe DtSp0fch 10 IHk SUN.
LONDON. Dec. s.--The first phase Of
what is expected to be decisive battle
between the Bulgars and the Franco
British forces in the southeast corner
of Serbia has resulted In the Allies be-
ina forced to withdraw from two princi-
pal salients OF their front.
In the vardar Valley the Bulgarian
onslaught compelled the French after
violent two days fighting to give up
their positions In the Demir-Kapu ra-
vine on the Salonica-Nish railway.
To the southeast Of this ravinc another
Bulgarian army, strengthened by the
advance guard of the German forces
hurrying to REINFORCE them. violently at
tackled the British positions west ~
Lake Dorian. and. according to the OIL.
cial British statement. forced the de-
tenders to retreat three successive times
Ia as many days.
All along the front the Franco British
forces are now under attack, constantly
increasing In violence. The losses suf-
fcred In these two defeats by the Allies
cannot yet he determined. As the battle
is still raging
Bul3ars Claim Victory.
lHe NlCtoTy over the
at Demir-kapu Is announced by Sofia
In the following passage Of to-day's Off
cial report:
Our troops continued their pursuit
Of the French IN both sides OF the
Vsrdsr River. We occupied tine rail-
way station at femir- -kapu and are
now twelve kilometers tabout seven
(. iniies) east OF the station.
This Bulgarian announce ment is con-
iirmed by Reuter- despatch from the
Allies headquarters. saying that "the
French withdrawal from their positions
north of DemirKapu Gorge and the
abandonment Of krlvolak and kavadar
must be regarded Az strategic moves
This same despatch adds that the
I Uemir kapu tunnel and the bridges were
blown up by the French, who retired
, slightly To the east and established
closer connection with the British forces.
The French War Office In All official
statement Issued to-day does not admit
the withdrawal from the Demr- Kapu
positions. Ii AZ 'rts that all Bulgarian
attacks failed but adds that fighting IL
In progress In front Of the b-idxchead d
OF Gradice. .Sradice Is on the Vardar.
slightly TO the south Of Demlr-kapu.
The French statement follows:
Since the preceding communlGue the
Bulgarr have made at different points
of our front violent attacks, which
were all repuised with heavy losses
for the enemy The fighting continues
in front OF our bridgehead OF Gradice,
OF the Nardar.
British Admit Retreat.
The British Official Press Bureau gave
out the following Satemert to-day:
| Dombardment. attacked the British
westward Of Lake Dorian. \ small
party entered our advanced trenches.
J but we're Immediately driven Out az
, the point. Of the bayon.t.
Dn Tuesday the Bulsars attacked
again, and by the weight of numbers
| drove us out OF our position. Under
| the cover OF darkness our troops were
withdrawn to a new line. Reports
concerning our losses have not yet
been received.
On Wednesday the British repulsed
| all attacks. We withdrew in the eve
ming to new positions in order to con-
| form with the general alignment.
! Lake Dorian IL eight miles due east Of
/ the Salonica-Sish railway. about nine
miles northeast OF Guevshel!. The lake
lies about sixteen miles south Of
Strumitza. the Bulgarian stronghold.
One correspondent at British field
headquarters. telegraphlng under Yes
terday's date. says:
bulgarian attacks during the las,
| few days seem 10 be OF a somewhat
/ more serious nature than was originally
stated. The Bulgars show their con.
stantly increasing strength. They seen,
we'll supplied with artillery and are sp.
arently adopting the German tactics
1 1ttn, sl.al.. ~
| before undertaking AN infantry advance
"Since last Sunday the British lines
have engaged the principal share Of the
| attention. Before the superior strength
of the enemy our outposts. which pushed
ahead our positions for tactical purposes
have been gradually falling back to the
main lines.
! Greek Problem Now Acute.
Some hand fighting has actually
taken place in which we made shor,
work II our opponents. driving them ou;
of the trenches which they had occupied
under cover Of their artillery.
"a ;he Allies lines contract upon
tho eel; frontier the problem OF
Greece's attitude becomes acute. Doubt
less the German commanders OF the Bull
i Gars will make the utmost efforts to
!
but. although the Bulgars appear 10 be
, thoroughly subservient to their German
coadtutors, the traditional hatred be-
T, ween the two races bulgarian and
Creek may lead to conflict before the
Germans can interofere.
THE news of the withdrawal of the
| French east of Demir-Kapu is confirmed
but details are lacking. II appears tina,
the French losses are slight. The
French brought away all the stores OF
hay and forage as we'll as the more
| valuable commodities.
"There is no cause for anxiety o,
alarm but rather for satisfaction owe,
the fact that the Allies have not so faI
advanced az to commit them to a cours.
foreign to their plans"
The following despatch was received
here late tonight from Salonica:
To-day there was a series OF local en-
Eagcments on the French front. Yester
day continuous fighting occurred on tn,
British front. Artillery action followed
by infantry attacks were launched by tn,
Bulgarans. All OF these attacks wer,
repulsed.
THE fighting was resumed this morn
ing II seems as II the Bulgars are de
termined to break through the British
lines. These. however, are strongly hell