The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-11-17
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE OF ALLIES
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. ,ALONIkA, Nov. IA big battle
Isacs about Strumnitza today. Strong
>uigarlan forces are engaged with
formidable body Of British and French
Tho allies have been inside the
southwestern Bulgarian frontier for
weak. strumnltza is the first objective.
Preliminary skirmishing began the
moment the allies crossed the border.
For several days only scattering
small encounters occurred. Tho ooun'
try, mountainous, cut up by many
torrents and ravInes, Is terribIy diff
cult for military operations.
The allies had to proceed with
much caution. For the most part,
their forces consist of British lnfan-
try and French artillery. With the
big guns Smelling the Buigars out OF
their poeition In advance Of the In
fantry's movements, the invaders oe-
eupy height after height, extending In
concave front around Strumnitza,
west, south and east.
Meantime the BuIgars, evidently de-
termlned to prevent the allies from
gaining even a small permanent foot
hold on their soil, have been strength
enTng strumnItza's defenses and
bringing up heavy reinforcements. In
the past twenty-four hours, the op.
posing main bodies have come In con-
tact and the skIrmishes merged into
great general battle, perhaps this
fiercest thus far in the Balkan ca NJ
paign. The outcome is yet In doubt.
The Bulgars are strongly situated and
In heavy force with reserves readily
available. Their artillery at this
point Is equal to the allies. The Brit
ish are bringing up fresh men rapid
Iy from Salonika.
II Strumnitza ls carried, the Bull
gar's line Of communications between
their forces In Serbia and Sofia will
be endangered and their Macedonia
campaign plans will be upset COM
pieteIy.
Tho allies curwIng front extends
from the serb boundary svfere X In
III touch With the Franco British
main line, to tho eastward about
twenty miles, with the right flank
resting on the StrumnItxa river.
eULGARs ENTER PA~s.
ATHENS, Nov. 17.-OvcrwheImIn
the Serbs north Of PrIlep, RuIgars en-
tered Babuna Pass today.
Small bodies Of Serbs are still de-
Tending some Of the heights, but the
Serbian loss Of the pass exposes Pri-
lep to speedy capture. Its Inhabitants
are fleeing southwark.
With PriIep In their hands, the Bull
oars' natural next objective will be
Moaastir, twenty-five miles south.
Huge losses on both sides marked
the Babuna Pass fighting. Strategic
ally tho position 10 one Of tho most
important In southern Serbia. It has
been bitterly contested.
A few days ago the euIaars attack
ed II in force. The Serbs defended 1t
desperately and at critical stage In
the battle, British and French rein
forcements reached them. Temporar-
lily this turned the tide against the
Buinars who retired In disorder toward
VeIes, twenty miles northeast.
Re-orgaNizine at VeIee, they re-
sunned the assault, occupying the town
Of isvor, midway between VeIes and
Babuna Pass, as they advanced. OF
the outcome Of the fighting at veIes
between the BuIgars and the French
who were attacking them along the
vardar river, nothing has been heard
today. The French capture Of the
town was reported imminent, but the
Rulqars were reinforced later and
their success In launching another OF.
fensive against Babuna Pass suggests
that they must be fully holding their
own at veIes also.
BE INTERNED IN GREECE.
PARIS, Nov. '17.-Aii French, Brit
ish and Serblans who may be driven
out Of Serbia into Greek authority will
be disarmed and Interned.
Allied diplomats have suspected this
wan King ConstantIne's plan before;
today they are sure Of It. It explains
queer detail Of the Bulgar cam
paign.
The 1ulearians In Serbia apparent
" have made no attempt at systen<
attic general advance. Detached bodies
Of them have been operating far to
the southward Of their main line.
These bodies have been too large for
mere scouting parties. but seemingly
not large enough for independent
operations.
They have attacked the allies fierce
Iy at many points along the Greek
frontier. Il - now the opinion Of
French, and British commanders that
these attacks are not part OF plan
for a smashing general Victory; their
purpose Is to drive the allies, few
at a time, SO that they can be over
powered easily, into Greece.