Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25
BALKAN SITUATION GRAVER
AustrO-German and Bulgarian
Troops in Three Columns En-.
ter KOssOvO Plain Where
Northern Serbian Army Will
Make Its Last Stand.

Bulletin-London Nov. 2.-After the
capture OF Otesiphon, Is miles from Bag
dad, and the rcpulse of Turkish counter
attack. the British forces under General
Townshend were compelled to retire three
or four miles in order to secure water, ac-
cording to an official communication is
sued tonight. The British losses in the
fighting for Ieur, which also was taken,
and Otesiphon are calculated at 2,000 men
killed or wounded.
On the military side, in the Balkans, es-
pecially so far as the Serbian northern
army is concerned. the stlation has
grown graver. Austro- German and Bull
Sarian troops. operating in three separate
columns. have entered kossovo plain,
where the Serbians were expected to make
their last stand, and have occupied Nitro
vita. the latest Serbian capital as we'll as
Pristina and at one point at least have
driven the Serhians across the Sitnica
river which drains the valley.
Although the Serbians might make a
stand between the valley and the AL.
hanian and Montenegrin frontiers. the,
Will be at great disadvantage owing
to their inability to get munitions nn6
supplies. while their opponents will have
virtually everything they require
The Serbians on the Katchanik front
and also in the southwest corner Of their
country continue to hold back the invad.
ers as do the Anglo French forces ir
the southeast The Russians are re.
ported to have prepared an army OF
$4,000 for operations in the Balkans, bu,
the point at which they will strike has
not been indicated.
While the allies are showing renewed
activity in Gallipoli. the most important
| engagements are taking place on the
Austro-Italian front, and while Gorilla
has not yet fallen 1t has been rendered
untenable, fate, which, likewise, ap.
pears to be awaiting Riva, in the Tren.
tino. The station at Riva has come
within range of the Italian guns. This
latter information, contained In the
Vienna official communication, give,
some confirmation to the rumors that
Rovereto has been evacuated by the
Austr.ans.
There have been no important events
on either the western or eastern fronts
Heavy artillery engagements are ir
progress in France and Belgium ant
along the Austro-Italian front. The
Italians continue carrying out theil
strong offensive against the Gorizia sec
tor, in the hope of opening the road tc
Triest.
In Russia, near Riga, the Ger
mans have been compelled to give GROUND
before the Russians at some points. ant
on several other sectors farther soutf
Teutonic attacks have been repulsed.
Athens via London, Nov. 25. 1:4S a m
The newspaper Hestia publishes an in
terview with the Serbian war minister
who is at Saloniki. in which the minis
| ter said:
Although we have lost 5000 killed
or wounded and 10000 taken prisoners
the operations are anything but ended
Our forces now numbering 10000 ar
still intact. We are deficient only IL
heavy artillery. Tho morale of tn,
troops Is untmpaired. The commissaria
Is working splendidly. thanks to tn
French organizers.
Nevertheless, the situation IL difficult
though not hopeless. from strategi
standpoint. and as regards munitions W.
shall remain on the defensive, holdin
the passes and wearing down the enem,
until the Anglo-French forces are sufr!
ciently strong to enable us to resume tn
| offensive.
The participation OF italy meets witt
difficulties owing to the divergence o
views regarding Albania. Russia's inter
vention will be affected after the con
centration Of the allied armies in tn
Balkans, and it is expected that this vii
produce change In Roumanias attitude
II can assure you that France and Eng
land are preparing surprises In tn
| Balkans"