New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-14

Balkans.
Defence Of katchanik Pass.
Rut not alone on the extreme north
ern front have the Serblans been per,
forming deeds OF valor. Nothing couia
have been finer than the way IN when
Katchanik Pass was defended ny the
Serbs in the face Of infinitely superior
numbers. This pass is the point AZ
which the Bulgarian invasion reached
/ its most westerly limit, and here 1t was
+ that the wave broke against the STUB
bornlv defended mountains. For days
/ tho enemy rolled attack after attack
/ against the Serbs, for the possession OF
/ the pass meant an entry into Prizrend'
and. by reaching the Albanian frontier
/ and cutting Serbia in two, the Ieutons
/ would make themselves masters OF TINS
/ important pass.
| The Bulgarians suffered extremely
/ heavy losses. Prisoners admitted that
/ they had never expected such resist
ance, and officers who fell into the
/ hands Of the Serbians say that the AT
/ tacks were so costly that II Is pracu,
cally certain they will not be renewed
: under present conditions. The bul-
! garian force advancing on Tetovo SUI
fered especially severely, only Few
1 men being left out Of two regiments
! after one severe struggle.
| In the south, as in the north and
centre, the Serbians are scoring sue
cesses The gallant little force which
! held Babuna Pass against zoe -FOUR
/ times more numerous has every reason
/ TO be proud of its fine achievement 1t
has saved Prilep and Monastir.
Monastir's Confidence Returns.
There is a great difference between
( the Monastir of a week ago and the
/ Monastir of to-day. A week ago the
! cannon flashes on the horizon threw
I the people into panic, and something
| like half the population left town. To-
| day. however, different spirit reigns:
| Many of those who went have returned
+ and relief is clearly evident on al
/ hands. On the distant horizon the
| lightning of guns can still be seen, but
! IL is known now that the Serbs are
/ holding fast and that fear of the com
/ ing of the Bulgarians is Proundless.
After the evacuation of Neles on
October II by the Serbians the invad-
ers met with little opposition until
they came to the mountain barrier OF
Babuna, held by 5000 Serbians. The
Bulgars began the attack by success
full assault on Izvor, and when that
was accomplished the enemy held the
left bank OF the Babuna River, while
the Serbs chung TO the right. At this
time the Bulgarians were probably l5,-
600 strong. and another slight advance
forced the Serbs, whose total force
was not more than 5000, to retreat in
ths direction OF Abdipasha Hahn.
The snemy then brought up rein
forcements amounting TO 5000 men,
and on November 2 drive toward
Korstet on the right was attempted.
The Serbs saw the move in good time
and were ready 10 meet IL. a desperate
action took place and the Bulgarians
were driven back on the run, leaving
go dead on the field.
Bulgars forced to Retreat.
As result Of this brilliant little az
fair the enemy we're forced 90 fall back
% Nikodirn The Serbs we're thus able
20 advance % the height Of KOejak and
occupy the whole line dominating the
mountains. That operation vas com
plsted late on Thursday night, and on
Saturday. Sunday and Monday the Bull
garians showed no fght. n is reported
here today that the Prilep-Krivolac
route Ia clear ~ the enemy. but 90
f.r no Communication has been effect
Cd along that route
u is Inspiring % see the men who
have been guarding the Habuns Pass
in The face ~ such greatly superior
forces Here is a little Lieutenant er
planning the position On fhe front u
q post ~ great danger. but he says
not = wor4 ~ shat ne has been work
INK his guns for days, working with
ne deafhIess music u that plsinfiye
and pathetic Serbian sing "Muova
Mr. On his lips ma iha, is The spirit
~ all fnbse gallant fellows on the
BabUns heights often. for days ~
time. they had 70 - IN fighting with
but little f5bd. md sometimes with
none far ionz hours ~ stretch Hui
that has not wprn oft their determine
ton They pail their belts tighter and
The dauntless Hght is still IN their
eyes Yop can safely write them down
~ ne finest fighters In ~. world
Nothing ran describe Whaf ihev have
Tbre fnr0u9n IN fgnting against such
5Gds dlfing those ione fays. No ono
ran ever tell tho fuil story ~ how that
paes Uas held for one c3rno. drag I,
boz Of NE defenders II them their
.vofk nor seems almost the ordinary
F business ~ life. Tor they have been
garring sinost continuously since ne
+ enA II I9i2 But the great fact re-
T nsirs that 5000 serbs held The PASS
/ srsinst 2bG0D Bulgsfians. whose sf.il-
t lefy was also greatly superior
fn.dag the guns afe sounding ~
f,ilV AZ greater distance, md IN The
yerg All, ~ Monasflf you breathe .ht
telitf ~ vittory All reports ~ the
/ otrppafion ~ Veles ~ me French or
! ~ n junction beteeer ne French md
SENS srr premature The pressure rn
I fhA Vsfdhr Valley, however. re- iucfeas
irR md ths effect should soon be De-
! s...,si~ fsiA