Bismarck daily tribune., 1915-12-11
HESITATION IN
BALKAN CRISIS
MAY Be COSTLY
Allies Forced to Fall Back On
Saloniki by Central
Powers. . ,-,s..
\: .-.
GREECE MUST STATE
POSITION AT ONCE
Bulgars Even Cross the Grecian
Frontier and Threaten
the Lines.

London, Dec. 10.-The Anglo-French
forces have commenced general re-.
tirement from southern Serbia and it
is suggested that their destination is
the resion of Saloniki. This retire
ment was necessitated not only by
the superior forces which the Bulgar.
ians and Germans opposed the Allies
but to threat of an Out-f1ankinS
movement from Petrovo, where the
Bulgarians have arrived and, also by
danger to their lines of communica-
ton from Bulgarian irregulars who
had crossed the Greek frontier. LA.
:..s Losses Heavy. ( - J
Both the British and French forces
which are we'll supplied with artillery
and machine guns engaged in a four
days battle in which they inflicted
very heavy losses on the Bulgarfans,
who fought With desperation and the
greatest courage. \, d, RI
Attack after attack was repulsed,
but the Bulgarians still came on and
each evening the Allies fell back ITO
the new position, where the events Of
the day before were repeated
Greece Must Show Hand.
The question now arrives whether
the Buigarians and Germsts will
follow the hlltes across the Gre6k
frontier, and what attitude the Greek
government. will adopt. King Con-
stantine has promised to use his
army to protect the retiring forces,
if they undertake to ire.embark and
has shown his GOOD will in preventing
the Bulgarian raiding bands from
destroying the Allies communication,
but it is doubtful whether the Allies
will agree to an evacuation of Salon
Xxi which, under the aid of the ships,
would prove good defensive position
and a base for more operations. The
feeling here and at Paris and Rome
is given briefly in the following para.
graph printed in large type by the
Evening Star. -..s H..
SaIoniki Necessary.
"The moment is approaching when
the Greek government must decide.
The Allies now, more than ever be.
fore, require freedom Of movement at
Saloniki. Hitherto, this demand had
been met by procrastinati0n and re-
fusal now will be war"
While returning from southern Ser
'bia, the allied forces have been given
effective assistance by the Montene-
grins and Serbians who fled into Al
bania. aol, . s.r
There is no further news from Mes
opotamia where, according to last ac-
counts, the Turks we're attacking
Kut-El-Amara and had actually reach.
ed a point on the river below that
town, but the success of the Russians
in dispensing a band of Persian rebels
under German and Turkish officers at
Sultan Bulak pass, on the road to
Hamadan, it is believed, will ease the
situation in that part of the world.
Italians Routed in Tripoii.
According to information received
in military quarters here, the Anglo.
French expedition in the Balkans con-
tinued to retreat and has now entire.
ly evacuated Serbian territory.
Reports from Constantinople says
that we'll organized Senusi .tribesmen
and Tripolitanians have occupied the
whole Of Vilayet of Tripoli. The Sen.
usi forces also entered kasayret.
where they are reported to have rout'
ed the Italians. The Italians are said
to have lost 5000 men. A.i%sSf 2?
Peace Demonstrations.
IA Zurich, Switzerland, dispatch
says violent demonstrations in favor
of peace have taken place in Berlin
and the police were ordered to charge
the crowd. Windows of stores and
cafes were destroyed. .as..
Epidemic Among Troops.
Another epidemic of scurvy is re-
ported among the German forces in
the vicinity of Dvinsk by prisoners
captured in that region, according to
an afternoon paper. Nine officers, in
cluding the commander of battalion,
are said to have ended their lives
within a period of IL days. Cold and
hardships Of the campaign have been
the cause.
Near Greek Border.
A dispatch to Reuters Telegraph
company from Saloniki says:
1T is reliably reported here that
German forces under Gen. Won Gall.
witz occupied Gievgeli. on the railway
line short distance north of the
Greek frontier in Serbia, Friday
morning. The force included two d1.
visions.
Rush to Enlist.
The rush of last minute men" who
desire to escape the stigma of being
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