New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-16
French Repulse Bulgars
on Cerna and Advance
Toward KOsturinO.
SERB RUSE WINS
BABUNA BATTLE
Bulgarians Taken by Surprise
Near Prilep and Routed
by Bayonet.
fBy Cab. 70 The Tribune ]


than 5000 Serbs and twelve guns in
northern Serbia, the French. British
and Serbs are steadily pushing back
the invaders in southern Macedonia.
In this battle, which has been grow
ing In intensity for the past week, the
Allied right and centre. held by the
French and British troops, has moved
forward toward Kosturino. in the north
Of Rabrovo, while the Serbs left flank
west of Veles has been in a very pre-
carious position.
Against it the Bulgars delivered the
brunt Of their attack, at the same time
assaulting the French positions along
the Cerna River to prevent the sending
Of reinforcements.
Outnumbered more than three to
one, and unwilling to risk a battle in
the open, the Serbs fell back from
Veles to the neighborhood of Bsbuna
Pass. Their main defence was set rp
whore the road narrows near ADD
Pass. at an elevation Of 1000 feet,
while the Bulgars, supported by heavy
artillery, were spread out between
Veles and Babuna Pass.
Serb Strategy Wins Battle.
Only by brilliant tactical stroke of
the Serb commander, Colonel Vassic,
says the correspondent Of the Milan
"Corriere Della Sera." who was present
at the battle. was victory by the
Rulgarians prevented.
Hard pressed, almost to the point of
giving way, the Serbs allowed the Bull
gars to advance AS far as the Prilep
road. Colonel Vassic risked all on
his venture, and he won. Had he lost,
Monsstir would have been captured and
the Serbs driven from tho last remain
ing strip of their country.
When the Bulgsrs reached the high
way the Serbs fell upon Them with all
force, smashing through their first and
second lines with the bsyonet and driv-
ing the Bulgarisns beyond Kotziak al
supplied with food and munitions, tho
Serbs succeeded in holding the new
positions against all attempts at re-
capture.
At the extreme northwestern end Of
tho line. where the possession of the
town of Tetovo has huctuated between
the Serbs and Bulgars, the fighting has
been OF the same desperate character,
with the Serbs finally dominant.
While French reinforcements have
almost joined hands with the hard
pressed Serbs in this sector. the
French General staff, according to
Berlin adviccs, also sought TO send
troops to Monastir, by way Of Santl
Quaranta, on the Adriatic Sea In south
ern Albania.
French Abandon Albania Route.
As Santi Qusranta lies to the north
of the island of Corfu. force landing
there would have had TO traverse
southern Albania in northeasterly
direction for some 120 miles before
reaching their objective. Although
such a route is not looked upon as very
feasible by experts here, Berlin reports
that the French sent r patrol 10 in
vestigate II, and found 1t impracticable.
Practically the only way or approach
10 Serbia from the Albanian coast, IL
is pointed out here, is by the Drin
River. Just south OF the Montenegrin
border. NavIgable half way to It's
source in the neighborhood of Priv
rend, the marching distance would be
hardly r third that Of the southern
route.
Three German submarines and three
you{n,apts Of Turkiah sronps
ported 10 have been stationed at the
Bulgarian port of Vsrna in anticipa-
tion OF a Russian attack The U-Bosts
are part Of those manufactured at Ant
werp, and we're brought in sections
through Hungary, and Bulgaria.
The Montenegrins also report the re-
newal Of Austrian attacks In the
Ssnjak, but claim that all were re-
pulsed, with the exception OF those in
the region of Vishegrad, where the
Montenegrlns had to, retreat TO fresh
positions.
GERMAN OFFICIAL.
From Berlin the following official re-
port on operations In the Balkan the
atre has been received:
Our pursuit continued everywhere
Yesterday total of $500 Serbians
nNAt hlhNf HitrNil'i o. biIN ANtAft NdI-
non were captured. or these totals
the Bulgarisns captured 1000 men
and six cannon.
MONTENEGRIN OFFICIAL.
The official communication OF the
Montenegrin government, received here
to-day. says:
The enemy on the 18th attacked
on the entire front our army of the
Sanjak. He was repulsed every
where, except in the region Of
Vishegrsd, where we had 10 retreat
10 better positions. The Austrians
sustained heavy losses.
There have been artillery combats
on the other fronts.
FRENCH OFFICIAL.
The French War Office this after
noon gave out a report on the Balkan
operations as follows:
During the day of November IL
we made progress to the north Of
Rabrovo, in the direction of Kos