Evening star., 1915-11-19
ANGLO-FRENCH FORCE
is GROWING RAPIDLY
London Still Is Hopeful That Ade-
quate Assistance May Be Rendered
Menaced Balkan Ally.
BABUNA PASS FIGHT FIERCE
Serbians Said to Have Inflicted
Losses of 5000 on Invaders.
Iron Wall Surrounding King
Peters Warriors.

LONDON, November Io-In
pressing the pursuit of the Ser
bans the Teutonic allies have
captured 5000 additional prison.
ers, Berlin announces.
Athens dispatches estimate
that more than 10000 Bulgarians
are facing $4,000 Serbians in the
Monastir region in south Serbia.
The Serbian forces which have
evacuated Prilep following their
| compelled abandonment OF Ba-
buna pass are expected to retire
to the heights between Prilep and
Monastir and eventually retreat
toward Albania, the advices state.
| The fate Of Monastir is not yet known
definitely, but there is little hope in
England that it will escape the Bull
garians. Unofficial advices are that
the Bulgarians already have entered
the town. There is a possibility, how
ever, that the invaders will not dare to
make such an extension of their line.
with the French apparently established
| solidly on their flank.
Left in the dark as to the actual
| progress of the Anglo-French campaign
| in the near east, the British public can
only hope the entente allies will soon
| have such strong forces there that they
will enable the harassed Serbians to
| make a successful stand and preserve a
| small portion Of their country. as the
Be1gians did along the User. Some SUBJ
stance is given this hope by unofficial
news that the Anglo-French force is
now assuming formidable proportions
as well as by hints that Italy is on the
verge of actual participation in the
Balkan campaign.
Retreat Causes Uneasiness.
The retreat of the Serbians toward
the Albanian border is causing in
creased uneasiness at Athens, but the
developments there are interpreted as
being not unfavorable to the entente
powers.
The Caloniki dispatch announcing the
general retreat of the Serbs on the
southwestern front after the capture of
Babuna pass by the Bulgars is with
out official confirmation, says Havas
dispatch from Athens, filed yesterday.
The only fact esta blished is the evacua-
tion of Prilep by the Serbs. The aban-
donment of Babuna pass has been eX-
pected in Athens military circles for
several days, as it was not considered
possible for the Serbs, Notwithstanding
their heroic defense, to resist longer
repeated Bulgarian attacks, especially
as they threatened development by a
movement from Tetovo and Kitsevo.
Bulgars Often Driven Back.
Describing the Serbian retirement
from Ba buna pass the Saloniki corre-
spondent of the Chronicle says:
Making the most of natural advan-
tages of positions, the Serbians repeat
edly drove back the Bulgarians Even
Bulgar howitzers We're unable to expel
the heroic defenders, and success was
achieved only by an attack in front
while cunning turning movement on
the Serbian left was in progress.
Owing to the frontal attack the
Serbs were unable to detach men to
meet the force enveloping their left.
That force had to be sent across the
mountains in single file over goat
track several kilometers from the Ser
bian left. The BulSars took up posi-
t1on until the whole force had defiled
through the narrow gorges.
Bulgarian Losses, 5000.
During the night before last evacua-
ton of the Babuna line was executed
without loss and without the Bulgar-
ians attempting to disturb the opera
tions The artillery and all equipment
of the little force were saved, not one
man being taken prisoner. 1t is esti-
mated that the Bulgarian losses in the
Baouna fighting We're 5000 or more
than the total Serbian force oppos-
ing them.
abandonment of the position meant
the evacuation of Prilep. whence most
of the inhabitants already had fled
Two Bulgar cavalry regiments enter
ed the town toward n1ghtfall- This
Bulgarian advance drove the popula-
tion of the district into Monastir.
where a wild panic broke out, not from
fear of the immediate arrival of the
Bulgarians. but because of apprehen-
sion that Komitajis Grregulars) al
ready in the town would rise. The
railroad station was crowded all day
with fugitives laden with bundles
waiting for trains. A large number
was obliged to leave by roads
Military Situation.
The Austro- German advance from the
northw est approaches the Sanjak of
Noyipazar, having reached to the north
of Raska Thence it passes through
Ksrsumlia and Radian, ending at a
noint between Leskovatz and Vranya.
The occupation of Kursumlia brings
the invaders close to Mitrovitza and
gives them the key to one of the few
Great crossroads cutting Serbia from
the west to east.
The Serbian army is being forced be-
tween the limits of two narrow fronts.
Mitrovitza and Pristina in the center
and Prilep and Monastir on the south
The Serbians have the alternative OF
giving battle where they stand or retir-
ing in the center through Prisrend into
Albania and in the south II the road
into Albania 10 barred. -