Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-12-05
BRITISH FORCES
IN ASIA MINOR
ARE RETREAT|hC
Capture of Bagdad Now Out Of
Question With Present Ar
my in Retreat. '.5'
!
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
WATCHING RoUMANIA
Neutral Balkan State Will Like.
ly Reach Final Decision
Early this Week. ~.

London, Dec. 4.-The British, Ger.
man and Turkish accounts of the re.
cent fighting in Mesopotamia, while
containing minor disparitfes respect
ing the casualties and character Of
the British retreat on the Tigris,
clearly established the fact that with
out further reinforcement to equal
the overpowering odds against which
they have been struggling, the Brit
ish forces under Townsend have lit.
tie prospect of continuing the march
to Bagdad, which city appeared few
weeks ago to be almost within their
grasp. ~.
Having advanced during October
and November through to lrak. to
tae very environment of Bagdad, the
British forces are now retiring upon
KutiEl- -Amara, eight miles southeast
of Ctesrphon, the scene of the battle
fought in the latter part of 'Noxeun-
Der, in which the British troops met
their. first serious setback.
I. The position, therefore, of General
Townshend's force is much the same
as in September, after the battle at
Kut-El 4Amara. .s.;-zs,, ,...t.,.
Quiet in Balkans.
There have been no military, events
of any importance in the Balkans
since the fall of Monastir,: which was
discounted in advance. "a N 81 i, /, Il
\ Recent reports make Il Rounania
'fooin Unusually large on tne gxtkan
horizon and that country ist generally
accredited with the intention Of eth.
er joining the Allies or stretching. her
neutrality to the. point Of allowing
passage Of Russian 'troopss. 4,
There has been nc, confirmation OF :,
the report that Russian troops ;lave
already entered Roumania territory, I,
'...;~ Roumania May Fight.
Roumania's declarations that after
Monday she will commander all for.
eign ships anchored in IRoumanian
ports is regarded by some ais proof
that Roumania is to abandon her neu-
trality. But the British press and
the public in general, which have
grown skeptical Of premature an.
of changes in the policy
of the Balkan states, show little In
clination to take a favorable issue for
granted until it is granted beyond q
possibility of doubt. ~
London, Dec. Alt Is officially an
nounced that only German.Austrian
and Bulgarian officers have entered
Monastir and no troops accompanied
them, says a Reuter- telegram. The
flags of the three nations represented
by the officers who entered the city
were raised above the government
house. the dispatch adds.
1sn. - British Retreating.
An official report given out by the
Overseas News agency states that pur-
suit of the defeated British armies at
Mesopotamia is. still being carried on
and that four of the british river YES.
sells have been captured.
Capture Two eoat0.
A message from Copenhagen places
a fresh success for the Turks In Meso-
potamia, stating they uvae captured
two additional gun boats with IL CEN
timeter guns.
A Turkish official statement receiv-
ed here Saturday via Berlin mention.
ed the capture of two British supply
chips and two gun boats. Whether.
the above dispatch referred to these
vessels already reported or to others
is not clear.
Russian Loan Fails.
The Overseas News agency asserts
that it has received private advices
that the Russian war loan has proved
a total failure.
"Although $1,O00.0O0,00 rubles we're
offered for subscription, says the news
agency, "the report declares that dur.
ing a preliminary period of four days
and in two subscription days. the sub
of the majority of the banks
and government officers amounted to
800 900 rubles, despite the fae.
that every effort to induce subscrip.
lion was taken.
For instance, it is declared EN-.
ployes were offered remuneration in
The shape of a percentage on certih.
Gates sold.
According to report the government
has threatened to transport to Siberia
persons who offered loan securities be
ow the price of the issue and, If ne.
,essary, to close the Petrograd ex-
change.