The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-04
MoHANMEDAN REBELS JOIN
AUTHORITARIAN FORCES.

London. Dec. S.~%AIhanian Moham-
nedan rebels, who. IL was reported
SONS weeks ago. were being armed
I'm preparation for an attack on Ser
bia from the west. have Joined the
Austro- Hungarian forces operating in
the region of Novi Bazaar. The first
mention of active assistance given to
the Austro- German armies by the Mo
hamrnedan tribesmen was made today,
in the official statement issued by
the Austrian war office, which says.
West and southwest Of Novi- Bazaar
the Austro- Hungarians and armed Mo-
hammedans captured 5000 Serpians,'
The German official statement. re-
ceived here from Berlin bv way OF
Amsterdam. tells OF the capture of Loo
Serbs ny the Teutonic forces yester-
day In enga geHnents with scattered
Serb detachments in the region south
west of Mitrovica, near the Montene-
grin border
The statement says:
I'm the mountains southwest Of Nit
rovica, successful engagements took
place yesterday with detached enemy
divisions, during which more than 1.2on
Serbians were taken prisoners"
Russian Invasion Under Way.
Although no denial or confirmation
is obtainable from official sources
either from the allies or the centra
empires. Bulgaria or Rumania, Salon
lea advices continued today TO report
that the predicted Russian invasion
of bulgaria through Rumanian terri
tory is already we'll under way: one
dispatch even says that Russian ad
vance guard has arrived on Bulgarian
soil The Russian army of invasion
is stated by another report to be $50
600 strong. and TO be we'll equipped
with heavy artillery.
These dispatches lent new I'm.
petus to speculation both on the pArf
VI the correspondents in the balkans
and in the Franco British press and
public as to the turn the Balkan opera
tons will take If il is true that tbs
Russian car has actually fulfilled hio
promise to Premier Pachtich. IT Ser
bia. a week age that a Russian army
Will appear III Bulgaria within =
week"
The conclusion is ventured by mill
tary critics here that if the Salonica
advices are based upon facts, the Rus
sian invasion of Bulgaria will be fol-
lowed PROMPTLY by Rumania's entry
into the war on the entente pOwern
side, for II is recalled that. according
to recent reports. Rumania made the
presence of 500,d00 allied troops Ia
the Balkans conditional for her join
ing the allies This number. II II
argued here, would even be exceeded
by the addition of Russian troops ~
the Franco British Balkan expedition,
At the same time, the fall OF Mon
astir is frankly, conceded here To be
seriously endangering the flank OF the
allies in the Vardar and cerna valleys.
where they are already hard pressed
by the Bugarians.
Skeptical A. to Itafy's Md.
The enthusiasm that followed yester-
days reports Of the promise by this
Italian foreign minister. Baron SON
mini, OF aid for the Serbs and CO.
operation with the allies in the east
ern Mediterranean gave way today
10 a note of skepticism in vtew Of
the lack Of a definite announcement
as TO the exact nature Of the promised
aid
The failure Of the italian government
to declare war on Germany adds 70
this sentiment.
ikniticance Is attached TO the report
that although the Rnlgartana were
the first to enter Monastir. tbs AuS-
trian flag was raised on the pub&H
buildings. This ID taken TO mean thaf
the invaders thus endeAyored TO avet1
Greek hostility, Greece being adsnietA8-
Is unwilling to consent - B0leofl&o
i.conauest', Of that paTs N
The French preeo -
" alaI I1el fon w.