The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-20
Serbian Army. With French
and Russian Troops Accom-
plish Reconquest
OPENS WAY TO NEXT
SPRINGS CAMPAIGN
German and Bulgarian Troops
Continue Fighting as They
Retire In the Cerna Eend.
Of Moral Importance

Lendon. Nov, l?---MondStlr mas
fallen TO allies.
To the strains of the Serbian ma
tional hymn the remnant of King
Peters army at o'clock this morn
ing marched through the shell-riddled
gates OF the Macedonian city whence
a year ago they fed in panic and
hunger before the great Teuton-Bul-
gsrisn steamrcller. A. the head of
the victorious troops rode Crown
FRINGE Alexa nder. rciuvenater of the
little Balkan Kingdoms soldiers ana
Size by side with them marched
French regiments with whose aid this
first great step toward the reeonqnest
a. Serbia was accomplished,
Here and there in the long line OF
the triumphal march "A row OF Mus
covife 'Tchakos' lowered above the
helmets OF steel. Their owners were
members Of the Russian contingent
which also co-operated in the enc,rcie-
ment Of the great Bulgarian strong
hold. 4 few minutes after the first
battalicus had entered the Serbian
eolors, red. blue and white, once more
futtercd from the mast tops on Mon
astir's' governmental and municipal
buildings.
The entry was peculiarly timely. for
today is the anniversary Of the cap
ture of the city by the Serbs four years
age,
Tcutons Ccncedc Loss.
The French war cf7ce was the hrst
&c tell the news Of the great sue
cess II was flashed broadcast by
telegraph and radio and few hours
later messages from all entente cap
ilals told Of unbounded jubilation,
Troops OF the army Of the Orient
said the French ofSscsal announce
ment, |'entered Aonastir at clock
this morning
F.afif IN the afternoon word came
from Berlin that the German var Of
Nee had conceded The loss of the
Naeedonian base
German and Bulgarian troops. the
ofh-ssi statement read, have taken
up IA position north of Monastir. Mon
astir is thus abandoned"
The city lies eighty-fave mites north
west of s,aloniki, Its occupation came
a. the climax Of bitterly tenacious
hattie in which attackers and defend
-ess-rtral!aa- .ealIantEx- and stub
bornness. The defense became I'M
tenable after the Franco-Serbian
forces had wrested the naturally pow
erful positions on the Cerna River
from the Bulgars and Germans. At
the same time smashing the southern
a,preae he~r-
Rctrcatinx: still Fighting.
Screening the gradual evacuation of
the city, the defenders hattlcd stub
horniy for every inch of ground in
the Cerna bend Even now fighting
there lie tn full swing The French
war office reports the repuise o. new
Bulgarian counter-attacks against
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this height. taken Friday. that gave
the Franco Serbian artillery the most
important vantage points To send its
destructive hail into Monastir proper.
Berlin THUS afternoon admitted further
progress by the French and Serbians
on the hill. The Serblans today cap
tured the summit of another impor-
tant height, 1878. To the east Of the
river they completely enveloped CRU
rishte.
The enemy says the Paris war
ONCE. lis falling back in disorder
toward the north, pursued by the Ser
bians."
The fall of Monastir to the allies
Is regarded here al the greatess
achievement of the entente arms THE
fall. overshadowing In moral respects
even the success on the Somme. Mill
tary experts concede that it 10 a VIC
tory Of moral rather than strategic
importance. Had the blow been
struck q month or two earlier. 1t Is
believed that it would have tremen-
dous effect on the whole military
situation in the Balkans Coming ct
this late date. however. on the eve
OF winter. II cannot be expected to
usher In headlong advance north
ward.
Mountains block Way to Nish.
Its influence on the chief aim OF
the allied Macedonian campaign.
namely, the cutting Of the Orient
Railway. 10 NIL Tho distance from
Monastir to Nish. where the great
railroad awnings eastward into Bull
garia. II no less than l65 miles. In
Vulnerable mountains, impassab BILE
during winter. block the advance,
In two respects. however, the cap
ture Of Mcnastir IL an accomplish
ment OF fnostimable value
First. For its moral effect, In uuh-
ering in. on the face OF 1t the recon.
quest Of Serbia, to which the entente
il pledged, and In showing what may
be done next spring.
Second. Al q precautionary utep
70 strengthen the allies front In Mac
edonfA against any possible winter
thrusts by the Bulgaro-Teuton army.
Mcnasttr In their hands. the alltce
have now I straight second line %
the ssrss. covering = distance 81 III
miles.
TIVE ChiIaFen FATALLY Bhsnsa.
a - ~