New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-20
MOnastir Evacuated
at Night, Says Berlin

Se1lin. Nov. 10 (by wireless to Say
ville). The Macedonian town OF
Monsstir was evacuated during the
NIGHT by the German and bulgarian
troops. who retired to prepared posi-
,ion. further north. They thus with
drew from highly unfavorable posi-
ioas in the plain, where they were
cxuvsed 10 artillery fire from the
boiohts 10 the south and southeast OF
she town.
The news Of the evacuation OF Mon
asu does no, come as q surprise the
military authorities having said some
ss,s ago that the question whether
Monastir's political Importance was
great enough to justify the military
sacrifices necessary to defend the
Town was being weighed by the Cen
,rol staff. and that military consld-
erations would probably prevail:
uonastir is situated at the bottom
Of howl surrounded on all sides by
Illuminating heights. 1t was, therefore,
,aetjoslly. extremely unfavorable as
soon as the enemy forces gained
footing on the rim of the bowl, as
alresdv had been done to the south,
less than FIVE miles from the town,
and only a slightly greater distance
10 the southwest.
Rumania Centre of War
Since the opening of the campaign
ia the Rumanian theatre, "nleh; as
was csbled recently, is regarded here
cfy
tbe whole war front. east and west,
a was considered a correct decision
strstegieally and tactically, not TO call
upcp the defenders for heavy sScrl-
Aces and efforts to hold the town IT.
SET. :,
IN is pointed out in Berlin that
Nonastir is likely to be an uncomfort-
,ble place for the Allied troops, as
the new Bulgar-German positions
command the town in the same man.
ner as II was previously commanded
by the enemy guns.
Politically, of course, various con-
.iderations urged that efforts be made
TO retain Monastir, not only because
lis ucssession by the Entente Allies
,rcnid give the Serbian government
> local habitation in Serbian terri
tor, and encourage General Sarrall.
commander OF the Allied operations in
no Balkans, to press the campaign,
but also for its political effect in gen.
sral.
In war, however, military consider
atiors must prevail over political. The
evacuation OF Monastir will in a way
shift. the operative difficulties from
the Bulgar-German army TO General
Sarraips shoulders. Up to the pres
ont his forces have had the distinct
advantage of operating at the end OF
the -Salonica railway and
With fairly good network OF roads
m the rear, which General Sarrail
has devoted the past months to i'm
proving.
Bad Roads a Drawback
The railhead for Field Marshal Won
Mackensens forces, on the other hand
is at Veles (Koprulu), from which
point there is only one road 10 Mon
astir. This was originally a good
road, but is badly cut up by heavy
automobile traffic. Efforts to help out
the situation by overhead cable rail
roads have only been partially paliia-
i've.
Ihe retirement OF the Germans and
Rulgars would have the effect of bring
ing the attacking forces away from
their line Of communication and into
the almost roadless region of South
western Macedonia, and the defend
ing forces correspondingly nearer
their base Of communications.
IS the present withdrawal has oc-
CURED in the extreme southwestern
sector Of the front. furthest removed
from the Trsns-Sioerian Railroad and
from the centre Of operations. and as
the remainder Of the Macedonian front
is not affected, members of the Cen
cral STAFF familiar with Macedonian
conditions insist that the loss Of Mon
sstir can be regarded as only of loca
Importance and without effect on the
general strategic situation.