The Topeka state journal., 1916-11-20
TeutOns Leave City DepOpulat-
ed and i'm Ruins.
Roads Churned to Mud, Handi-
cap Fleeing Army.
MAY Be TRAPPED IN RETREAT
Serbs Capture City on a Ma
tiOnal Anniversary.
Failure of Germany to Thwart
Move Significant.

London, Nov. 20.-The retreat of
the German-Bulgarian force from
Monastir in the direction CT Prilep is
a debacle, says a dispatch to the Wire
less press from Rome today. The en-
tente troops are pursuing the fleeing
foe and have occupied villages north
of Monastir. taking prisoners as they
advanced, the dispatch adds. The
Serbians, according to these advices,
are delaying entering Monastir be-
cause of the fire and explosions which
have virtually destroyed the city, from
which the population has fled
Plan to Cut Off Retreat.
London, Nov. 20.-With rain and
sleet interfering with full resumption
| of operations along the Somme, 1t Was
| the Balkans that furnished most OF
| the battle news today. Additional ad-
vices served to increase the brilllance
of General Serrail's French-Russlan-
Italian Serbian victory in the taking
of Monastir. 1t is now doubted here
that the German-Bulgarian forces can
make complete escape from the en-
circling wise of the allied flank
ing movement. Desperate fighting is
proceeding as the allies strive to close
in still further in the retreating TeU-
tons Roads churned into a sea of
mud from snow and rain will, it is be-
lieved, make it impossible for the
Teutonic forces to proceed with surtl-
cient haste in their retreat to accom-
plish complete withdrawal or forceS
and equipment.
Moreover, it appears that far from
being content with mere occupation
of the city, the allied forces are still
thrusting forward in their drive
Prielep, to which city the enemy is
withdrawing, is about twenty-four
miles to the north The way is for
the most part across level grouiI
| with very few natural defensive fea-
lures. The allied occupancy of posi-
tions along the Cerna river bend gives
them a fulcrum for their lever te
force clearance of the plain.
Capture of Great Importance.
Military critics here today agreed
that capture of Monastir is of the
greatest importance DiplomaticaHs
most of the credit is given to the Ser
bians for the victory 1t was their
splendid fighting along the Germ
bend which compelled the enemy to
abandon their southern defenses. ell
; abling advance due north of the
French and Russian troops.
| Elected from their own country a
year ago by Field Marshal Won Mack
ensen's tremendous drive, forced to
. flee in disorder, the regiments scat
tered, their equipment = what little
there was-for the most part aban-
doned the Serbians have been trans
formed in a brief twelve months into
. a formidable army with new arms and
equipment and the splendid tutorship
of French troops operating with them
as brothers-in-arms.
1t is expected here that the monas-
, tir victory will have important eff
feet in relieving the German pressure
against Rumania-a pressure that has
been regarded gravely of late. The
London press does not hesitate to call
| the situation of the Rumanians pre-
, cariouS.'
On Anniversar~ of Former Capture.
London, Nov. 20.-The fall OF
Monastir on the anniversary of its
capture by the Serbs from the Turks
in 1912 is hailed by the morning news
papers as being of considerable poll
teal importance. 1t is argued that
as BulgarIa's s main object in entering
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