New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-11
Allies Provision
Monastir, Swept
Clean by Bulgars
Inhabitants Look Back on
Occupation as Sort of
Nightmare
By GORDON GORDON-SMITH


fStar Correspondent n TIE Tiihunel
Serbian Headquarters. Monastir, Feb.
15.-The organization of the munici-
palitv and the reprovisioning OF this
town. swept clean Of food OF every
kind by the retreating Bulgarans' IS
making rapid progress. The various
public services have been installed and
are now in full working order and the
inhabitants look back on the German
Bulgarian occupation as a sort oil
nightmare that has now passed away
forever.
The city was occupied by the Ger
man-Bulgarian armv toward the end
Of November. 1915. The occupation
lasted. therefore nearly TIVE months.
The first troops to enter Monastir were
the Bulgarian "comtadjis.' or irreg-
ular troops. accompanied by some
cavalry patrols. These were followed.
four days later, by larger BODY OF
troops. During the interval the ci'S
remained without authorities OF any
kind. a state of things OF when the
"comitadiis" naturally took advantage
TO plumber cOnscientiously.
The main body of the Bulgarian
army made its entry into MOnastlr on
the morning Of December !. A com
mittee Of Bulgarian inhabitants, APP
nointed the day before. went out 10
moot IL and assure its commander mat
tho CITY was completely evacuated by
tho Serbian troops. Preceded by MY
German hussars, the Bulgarian troops
after having marched through Monas-
tir went TO camp at Buskovo Chrlsto-
for and the environs. The commandant
of the troops of occupation and me
sunerior officers Of the German bui-
oarian forces went 10 the Town HaiI'
where a reception was held. The Ger
man. Austrian. Bulgarian and turkish
Aags were hoisted on the building
No Triumphant Entry
A portion Of the troops was also
ouartered in the city itself. The num-
her Of men who entered Monastlr on
December is estimated at 3o'ooV'
The officers took up their quarters III
the Bulgarian section OF the MY. I"o
DAYS after their arrival the bulgarian
authorities began to decorate the town
with flags and announced tnat TWO
DAYS later King Ferdinand would make
his triumphant entry. For some un-
known reason this ceremony never tooN
place.
During the first few days Of the
occupation the inhabitants mad hot
much to complain OF regarding inc
conduct of the Bulgarians. But later
they began to confscate and carry or
the furniture Of the Serbian families
which had left the city. The plumber
ing was carried out by the "comitad
lis" and the Bulgarian section OF the
population. under the direction Of OIL
GERS belonging to the notorious Mace
donian Revolutionary Committee.
The Bulgarian headquarters was at
first installed in the Prefecture. but
was later transferred 70 the Convent
or the Brotherhood of st. Lazarus. a
French religious order. General Boyad-
lief. the commander III chief. took up
his quarters in the house Of VI. Dana.
basi. one Of the richest inhabitants o.
the CITY. The German headquarters
was established in the Hotel Bosnia. the
leading hotel Of the town. General
Won Bussi. the commander OF the Ger
man troops. quartered himself on VI.
Nalbandi. a wealthy Turk.
A few days later the l46th Regiment
of German infantry arrived. Officers
and soldiers. without distinction OF
rank. proceeded 20 install themselves
in the houses. bursting open the doors
with the butts of their rifles and
stabline their horses in the rooms on
the ground floor.
Ferdinand Arrives lncOgnito
Two weeks after the occupation King
Ferdinand paid the city visit incog-
nito. Accompanied by Prince Cyril.
he drove through the town in his au-
tomobile and went of toward the
Greek frontier. In the afternoon he
returned. lunched at the railroad sta
ton and then went of without making
anv detailed inspection. A day or two
later Field Marshal Won Mackensen,
accompanied by German prince, also
paid a visit 10 the city.
As soon as the BulgarIans arrived
i'm Monastir the price of food began
TO rise. especially that Of -four, which
rapidly increased until IL reached sl.2J
per Turkish oke of two and a quarter
pounds. Articles Of the first necessity
soon reached exorbitant prices. Two
and a fifth pounds Of salt cost -, sugar