New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-21
Serbian Headquarters,
Monasfir Nov. 81. 1

Serbian Headquarters,
Monastir Nov. 81, 1915.
/ have at last got to Monsstir started
out for that city matter of thirteen months
ago and got as far AS Prstina, about hfty
miles as the crows flies from the ancient
canital of Macedonia. But there | struck the
triAing difficulty of Bulgarian army o.
10000 men. who were opposed TO any one
reaching the city. | had, therefore, to make
b slight detour by Prisrend, Scutari, DurazZo,
Rrindisi. Rome. Paris, Malta and Salonica
But the main thing is | have got here, and
what is still more important have got here
with the Serbian army, whose presence was
ut all times supremely undesirable TO King
Ferdinand and his Austro-German allies.
There is probably no such episode in the
worlds history as the Serbian retreat, the
apparent annihlation OF the nation as MILL
tary force and its present resurrection. King
Peters troops have twice entered Monastir as
conduerors. the first time victorious over
their hereditary enemy the Turk, the second
time triumphant against coalition of four
Powers. When one thinks OF the Calvary OF
the Serbian army in the desolation of Albania
twelve short months ago, the resurrection oil
Serbia as military power is little short OF
miraculous. "Per mare, per terrain" the
valiant troops under the command Of Prince
Alexander have fought their way back to
their country. If the Bulgarians and their
German allies had been psychologists they
might have known the critical day, the day
the supreme assault was bound to come
November II, 1912, was a red letter day in
the history of Serbia, the day Monastir was
wrested from the Turks.
Mind Over Matter
ANY one who knows the tenacity of the race
might have foreseen that November II, 1916
would be the day Of the supreme assault to
recover possession of the city. But even with
this knowledge in their hands the German
Bulgarian army could not resist It's destiny
with the inevitableness of Greek tragedy
,he Serbian offensive went from victory to
victory. and despite the desperate Resistance
of the enemy the city was captured to the
day and hour. Il was triumph of mind over
matter, OF which Field Marshal Misehiteh
may we'll be proud.
But not only did the city of Monastir fall
into Serbian hands, but the victory was com
plete all over the plain, the Bulgarlans being
driven from the villages on both sides OF the
Czerna Reka Satisfactory as this was Tor
the Serbs. il did not make for the happiness
Of any one like myself, who desired TO reach
Nonastir from the mountains opposite. ! was
IL Cnel.ssh, a little village which formed the
headquarters OF the division | was with.
From the heights above the village we could
see the towers and minsrets Of Mohasur
shining in the sun. As fifteen short miles,
rs the crow flies. was all that separated us
from the city and the way lay across level
plain it looked like an hour and hairs ride
But. unfortunately, between me and the
city lay a huge swamp traversed mere ana
there by a road Of doubtful quality. As
nearly all the bridges across the CEerna Reka
had been blown up was again faced with the
necessity Of making large detour 1t was
not. fortunately. Of the 1--WE thousand mile
variety of last year. but quite sufficient to
be profoundly dIstasteful to my horse
German Prisoners
Near Batch. where the plain begins, we
met couple Of conveys Of German and Bull
gariun prisoners of nearly 200 men each.
The Germans were men OF three regiments,
which had arrived three days before from
the Somme front. They were mixed lot,
men OF forty five and lads of eighteen. Three
officers were marching in advance of the first
column, which showed that the lot had prsc-
ticslly been captured in a body.
Though the weather had been brilliantly
I fine when we started, an hour OF so later i,
commenced to rain heavily, which did not
make for my comfort. as my oyercoat was On
the pack mule two hours behind US The
country was melancholy in the extreme, one
ruined village following another. while the
whole landscape was scored and pitted with
trenches Rifles, bsyonets, knapsacks and
masses Of muniton, rife and artillery, were
strewn everywhere, showing the hasty nature
OF the Bulgarian retreat.
\ But our chief worry was to cross the river
Every bridge we came 10 was = melancholy
ruin. After riding for an hour and haf
along the banks without finding any means
Of passing the two Serbian colonies. with
whom ! wss, sent their orderlies of to explore
] In both directions We sat on our horses for