Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-17
.A[BAN|ANS FIGHT
.|NVAS|ONSOF SERBS
Italian Envoy Here Asked to
See President Wilson Re-
garding Crisis.
BY HIRAM X. MCDOWELL.

BY Cable TO The Star and Chicago Daily News,
Copyright. 1920. a
ROME. Italy. September II. AL
bania. which last summer fought a
successful war for Independence
against Italy. is now seriously mem
aced by an invasion of Serbs and is
defending herself desperately on
three fronts. According to the latest
reports, the Serbs have advanced far
into central Albania whence they
can cut the country into sections.
The only excuse the Serbs give for
the inysion is that under the alleged
interallied' agreement of October z,
1918. certain territory was assigned
to them for occupation under the
armistice terms. and that this is the
territory they are now occupying.
/ have carefully investigated the
evidence in this matter and the best
that can be said for the Serbs claim
is that IT rests on eX-parte interpre-
tation of unpublished documents of
an admittedly temporary character
dating from period now superseded.
The October Z agreement was never
made public and all authority to oc-
cupy arnistice territory was derived
from the supreme council of Gen.
DEspery. The agreement seems to
have been an informal agreement to
allow the Serbs to occupy portions
of northeastern Albania for armistice
purposes. The Serbs have not ex-
planned why it is necessary to con-
tinue the occupation after the war is
ended. 1t is certain that their only
right of occupation is derived from
the armistice commission. but any
way they have now passed over the
line at several points.
Serbs Make Affair Mystery.
/ have unsuccessfully tried to OBJ
tain a clear statement from the Serbs.
who make mystery out of the AZ
fair Hence the impression is in
evitably growing here that the Serbs
are attempting an imperialistic grab
| with which to confront President
Wilson and the allies when the SUI.
preme council finally considers AL
bania. Immediately after the sur
render of Avlona to the Albanians
by the Italians in July the Albanians
intimated to the Serbians that their
presence was without authority and
that they must leave.
The Serbs did not recognize the Al
bantam government and hence did not
reply. but reinforced their troops. AT
the end of August the Albanins at
tackled and drove the Serbians back
generally to the national frontier
Capturing 1900 men and many guns.
they crossed into Serbia at Diora.
but instantly Withdrew TO their own
territory Then the Serbs made
further surprise attack south. where
the territory was weakly defended
and they now occupy Ciafalesoit, In
the Skhumbi valley. whence they can
easily capture several important
points They are also occupying
Lisa, in the Matt valley, whence they
can threaten the capital Tirana.
Gun. Trained ON scutart.
They are also closing around Sou
tart. on which they are pointing their
heavy artillery from, Mount Tarabosh.
! But perhaps they are not eager as
vet to a tempt the occupation OF Sou
tart. which is held by an allied force
representing the supreme council the
Tirana government has summoned all
Albanians of fighting age and rem
forcements are continually arriving
as fast as the bad travel conoitiohs
In the recent bloody battles the
Serbs appear to have had large
army and it is certain that they VIII
have a large fight on their hanos II
they persist in the invasion
Meanwhile the Italian ambassador
in Washington has been instructed 70
make representations to Presloent
Wilson concerning the necessity OF
respecting Albanian Independents
mat being also the American poiicy.