BULGARIAN OFFENSIVE FRUSTRATED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2856, 22 August 1916, Page 5

BULGARIAN OFFENSIVE FRUSTRATED

ATTACK ON THE SERBIAN FRONT REPULSED WITH ENORMOUS LOSSES ("The Times.") ' ' ; London, August 20. Mr AYard Price, writing on August 18, says: "The Bulgarians yesterday commenced an offensive on the whole Serbian front in the Moglen sector. Six .battalions furiously attacked with tho object of recapturing the positions lost in "July Thoy were everywhere repulsed with enormous losses, except at lUorina where thero were only Serbian outposts, who occupied the town and station' South of Demirhissar, patrols crossed the Struma and exchanged shots with our cavalry. At Lissa and Starch ista tho Bulgars ordered the Greeks to withdraw their defending guns. The Greeks obeyed, and tho Bulgars occupied both places. Meanwhile the British infantry attacked a hill commanding Dolcljeli, and drove out the enemy, and consolidated tho position." ' BRITISH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London; August 20. \ British official message from Salonika states: "We have established a line west and north of Bckeali and Cidemli, and south of Doldjeli, where we repulsed counter-attacks. Our cavalry is in touch with the enemy on tho Struma front." SHARP BATTLE BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE BULGARS Salonika, August 21. The Bulgars returned to the attack and drove tho French out of Doldjeli (south-west of Lake Doiran). The French, reinforced, reattackcd with vigour ind recapturcd the village. Fierce local fighting continues, Doldjeli several times changing hands. Six Bulgar battalions attacked Moglen Valley, and the Serbians were repulsed. > "BRITISH INFANTRY'S BAPTISM IN THE BALKANS, (Rec. August 21, 7 p.m.) Salonika, August 21. It appears that the Bulgarians advanced in force from Monastir and occupied the town and station of Fiorina without any difficulty, because it contained only one battalion of Serbians, who withdrew. The Bulgarians, before occupying the rise at Starasta, sent a messago to the Greek commanders requesting their withdrawal. The Groeks complied. The British infantry's attack on tho Horseshoe Hill, commanding Doloieli, was a brilliant affair, and our men, showing great keenness in their first experience of close fighting, used their bombs and bayonets with great effect.

REPORTED EVACUATION OF "MONASTIC. (Rec. August 21, 7 p.m.) Athens, August 21. It is reported that tho Serbians are advancing on Fiorina. The Bulgarians are evacuating Monastir. The Bulgarian Minister at Athens visited It. Zaimis (the Greek Premier) on Saturday morning, and announced that a general attack by the Germans and Bulgarians was beginning. ACTIONS RIGHT ALONG THE LINE. Paris, August 20. Bulgar patrols arc pushing in tlie direction of Kavalla. Tho enemy occupied Greek forts at Lissaand Starchista, in tlio region of tho Struma. Our fire held up Bulgar attacks westward of the Struma. Tlio English repulsed Bulgar attacks at Doldjeli. Thero is a cannonade on tho west bank of the Vardar, notably at Maiadla, and fighting south of Monastir, the Serbian advance guards engaging tlio Bulgars on the outskirts of Banaca. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Amsterdam, Aiigust 20. A German• official communique states: "Our Allies in tho Balkans captured Banaca and threw the Serbian Drina division from dominating heights north of Ostrovo Lake (sixty miles west of Salonika), and repulsed counterattacks." BULGARIAN PREMIER APPREHENSIVE OF COMPLICATIONS (Beufcer's Telegram.l (Rec. August 21, G.lO p.m.) Amsterdam, August 21.' M. Radoslavofl: (the Bulgarian Premier), speaking in the Sobranjo (Parliament), explained that as tho Entente troops had continually attacked tho Bulgars for some days, the latter. Had counter-attacked and advanced in order to secure the best positions, which they bad done. The Government was hopeful that this would not bo followed by other complications. The last sentence the forogoing apparently refers to some likelihood of trouble owing to operations in Greecc. Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. (R?c. August 81, 7 p.m.) Copenhagen, August 21. A Bulgarian official communique states: "Our offensive wa6 neccssary in order to forestall General Saxrail. It will become necessary to fight oil Greek territory. Bulgaria expects Greece to givo Jber army tlio same freedom of action as that which was given to the Entente forces." CHOLERA DEVASTATING THE BULGAR-CAMPS. Athens, August 20. Cholera is raging among the Bulgars at Dcmirhissar and Ruppel. A Bulgarian aeroplane repeatedly bombed tho Red Cross camps,, killing several wounded soldiers, also civilians. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF GERMAN-TURKISH CHIEF OF STAFF. Constantinople, August 20. An Ottoman tried to assassinate, and wounded, Liman von Sanders (the German general who is virtually in command of the Turkish army organisation). Peace demonstrations are ruthlessly .suppressed. . j DISSOLUTION OF AN ILL-STARRED EXPEDITION i London, August 20. Tho remnants of the Turks who wero defeated in Sinai (at Katia) have now dispersed. Thus the whole force has been annihilated:,; ' THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN ASIA MINOR DIFFICULT FIGHTING IN THE MOUNTAINS. . Australian-New Zealand Cable Aseocialion., London, August 20. A Russian official communique etates: "Fighting continues in tlie'direction of Diarbckir. We are overcoming difficulties on an almost inaccessible ridge westward of the Belishan Mountains. Fighting continues south-west of Lake Urmia." TURKISH OUTRAGES ON BLACK SEA GREEKS. \ Athens, August 20. The condition of Greeks on the B lack Sea coast is deplorable. The Turks, owing to the Russian advance, are clearing out the inhabitants of the villages and sending .them to interior concentration camps, on foot and almost foodless. Tho Turks en route rob those pitiful caravans of every possession. Children were taken to villages and con vorted to Islamism, and soldiers committed brutalities on women and girls.