THE ALLIES OFFENSIVE IN THE BALKANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2876, 14 September 1916, Page 5

THE ALLIES OFFENSIVE IN THE BALKANS

WHAT THE CROSSING OF THE STRUMA MEANS SHpRT, SHARP CAMPAIGN EXPECTED Tho High Commissioner reports :— ' London, September 12, 3.40 p.m. An official report from Salonika states: "Tho detachments mentioned yesterday as crossing the Struma at Nesosort, seized the trenches on the east bank. The French detachment, which was co-operating with the British captured the villago of Yenimah, secured thirty prisoners, and caused the enemy to suffor heavily. On tho Doiran front our artillery systematically hombarded the enemy's trenches north of Machukovo." FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand Oahlo Association. London, September 12. A French official communique states: "Tho British aro engaged in heavy lighting on the Struma front, and have captured Nevolyen by assault. The artillery fire is violent in the region of Lake Doiran. Our batteries effectively bombarded tho Bulgar positions in the Machukovo sector. Westward nf the Vardar tho vigorous offensive of tho Allies is having excellent results. In'the region northward of Maiadala wo captured all tho Bulgarian trenches on a front of 3300 yards to a depth of 880 yards, and took prisoners. The Serbian artillery is very activo westard of Lako Ostrovo. We made progress, as the result of partial engagements, at Banits. South-westward of the lake, our fire repulsed the Bulgar attacks, inflicting heavy losses." ' GREAT ENTHUSIASM ON THE SALONIKA "PUSH" . A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION. (Rec."September 13, 11.25 p.m.) London, Soptomhor 13. The newspapers aro delighted with General Sarrail's offensive—launched after ten months of inactivity. Thoy point out that General Sarrail is attempting both practicable routes northwards of the Struma valley and the Vardar valley. Exports admit that t] l6 natural ohstaclos to (the AngloFrench advance aro considerable, hut the movement has been carefully prepared, and should ho most successful. Tho light lasted thirty-six hours, and the Bulgars sustained heavy losses hefore they retreated. The British crossed the Struma at tho spot whero . Xerxes crossed" when invading Greece. The British crossing-place was tho ancient Amphipolis, where Xorxeß sacrificed nine youths and nine maidens. If General Sarrail's offensive seems belated, it nmsi; be remembered that Von Mackenson's attack on Serbia was initiated one month later, and the Balkan States' advance towards Turkey,_ in 1912, later still. These were short, sharp campaigns. Tho Allies desire to achieve a similar decision before the Balkan winter sets in. Oiico tho Allies aro across tho great Balkan railway, Bulgaria and Turkey will ho crushed, as it will be impossible for Germany any longer to munition them. Tho health of tho Allied troops is good, and tho supply of munitions.iuexhaustiblc. General Sarrail's offensive seems likely to prove that Von Mackensen simply sacrificed his southern front when he moved 150,000 Bulgarians to the Dobruja to attack Rumania. ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON BULGARIAN FRONT i (Router's Tsloeram.) London, September 12. Reports from Athens speak of the Bulgarians as being in retreat, with tho Allies pursuing them, and of enormous enemy losses. Semi-official news from Salonika indicates that the Allies aro exerting enormous pressure everywhere along tho front, and that tho Bulgarian withdrawal is becoming pronounced. ' ' ,

A REVIEW OF THE POSITION. Auatralian-Now Zealand Cable Association. (Roc. Soptember 14, 0.10 a.m.) London, September 13. The/! "Manchester Guardian's" correspondent in tbo Caucasus, in a review of the position in Armenia, says:—"The recent fighting was largely based on the fact that tho Taurus, Anti-Taurus, and Pontic .Chain divide, the plateau into plains,-but "Ebo mountain barriers aro fractured in a number of places, enabling Russians and Turks alike to turn their respective onemy's flanks by expeditions through the gorges. These have, enabled the Turks to initiate sqvoral threatening counter-attacks. The Russians, lioweveT, 'havo worked with -untiring energy to secure their position. Until tho Russians came tho Chorok Valley was roadless, and only mountain batteries wero possible for transportation. Tho Russians built roads, and tho ( sapper battalions constructed bridges. Whereas in 1915 they woro onty able to transport enough ammunition to firo the fiojd guns .for one round daily, the stores along every road and at every junction aro now full,of shells and cartridges. What wore mulo tracks in 1915 have become high mads, zigzagging over the passes | bearing an ondless_ train of rapid wagons. One hundred and fifty miles of road have been built in tho Chorok basin during tho last four months. Since the Erzingan defeat tho Turkish armies havo been reconstructed under Issem Pasha and Pasha. The latter commands tho Ba'iSurfc region, find tho Turkish army * between Baiburfc and Trebizond, while tho former commands the Turkish Army in Armenia. Tho Russians, thanks to superior numbers, superior concentration of artillery, and communications, aro now able to make hoadway. Tho Turkish policy seems to be to ovacuato- the Armenian plateau, after first destroying ovory living thing upon it, and forcing tho Russians to transport ovorything from the Caucasus."

GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. , . London, September 12. A German official commumquo refers to tho continuation of the Gorman, and Bulgarian advance in tho Dobruja, artillery battles on tho Vardar,- and Bulgarian successes on tho Struma. RUMANIAN ADVANCE ON HERMANNSTADT AUSTRIAN RETREAT TO THE MAROS LINE. ( London Soptembor 12. ' A Russian official cornrnuniquo states: "The Rumanians are advancing towards Hermannstadt, occupying tho villages. The Austro-Hungarian forces are retreating towards the river Maros." RUMANIAN COMMANDER ON THE DANUBE. London, Soptomber 12. The "Times" states that General Auerescu has been appointed jcoinmander of tho Rumanian Army of tho Danube. 7 TACTICAL"POSITION SEIZED ON THE,DANUBE. (United Service.) (Ree. September 14, 1.25 a.m.) London, September 13.. Tho .Rumanians have occupied the Danube island of Adadkale, opposite Orsova. Tho Hungarian Government had spent much money in fortifying tho island, regarding it as a possible crossing point. It also completpjy controls the Danube traffic. HUNGARIAN POLITICS REFLECT THE SITUATION (Renter's Telosrraro.) (Rcc. September 13, 7 p.m.) Athens, September 12. It is reported from Bucharest that the Apponyi and Andrassy groups are joining in a Coalition Cabinet for, Hungary. Karoly's party is standing out bus Ts not opposing tho Coalition. The "Rcichs Post" attributes this settlement to a- recognition of tho necessity for national unity in view of tho invasion of Transylvania. _____ LOWER DANUBE CLOSED TO THE AUSTRIANS ' (Rcc. September i 3, 10.20 p.m.) London, September 13. Router's 'correspondent is reliably informed that as the result of' tho Rumanian occupation of Orsova the Austrian river_ fleet in the Upper Danube will be unablo to assist in maintaining communications with Austrian units below Orsova. Thero aro no important Austrian craft In Bulgarian waters, but those that aro thero havu been compelled to hide. They do not daro to venture out to bombard Rumanian towns, in consequence of tho intensity of the lattor's artillery file. Tho river from Silistria towards tho Black Sea is free for Rumanian navigation. Tho cntiro length of the Rumanian Danubo has been heavily miDed. Tho new operations on tho RussoRumanian front in Dobruja and tbo northorn borders of Bulgaria nullify tho recent small advantage gained by. tho Bulgars.

THE GREEK CABINET CRISIS STATEMENT BY M. ZAIMIS. Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. ' Athens, September 12. M. Znimis, the Premier, in submitting ,the' Cabinet's resignation, declared tliiit internal incidents had interfered with tho work of dealing with the external situation. (United Service.) (Rec. September 13, 10.20 p.m.) London, September 13. Mr. -Jeffries, writing _ from Athens, states that Kins Constantine has accepted M. | Zaimis's resignation, but the acceptance has not yet been oilicialy announced. i ENTENTE, MINISTERS ASK FDR WITHDRAWAL OF RESIGNATION. (Rec. September 13, 7 p.m.) London, September 13. Mr. Jeffries (the British cortcspondont), writing from Athens, states that M. Zaimis resigned hecause of tho incoherence of the situation, which was getting out of control. Ho desired fuller sympathy from the Allied Ministers, who are now .urging Mm to withdraw his resignation, promising him overy facilty. The Athenians aro excited, fearing an aggravation of internal and external troubles in connection with 31. Zaimis's resignation, and tho launching of tho Allies' offensive from Salonika. "ZAIMIS'S SUCCESSOR A BITTER FOE OF VENIZELOS. , Australian-New Zealand Oable Association. (Rec. September 14/ 1.25 a.m.) Athens, September 13. M. Dimitrakopoul, a bitter enemy of M. Venizelos, has been named as M. Zaimis's successor. The latter refused to reconsider his resignation, poinding out that the abnormal domestic situation was creating grave dangers to the country. ITALIANS IN POSITION IN MACEDONIA London, September 12. Tho Italians who have arrived in Macedonia have taken up their allotted front. A wireless report from Rome states that the Allied offensive oxtends over the whole of' the Salonika front. Th<i bombardment is continuous. The Bulgars continue to retreat opposite tho Serbians and tho Italians. ntenter'n Tclosrram,) (Rec. September 13, 7 p.m.) Athens, September 12. Official.—-Tho Italian military authorities, it Topelino ordered a Greek regiment to vacate Ryoneri within an hour, and retiro on Paleokastro. SERBIAN PARLIAMENT IN SESSION AT CORFU Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. • „ ~...-, ~,.,, Athens, September 12. Seven Ministers and eighty-eight Deputies attended the Serbian Parliament at Corfu, i M. Pasiteh (Premier) expressed the conviction that Macedonia would be recovered entirely. GERMANS IN SEARCH OF REINFORCEMENTS " . MILITARY MISSION IN CONSTANTINOPLE. ~, , r .,. ' . . , . London, September 12. A German Military Commission has arnvod at Constantinople and is hastening the dispatch of Turks to the European front*,