SERBIAN OFFENSIVE BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2909, 23 October 1916, Page 5

SERBIAN OFFENSIVE BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

THOROUGH-GOING RAPID ROUT HOW BROD, GRADILOVO, AND VELISELO WERE TAKEN 'Austrjtian-New 7,ealand Cable Association. (Rec. Octobor 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 20. Mr. Ward Price, describing tho capture of Brod, Gradilovo, and VeTisclo, sa.ys tho offensive surpassed the. Serbians' own expectations/ as the Bulgarians possessed every advantage. Tho Serbs oharged up slopes which were so steep that the Bulgarians wero ablo to roll rocks on tho attackers. The , Serbian infantry began to press onwards at ten o'clock in the. morning, while the guns were pounding the crest. Short, sharp bayonet clashes followed, and tlie first rocky peak was won. Tbe Serbian gunners bombarded tbe next crest, threo hundred yards beyond, and then the Bulgarians were seen bolting, and a few minutes later the flags carried by the foremost Serbians were waved triumphantly on tho summits of tho captured heights, Soon the Bulgarians holding the trenches fronting Vcliselo began to retire, tho Serbians prossing&the pursuit; suddenly beyond Veliselo- thero poured ,a stream of fugitives of all kinds, infantry, cavalry, and transports, regardless of military decorum, hustling along until they disappeared on tho sky-line, beyond the reach of Serbian shells. It was a thorough-going, rapid rout. Veliselo was in Serbian hands by noon, and Brod fell imediatcly after. By night the new Serbian line | beyond Cerna included Gradilovo. THE DOGGED- STRUGGLE IN THE MONASTIC VALLEY. ("Tho Times."l . (Rec. Octobor 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 20. Mr. Ward Price, describing the dogged- struggle in the Monastir Valley, says the strong Gorman-modelled defences, tho continuous lines of trench across tho valley to Cerna, and tho scarcity of shells through transport difficulties, had not permitted the artillery to reduce the Bulgarian defences, which are equal to tho best on the German Wost'fron, and the Bulgarians arc adopting tho German plan of lightly holding tho front linos during artillery bombardment, and roturning when the infantry attack is launched. TWO BULGARIAN REGIMENTS DEFEATED.' Tho High Commissioner reports:— \ London, October 20, 2.40 p.m. A Serbian official message states:—"There were continued attacks in the vSokol region yesterday. Our army at Volvoda, under General Mishtitch, defeated two Bulgarian regiments, and occupied Brod and Veliselo. AVe captured machine-guns i and prisoners." GERMANS AMONG THE PRISONERS CAPTURED BY THE • SERBS. AustrMyin-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. October 22, 5.5 p.m.) Salonika, October 20. A Serbiau communique says:—"General Mishtitch's army advanced four miles north-west of Brod. Tho German prisoners taken include members of two regiments which had just arrived from the Russian front.". GUNS AND PRISONERS CAPTURED. Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, October 21, 5.10 p.m. Serbian official.—"On Thursday, in the Cerna sector, v our army at Volvoda, under General Mishtitch, advanced towards Balduenci, capturing four field-guns, one trench mortar, seven machine-guns, and 141 prisoners." NATIONAL NAVAL DIVISION FORMED. Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. (Rec. October 22, 5.5 p.m.) a London, October 20. A Salonika message announces the creation of a national naval division, comprising, a cruiser and destroyers. ANOTHER ITALIAN CONTINGENT.' (Keuter's Telegram.) 1 (Rec. October 22, 5.5 p.m.) Salonika, October 20. 'A further important Italian contingent has arrived. CLAIMS IN A GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association, London, October 20. A German communique says:—"Enemy attacks failed in the Cerna salient and south-west of Lake Doiran." v BAD WEATHER [ON THE STRUMA FRONT. (Rec. October 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 21. French communique says:—"Bad weather prevails on the Struma front. Tho Serbians are progressing in the Cerna bend." INSURRECTION STARTED IN MONTENEGRO (Rec. October 22, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, October 21. Th« "Corriere d'ltalia" states that a general insurrection has been started in Montenegro. The insurgents defeated the Austrians, and the Governor has requested Vienna to send reinforcements.