ALLIES CLOSING IN ON MONASTIR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2933, 20 November 1916, Page 5

ALLIES CLOSING IN ON MONASTIR

A FLANKING MOVEMENT PRESSURE ON THE WHOLE FRONT GRADUALLY . INCREASING Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. ■ru r?. r• i .... , - London, November 17. ine oerbian and Allies forces are closing in 011 Monastir from two sides, the borbians are carrying out a flanking movement from an easterly direction in the bend of the Cerna. Elver, and the Allies' forces are attacking tho front from the south They forced the enemy to weaken the Bestridsa line. The Serbian and Allies attacks since the lOfch have compelled the enemy to retire nvemileson a hftecn-mile front. Thoy are gradually increasing the pressure on the whole front. 1 ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES TOWARDS MONASTIR , . ~ Salonika, November 17. Ihe attack towards Monastir began at noon on Tuesday, the whole line advancing. Hie first assault failed, owing to machine-guns. The French reattacking, captured 2000 yards of trenches at Bukri, and held on against the Orerman counter-attacks. There was a heavv fog at night in which a trench patrol discovered that the enemy had withdrawn with all equipment under the mask of a. skeleton fire from the trenches. The Serbian advance in tho Cerna loop rounded up over eleven hundred Germans, who blame the Bulgarians for letting the Serbians reach the rear. The German-Bulgarians at daybreak had retired five miles on the line of the Bictritzani River, three miles from Monastir. The Allies, following up, reached the line of tho Viro , River. On Wednesday the outposts came into contact with the enemy •in the evening the Russians, advancing quickly to Peristoriad, captured the village ot Lujetz, and on Thursday it was reported they had carried the town of Bistntza. MONASTIR PRACTICALLY AT THE MERCY OF THE ALLIES. (Rec. November 18, 8.50 p.m.) ! mi „ n ~ London, November 17. the Daily Chronicle s Athens correspondent reports that the Russians' dramatic advance places Monastir practically at the Allies' mercy. SERBIANS SECURE ENORMOUS BOOTY. (Auet.-N.Z. Cabla Assn, and Renter.) (Rec. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) ic< ,• a. . , . London, November 18. A Serbian otbcial communique states: The fleeing enemy at Cerna, left all his equipment, numerous machine-guns, rifles, and enormous'quantities of cartridges and stores. ; THREE MORE VILLAGES TAKEN BY THE SERBS. (Rcc. November 18, 8.10 p.m.) . c . v• a. . I . London, November 17. A Serbian official communique states: The enemy counter-attacks completely failed. . The Bulgars withdrew to the River Bistriza. We occupied three villages m the direction of Monastir. Tho Serbs have taken prisoners 3900 since November 10, of whom a thousand were Germans. We have captured seventy-one guns since September 14. . MONASTIR NOW THREATENED FROM THREE SIDES. (Renter's Telojram.) (Rcc. November 18, 8.10 p.m.) Rome, November 17. Ihe "MessageioV correspondent at Salonika. say s the Allied offensive in Macedonia is becoming more' intense. Monastir is threatened from the southeast, cast, and north-east. ! BULGARS AGAIN DRIVEN FROM PROSENIK AND KUMLI London, November 17, 5.30 p.m. The High Commissioner reports.— A British official report from Salonika stales: After artillery preparation, the British attacked and captured Barakli, and again drove the enemy from Prosenik and Kumli. The position is now being consolidated. GAINS IN THE STRUMA VALLEY CONSOLIDATED. (Ausl.—lj.Z. Cable Assn. and "Eculcr.) (Rec. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 18. A Salonika, official communique states: We consolidated our gains in the Struma. Valley and pushed forward our advanced posts. We bombed tho encampment at Seres. FURTHER PROGRESS OF FRANCO-SERBIAN FORCES. (Anst — N.Z. Cable Assn. and Bculer.) (Rcc. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 18. A French official communique from Salonika states: The British on the left of the Struma, captured Kavakli. The Franco-Serbians advancing in the Cerna region, a division -stormed a. ridge north of Tven. In the Cerna loop we repulsed counter-attacks. The Franco-Serbians further west stormed Monastrry Hill in the direction of Jaratok, and cavalry captured Ncgotin, north-east of Kenali. VIOLENT BULGARIAN COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. . (Aust.-N.Z. Cable Assn. and Acuter.) (Rec. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, November IS. A Paris communique states: Six enemy aeroplanes have been brought down. On the left hank of the Struma Ihe Britisli repulsed at Barali a violent Bulgar counter-attack. East of Cerna the Serbs captured trenches to a depth of 800 metres in the bend of the river. The Serbs stormed a height northeast of Iven, the Bulgo-German s losing heavily. On the Monastir Plain we reached the approaches of Kainua. ' KEEPING THE PEACE BETWEEN VENIZELISTS AND ROYALISTS. Athens, November 17. General Sarrail is sending troops | 0 occupy the neutral zone (between the Royalist and the Venizelist forces). NATIONALIST ARMY IN ACTION WITH THE BRITISH. A:istr* , »nii-N n w 55c»lnnd TuMp Actnriaiion. . (Hoc. November 20, 0.30 a.m.) London, November IH. The "ObserverV' -Athens correspondent, states that the Nationalist army dashingly supported tho British in tnocapture of Djumaia. sustaining 150 casualties. DETERMINATION OF A NEUTRAL ZONE Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 18. The "Daily Chronicle's" Athens correspondent states that as a result of General Ttoques's visit a neutral zone between the jurisdictions of the Athens and the Provisional Governments has been fixed. The zone runs north, roughly parallel to the pre-Balkau War frontier, beginning near Katerina. passing Grevena and ending at Konitza. in Kpirus. The zone varies from three to seven miles in breadth, and will be occupied by Allied troops. Militnrv forces will not lie permitted to cross. Cabinet., it. is believed, is unwilling to concede the demands to hand over rifles, artillery, and ammunition, and therefore tho matter has' been left to Admiral Fouruet to settle.

PROMPT ALLIED ACTION NECESSARY RUMANIAN CAMPAIGN ARRIVAL OF LARGE GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS ("The Times.") (Rec. November 18, 8.50 p.m.) m a ~ „ , , London, November 18. Mr. .Bourcliier reports from Bucharest that the arrival of large German reinforcements creates a. grave situation, necessitating prompt Allied and Rumanian action. Direct aid is possible only from the Russians.'"'The fortyhrst L russian division replacing the, Bavarians in the Jiul Valley received from the Jvaiser the order of the day: "You must destroy tho enemy." generals Hindonburg, Falkenhayn, and Mackensen conferred at Belgrade showing the tmportanco Hindonburg attaches to the Rumanian campaign. ' COMMANDERS OF THE GERMANS IN THE ALT AND JIUL VALLEYS. (Rec. November 18, 8.10 p.m.) , r _ London, November 1.7. t- \ ™ llrchl( ' l ' stat «s that two now Gorman divisions, in operation in the Jiul valley, are commanded by General Schmidt, and in the Alt Valley the laermans are commanded by General Kneisel. RUMANIANS EVACUATE THE VILLAGE OF TIRGU JIULIU! ' (Aust.~N.Z. Cable Assn. and Ecutor.) . ~ . ' London, November 17. A Russian communique states: The enemy occupied the village of Lireshti, five miles north of Kimpolung (Rumania). The Rumanians evacuated the village of Tirgu Jiuliu, in the Jiul region [Kimpolung, five miles south of Lireshti, is the terminus of a branch railway which runs south to and joins the main Rumanian system at Pitesti Tirgu Jiulm is the terminus of a similar branch line, the most westerly in Rumania. Lireshti-is about ten miles south of the frontier west of the Tomos or Prcdeal Pass; and Tirgu Jiuliu is on the Jiul River, about fifteen miles south of the Vulcan Pass.] CAPTURE OF PRISONERS BY THE GERMANS. (Rec. November 18, 8.10 p.m.) . London, November 17. A Berlin communique claims the capture of 1500 Rumanians south of the Rothorthurm Pass. RUSSIAN,PROGRESS ON THE DANUBE FRONT. (Rec. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) . _ . . , , _ . London, November 18. ' A Russian communique states: Persistent enemy attacks continue in the Alt and Jml Valleys. Wo are continuing to progress on the Danube front. RUMANIANS CLAIM TO HAVE MADE • APPRECIABLE PROGRESS. (Rec. November 19, 11.5 p.m.) A „ • London, November 19. i . V l,,maman communique says: "In the Dragoslavele region we drove back the enemy on our centre and right wing, making appreciable" progress. Fierce.fighting continues m tie Alt and Jiul valleys, we yielding a little ground. Ihe position is unchanged elsewhere." ' ! A SUPER-ZEPPELIN BROUGHT DOWN BY THE RUSSIANS. (Rec. November 19, 5.5 p.m.) - ' tk. r?„ • u u , „ Petrograd, November 18. crew of sateen DS g * su P el '' Ze PP elin Mar Sarny, capturing the