THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1918, Page 1

THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.

[PER PREBS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.) PURSUING THE BULGAKS. LONDON, September 23. A French eastern communique states that the pursuit of the. defeated Bulgarians continues, despite increasing resistance by the enemy's rearguards. Serbian forces have reached the middle Vntashn. Allied troops have crossed the Cerna region. They have captured the high sumfhits of Fora a and Dssena. The Bulgars are setting fire to the abandoned villages. One <>l the field batteries was captured intact. Airmen are indefatigably bombing and machine-gunning the retreating columns.

GENERAL ALLIED ADVANCE. LONDON, September 23. A British Salonika report states: As the result of Anglo-Greek attacks and continual heavy pressure, in conjunct with the Franco-Serbian advance, further west, the enemy ha s evacuated bis whole line from Lake Doiran to westward of the Yardar. He set- m. fire Cestovo, Hudova station, and his To-Ke Tatarli dumps. Our airmen are heavily bombing and machine-gunning his troops and transport, crowding along tlie road northwards. We are. ad vaneTng and have reached a line from Kara to Ogular ,aiul Hmzali, to southward of Bogdanco. Westward of the Yardar we are advancing on the Orgenci, and are in touch with the Greeks at G urinect..

SERBIAN PUSH SPEEDING UP. LONDON, September 23. The Serbian push is more rapid than was expected. The enemy’s only road of retreat is up the Kosturine-Stnim-nitza road, which is being heavily bombed. The Allies are gathering a lot of booty, but there is not yet time to count it. Important developments are >xpected.

THIRD OF SERBIA LIBERATED LONDON, September 23. The Serbians on Saturday and Sunday advanced nearly twenty miles their total advance since the offensive ehgan being now nearly fifty nrles. The number of prisoners is now between nie and ten thousand, and over 120 guns have been captured. A division of cavalry reached the Vnrdar between Krivolak and the Iron Gate,” and the infantry have followed closely and crossed the river. The Cavalry captured Vozarlsi aiul Kavadar cutting the road communications between Prilip and Krivolak. The Serbians during the week-end captured over 'twenty villages. The retreating Bnlgarg shamefully treated the Serbian population. They hove transported the leading inhabitants to Asia Minor. As direct consequence of the Serbian victory, and of the Allies’ pressure elsewhere, olio third of the Serbian territory lias been liberated, the whole of the German-Bulgar forces being compelled to retreat from Monnstir to the Yardar. It is anticipated the enemy will now take line running through Bahtina, the Yardar, Krivolak and Avista.

BULGAK. ARMY CUT OFF. PARIS, September %. The “Petit. Journal,” states the First Bulgarian Army, in the Alonastir-Pri-pet region is isolated.