THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1918, Page 1

THE WAR IN THE BALKANS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.! split in half. | BULGARS IN FULL RETREAT. LONDON, September 24. General Desperey’s astounding success is proving more important every hour. The Bui gar armies are split in two, and are in full retreat on a hundred miles of front . A few detachments of General Teodcrof’s army are attempting to delay Hie British who have reached- Ka-raog-lular north of Lake Doiran but General Tosof’g army is in utter disorder* Thronging all the roads and mountain tracks, the enemy troops are foodless, and in a lamentable condition. , They are trying to get- to the Babuna Pass before the Serbians .reach Veles. Several companies of German machine gunners who were sent, post haste to stop the debacle fired their machine guns into the backs of the flying Bnl-

UURSUING THE ENEMY. LONDON, September 24. A British official report from Salonika states: Our pursuit of tho Bulgars on the Monastir front continues. The Anglo-Greeks have readied a line from Pazarli to Furka and Smclikvica, where they are in touch with the FrancoGreck forces. Our cavalry are heading for Strumnitza. Three six inch guns, a mountain battery, and some field guns have been captured. This evening’s report, from Salonika states that the British line has been advanced seven miles and has reached the northern shores of Lake Doiran. ’file cavalry are pushing the Bulgars on tho Strummitza road, their only line of communication.

The Serbians have crossed the Vnrdar river on a fifteen mile front. This line of communication i s now in the hands of the Allies.

Over half the Gradsko-Prilep Wood is held by the Serbians, who arc pressing towards Prilep.

FRENCH ENTER PRILEP

ENEMY DRIVEN RACK

LONDON, September 24

A French Eastern communique says: The pursuit of the Bulgars continues on our whole front from Monnsut, to Veles.

The enemy oolums are being closely pursued and liarrassed by our cavalry and machine-gunned and bombed by our aeroplane s and arc falling back in greatest disorder towards Veles, Ishtip, and Strumnitzn. Tb e Allies on the left are also driving back the enemy upon tlie Albanian roads.

French cavalry have entered Prilep. They found the town intact. Immense booty has been seized there • Tho Fra neo-Serbia ns are now pi,,grossing northwards beyond the PrilepGradsko road and they threaten the Prilep-Veles road . Tn the centre, the Serbians, who have crossed tho Vnrdar river by a number of undamaged bridges, between Demirkapu and Gradsko established themselves at a big bridgehead on the north of the river. Wo occupy Enislioba, Karahodzali, Voysban, and Ibrili. The right wing of the Allies, operating on both sides of the Vardar river has reached a lino running from Petrovo, to Pardovica, Chevarli anl on to Karaoglular. Prisoners continue to increase. Considerable undamaged booty is being found everywhere. During Monday twelve guns, including several heavies were captured, also a number of new aeroplanes, motor car s and big petrol and food dumps. FURTHER ALLIED GAINS. LONDON, September 24. Tho Italians have advanced on the left greatly. They already have liberated twenty more Serbian villages. On the right, the Greeco-British forces have advanced ten miles and have captured tho city of Doiran.

CHASING THE BULGARS. LONDON, September 24. The British cavalry arc pursuing the /Bulgars along the iStrumnitza load which is the only line of communication the retreating Bulgars are now able to use. There is a railway as far as Tslitip but only a road beyond Ishtip. It is difficult to sec how the enemy can extricate himself, a s the ''erbian advance guard is within striking distance. of bis only road of escape. \ certain number of Bulgarians may join the Austrians in Albania, but it is known that the Albanians are unfriendly to them.

GENERAL MAURICE’S COMMENT

RACE FOR BABUNA PASS

LONDON, Sep. 24. General Maurice writes: Tho prospects on the Salonika front, are such that complete success will depend on the Serbians, who are at the apex of the Allies’ salient. If they reach Veles. they will turn the Babuna Pass. Tt is reported that the Bulgarians' have a light railway from Veles to Babuna Pass, which will help to rally them. Probably the Bulgars will fall back on the Doiran front to the Belassitza range, where they can get food for the Army'' from the Sofia-Seres railway. Only born mountaineers, who are capable of enduring tho greatest hardships, could achieve what the Serbians flare done.