THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

LARGE GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. A GRAVE SITIUATION. v ONLY RUSSIANS CAN HELP. KAISER ORDERS DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY. Times Service. Received Nov. 18, 8.50 p.m. London, Nov. 18. Mr. Boui'elii,')' reports, from Bucharest, tlio arrival of large German reinforcements. This, he states, creates a grave situation, necessitating prompt Allied and Roumanian action, but direct aid is only possible from the Russians. The 41st Prussian Division, which is replacing the Bavarians at the Jiul Volley received from the Kaiser an Order-of-the-day stating: ''You must destroy the enemy." Hindenburg, Falkenhavn, and Mack onsen conferred at Belgrade, showing the importance Hindenburg attaches to the Roumanian campaign. cTHE MONASTIR OFFENSIVE. 2000 YARDS OF TRENCHES TAKEN. RAPID RUSSIAN ADVANCE. MONASTIR AT MERCY OF ALLIES. Received Nov. 18, 8.40 p.m. Salonika, Nov. 17. An attack towards Monastir was be; gun on Tuesday at noon, the whole line advancing. The first assault failed, owing to machine-guns. The Freneii, re-attacking, captured 200(1 yards of trenches at Bukri, and held on against German counter-attacks. There was a heavy fog at night, wherein the French patrol discovered that the enemy had withdrawn with all his equipment under mask of skeleton fire from the trenches. A Serbian advance at the Cerna loop rounded up over 1100 Germans, who blame the Bulgarians for letting the Serbians reach the rear. The Germane-Bulgarians, at daybreak, retired live miles on the line at at the Bistritzani river, three miles from Monastic The Allies, following, reached the lino at Viro river on Wednesday, and their outpost.-, came into contact with the enemy in the evening. The Russians, advancing quickly from Peristoriad, captured the village of Lujetz on Thursday, and are reported to have carried the town of Bistritza. The Daily Chronicle's Athens correspondent reports tlint the .Russians' dramatic advance will place Monastir practically at the Allies' mercy. />

SUCCESSFUL SERBIAN ADVANCE. THREE VILLAGES OCCUPIED. Received Nov. 18, 8.50 p.m. London, Nov. 18. A Berlin communique claims the capture of 1500 Roumanians south of the Rothenturm Pass. A Serbian communique states: The enemy counter-attacks completely failed. The Bulgars withdrew to the river Bistritza. We occupied three villages in the direction of Monastir. The Serbs have taken 3900 prisoners since November 10, whereof a thousand were Ger mans. We have captured seventy-one guns since September 14.

EFFECTIVE ROUMANIAN WORK. London, November IT. A Roumanian communique states:— We repulsed violent attacks in the IProdeal and Dragoslavcele regions with heavy losses. We were compelled to withdraw slightly in the direction, of Teniciulisti in the Alt Valley, and' at Stafonesti, in the Jiul region, where, however, we attacked on the wings and repulsed the enemy with • serious losses. We effectively bombarded Rustchuk. GERMAN" REINFORCEMENTS. ; Times Service. Amsterdam, November 17. Mr. Bourcbier, t'lie war correspondent, says there are two new German divisions operating in tile Jiul Valley commanded by General Schmidt. The Alt Valley Germans are commanded by General Kueisel. VIGOROUS ALLIED OFFENSIVE. Rome, November 17. The Messagero's correspondent at Salonika says the § Allied offensive in Macedonia is becoming more intense, Monastir is threatened from the southeast, east and north-east. FURTHER BRITISH. 1 PROGRESS. London, November 17. The British on the Salonika front, after artillerying the Struma, attacked and captured Bara.kli and again drove the enemy from Pfoeneik and Kuinli. They are now consolidating their gains. Tlie artillery stopped counterattacks.

• . A RUSSIAN REPORT. London, November 17. A Russian communique says:—The enemy occupied the village of Liresht in the Roumanian Kimpolung region. The Roumanians evacuated the village of Tirgujiuiiu, in the Jiul region. CLOSING ON MONASTIR. . , United Press. London, November 17. The Serbian and Aliled forces are closing in on Monastir on two sides. The Serbians are carrying out a flanking movement from an easterly direction in the bend of the Cerna river. The Allies forces' are making a frontal attack from the south, and have forced tho enemy to the weak Bestridsa. line. The Serbian and Allied attacks since the 10th have compelled the enemy to retire live miles on a lifteen-mile front, and are gradually increasing the .pressure on the whole front.