THE BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

AN IMPORTANT POINT. MAY BE EVACUATED. TO AWAIT RUSSIAN HELP. Received Nov. 22, S p.m. London. Nov. 22. The' Roumanian Legation in London states that if the evacuation of Krajova (the capital of western Wallachia) is necessary, precautions will be taken to destroy the gra'mjstores. Should the Roumanians evacuate Krajova if, will doubtless be due to a desire to save the Ist Army from encirclement and draw the Germans on the Walhichiar. Plains, and there await the huge Russian reinforcements, whose arrival has been delayed by the distance and the difficulties of transport. It is reported that a powerful French aimament organisation is being placed at the disposal of the Roumanians.

THE MONASTIR VICTORY, j t "HRREACHIXG EFFECTS. NEARING PRILEP. London, Nov. 21. The Athens correspondent of the Chronicle referring to the far-reaching elfects of the success sit Mona.atir. states that already more than one-third of New Serbia is freed from the Germans and Bulgarians. Seven thousand have been taken prisoner in eight lays. 1(1(10 of whom arc Germans, and nearly 100 cannon have been taken since the beginning of the attack. At Kaimnckalan heavy lossc? were inflicted with comparatively light Allied losses. The Serbians . tired ' a million sliolli in ten days on the Kcnali lines, which frontnlly were impregnable. Monastir was won up in the bleak mountains by the splendid Serbian artillery and infantry. When Hill 1212 fell the enemy was compelled to abandon Monastir, retreating in disorder on ihe whole left front and abandoning the dead and wounded and bootv.

Beyond the Cerna. on the right bank, (he veteran General Steplmnoviah captiireil seven! heights and is now driving! the demoralised enemy without a halt towards the river ami ought in a few hours to threaten the exits of the Babuna 'Pass. His left wing has carried Grandista and is advancing along the j hills on the right bank of the Ccrr.a. Stataroviua has also fallen, while his centre advancing along the road from Vetcrinilc should now be before Verbsko, near the Cerna. Inside the Cerna loop General Masliitehs with (Jie Ist Army is sweeping on and lias taken Pernik, north of iven, and Jarotak. The finest triumph is the capture of Hill 1375. in the upper Morichovo Mountains, giving the command of the route | towards Prilep. | On the left General Vassitehs, with the 3rd Serbian Army, is clearing out the foe from the mountains east of Monastir with the aid of the French and Russians. The advancing Serbians are now a few hours' march from Prilep. When the Allies entered Monastir the inhabitants Hung wreaths of (lowers on the necks of the borses of the French cavalry and gave garlands to the Russian infantrymen. The enemy during the night set fire to the barracks'. The first act of Hie Allies was to c:: tinguish the (ires and arrest the spies hidden in the houses. The battlefield was covered with enemy dead and shattered guns. It is estimated that the Allies' artillery fired a million projectiles of all 1 calibres, destroying the enemy's tic- | As the Germans and Rulgars retreated they set fire to the villages. Tin* new line of defence, which has been prepared for over a month, is a regular line of double trenches with wire e*itinglemeiits. The Germans and Bul;jlrs are still holding on firmly to rearguard positions in tlie Cerna loop. The Bulgars at noon on Sunday held a firing line 2'/> miles from Monastir. " Wellington, Nov. 22. The High Commissioner reports under dale London, Nov. 21 (2.50 p.m.): A French official message says: Northwards of Monastir the enemy rearguard, supported hy powerful artillery, is strongly pressed by the Allies. " Westward'the Italians repulsed violent enemy counter-attacks in the region of UieMontcgnoHse and Dunmza rivers. Eastwards of Lake Pr«*!i.i we occupied Krani.