BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1918, Page 5

BALKANS.

BULGARIANS MENACED. i ; AUSTRIANS FORCED TO RETREAT. DRIVE FROM SALONIKA EXPECTED, Receivel July 14, 5.5 pjn. Washington, July 12. Official advices confirm the Italian capture of Berat. Franco-Italian troops, operating in Albania, are seriously menacing the Bulgarian right wing near Monastir, The Allied offensive is developing favorably, forcing the Austrians to retreat, which, in places, approaches a rout. Various engagements took place along a 125 kilometre front, between Lake Ochrida and the sea, and resulted in the Allies capturing large quantities of war materials. The French continue to advance at Asum and west of Noritz, while the Italians, operating rfom Vallona, seized Demalacastra and reached the lower course of the Semenl. Austrian reports acknowledge that Berat was surrounded before the Austrians retired. American military officials- expect momentarily an Allied drive from Salonika. . —Press Assoc. (Berat is 30 miles north-east of the seaport of Avlona, in Albania, the popu- ; lation being 12,000.) ' IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESSES. FRONT CONSIDERABLY SHORTENED \ Received July 14, 5.5 p.m. ( Rome,. July 12. A semi-official report states that the j importance'of the success in" Albania is only realisable by a knowledge of the ( topography of the couhtry. Unlike most . of the other theatres of war, the.occupa- , tion of territory can only be carried out j by detachments holding isolated tactical 1 points. Our advance has resulted in j shortening the front by dozens of kilo-. . metres.—Reuter, FRENCH SUCCESSES. COMMANDING POSITION SECURED. Received July 14, 5.6 p.m. . London, July 13- . j Italian official:—War booty in Al- J bania includes three guns" and four trench guns. A French Eastern communique states: , —Our advance in Albania continues on ■ both banks of the Devoli. Mount Kom- . jans, on the right bank, has been cap- . tured and the mountainous region -on the . left bank, between Devoli and Tomorica, has been cleared, except the hill commanding the confluence, where the enemy is resisting. Over four hundred prisoners I have been taken.—Aus.-N,Z. CaWe.AiWQo. t -*na<Rwtefr .' - f%