BALKANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1918, Page 5

BALKANS.

AN ASTOUNDING SUCCESS. Bulgars Split in Two. One Army in Utter Disorder. Received Sept. 25, 7.15 p.m. London, Sept v 24. General Desperey's astounding success is proving more important every hour. The Bulgar armies ai'e s.plit in two, and are in full retreat on a hundred miles of front. A few detachments of General Feodorof's army are attempting to delay the British, who have readied Kara Ogular, north of Lake Doiran, but General Tesof s army is in utter disorder, thronging all the roads and mountain tracks. The men are foodless and in a lamentable condition, trying to get to the Babima Pass before the Serbians reach Veles. Several companies of German machinegunners were sent post haste to stop the debacle, and fired their machineguns into the backs of the flying Bulgars.—United Service. BULGARS FALLING BACK. In Greatest Disorder. Vigorous Pursuit. Received Sept. 25, 9 p.m. London, Sept. 24. A French Eastern communique sta.tes: The pursuit continues on the whole front from Monastir to Veles. Enemy columns are closely pursued and harassed by our cavalry, machine-gunned and bombed by our aeroplanes, and are falling back in the greatest disorder towards Veles, a/id Strumnitza. TJie Allies are driving back the enemy upon the Albanian roads. French cavalry entered Prilep and found the town intact. Immense booty was seized. Franco-Serbians are progressing northwards beyond the Prilep-Gradsko road and threaten the Prilep-Vcles road. In the centre, the Serbians, who crossed the Vardar by a number of undamaged bridges between Demir Kapu and Gradsko, established a big bridgehead north of the river. We occupy Enishoba, Kakahodvali, Voishan. and IbriliThe right wing of the Allies, operating on both sides of the Vardar, reached the line Petroro, Pardovica, Chevarli, KaraOgular. Prisoners continue to increase, and considerable undamaged booty was found everywhere. During the 22nd twelve guns, including several heavies, were captured, also a number of new aeroplanes, motor-cars, and big petrol and food dumps.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. THE ANGLO FRENCH ATTACK. Our Cavalry Heading for Strumnitza. Received Sept. 25, 7.15 p.m. London, Sept. 24. British official, Salonika: Our pursuit of the Bulgars on the Mouastir-Doiran front continues. The Anglo-Greeks have readied the line Pazarali, Furka, Smekvica, where they touch the Franco-Greek forces. Our cavalry are heading for Strumnitza. Three Gin. guns of a mountain battery and some field guns have been captured.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. THE POSITION EXPLAINED. Serbians' Wonderful Work. Enemy in a Tight Hole. Received Sept. 25, 10.20 p.m. London, Sept. 24. The prospects on the Salonika front depend on the Serbians at the apex of the salient. If they reach Veles they will turn the Babuna Pass. It is reported the Bulgarians have a light railway from Veles to the Babuna Pass, which will help to rally them. Probably the Bulgarians will fall back on the 'Doiran front to the Belashitza range, where they can feed their army from the Sofia-Seres railway. Only born mountaineers capable of enduring the greatest hardships could, achieve what the Serbians have done. The British cavalry are pursuing the Bulgars along the Strumnitza road, which is the only line of communication the retreating Bulgars are able to use. There is a railway as far as Ishtip. It is difficult to see 'how the enemy can extricate himself, as the Serbian advance guard is within striking distance of the road A certain number of Bulgarians may join the Austrians in Albania, but it is known the Albanians are unfriendly to them.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. BRITISH FORCING THE BULGARS. On to the Strumnitza Road. Received Sept. 25, n.30 p.m. London, Sept. 24. The British line was advanced seven miles and reached the northern shores of Doiran. The cavalry are pushing the Bulgars on the Strumnitza road, their only lino of communication. The Serbians have crossed the Vardar on a fifteen-mile front.. This line of communication is now in the hands of the Allies. Over half of the GradskoPrilep wood is held by the Serbians, who are pressing towards Prilep.—Reuter.