THE FRENCH POSITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8304, 24 November 1915, Page 5

THE FRENCH POSITION.

FRONT OF 15 MILES

LONDON, November 23. : Mr Ward Price, of tho " Daily Mail/ writing from Salonika, reports that tac French are holding a front of 15 miles on a triangular plain pointing towards Kuprili and bounded by tho Tchcrna ■ River on the west and the Vardar on j the east and north. Both rivers are | unfordable. Tlie triangle- mcludes good water, three villages, with houses for billeting, and landing places for avia-j tors. The French ateo hold tbo gloomy height of Karahodjali. When General Sarrail arrived he saw the immense importance of tho height, and ordered its immediate capture. No bridge crossed the Vardar, but a crazy; old Turkish boat was found, and with it a whole regiment was ferried over, the boat coming and going day and night. Tho Bulgarians were driven ; out, but later realised their mistake and repeatedly attempted to recapture the height. They were (repulsed with GTho chief difficulty of the French position is that overy man and every ounce of munitions and supplies must be carried by a single-hne^ railway. There is not even a road. Moreover, the railway passes through narrow ravines, the longest being 10 miles through the Denrirkapa Gorge, northward of Strumnitza. The northern end of the gorgo is so precipitous that a train is only able to leave it by a tunnel through the last 100 yards. If the tunnel i« blown up, a few guns would suffice to prevent it being repaired. General Sarrail made a brilliant . cross-country march in order to join "P i with the Serbs in tho Babuna Pass, and j reached within 10 desperate fighting, in which the French were outnumbered by three to one.