BOLD ATTEMPT TO JOIN SERBIANS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8305, 25 November 1915, Page 5

BOLD ATTEMPT TO JOIN SERBIANS.

ACCOUNT OF RECENT FIGHTING.

LONDON, November 24. Mr Waxd Price, " Daily Mail *' correspondent at Salonika, writes:—"The French are the only Allied troops so tar who have been in action. The engagements indicate General Sarrail's energy in grappling with the situation at the eleventh hour. "His subordinate penerala are boldly attacking a su- • porior enemy in'difficult country under special handicaps, without, waiting for his whole force to bo transported up "country. General Sarrail immediately took the offensive, aiming to help the Sorbs in forcing a, way through the Babuna Pass. . At one time the French troops were within 10 miles of effecting a junction, - i but circumstances proven tod them. i The Balkan campaign hangs on a single line of • railway, grass-tracked, which runs parallel -to the Vardar. Whoever possesses this line is able tostop access to Central Macedonia. General Sarrail's first act was to seize this, point. The French have established a strong bridge-head ort the east side of the Vardar, but there is another weak point higher up the .line. _ The.' French effort to join up with the Serbians was made over tho most difficult country, and by hazardous marching over slender wooden bridges ami through .mountain defiles, which form tho sole line::o£ retreat.; Finally thov wore able to ■■ attack the Bulgar entrenched 1 positions on the mountains parallel .to Tehern.a, which separated them from bhe Babuna I»iu» position, where thtc Serbs were holding, tho main " Bulgar army in a desperate battle. The French were outnnmbo*-"*l three to one by the Bulgars, who were receiving!' Constant streams of reinforcements and had splendid ' nrtiTlerv positions. The French attack failed to carry the key of the position, because -they'had no reinforcements.