AT THE GATES OF MONASTIR.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15751, 18 November 1916, Page 9

AT THE GATES OF MONASTIR.

THE BALKAN FRONT.

IMPORTANT ALLIED SUCCESSES. A FIRM FOOTING WON ON THE PLAIN. GERMAN NATAL SAID. RUSSIA SINKS SIX OR MORE CRAFT. GREAT TRIBUTE TO THE ANCRE VICTORY. ~'rd YEAR— 110 th DAY.)

DECIDED ADVANCES GAINS ON TWO WINGii.

(By Cable. —i'ress Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) I LONDON, November 16. I' A communique states: — "Tho British carried the villago of i Kakaraski on the eastern shore of Lako Takinos. . "Tho Bulgarians fell back to the left bank of tho Nihor. ; "Despite rain and snow our offensive on tho Cerna front continued successfully, and violent counter-attacks wero repulsed. "The French and Serbians advanced north of Tapcvci towards Jarotok. ''ihe enemy west of the Cerna aband</ned his principal position. "French and Russians pursuing the enemy north of Ivcnali reached the right bank of tho Brod river, 6ix kilometres . south of Monastir." A FRENCH REPORT.

The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, November 16 (2.5 p.m.). A French communique states: — "On the Struma front _ tho British took Kakaraslri after brilliant fighting, the Bulgarians falling back on tho right towards the Nihor stream. "Violent German and Bulgarian connter-attacks were unsuccessful everywhere." SERBIAN GAINS. LONDON, November 16. A Serbian communique states "With tho co-operation of the French our troops on Tuesday captured all enemy positions south of Tapevci. "The German defenders who escaped annihilation or rapture fled when the villages of Tcpavci and Gules wero stonred." IMPORTANT GAINS. PLAIN OF. MONASTIR WON.

(Australian and N.Z, Cable Association.) (Received November 17th, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 16. " The capture of Kenali and the flight the Germans and Bulgarians indicate lhat there have been decisive happenings in Macedonia. Tho Allies have now reached the plain -within, three and three-quarter miles of Monastir. Hitherto it has been only possible to advance across rugged mountains cast and west of the Gap, eight miles wide, through which runs the Monastir railway. The Serbians fought with magnificent valour, and though the Germans and Bulgarians defended their entronched positions with desperation, so that they were repeatedly taken and retaken, all have now been definitely secured. The enemy's losses were very 6evero. The greater number of the .prisoners taken are Germans, thus proving that they had sent heavy reinforcements to Macedonia.