SERBIAN SUCCESS CONFIRMED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2602, 26 October 1915, Page 5

SERBIAN SUCCESS CONFIRMED

AUSTRO-GERMAN ADVANCE STOPPED ENEMIES' ARMIES PREVENTED FROM FUNCTIONING By Telegraph—Prose Assooiation-Oopyriglit Paris, October 24. The "Petit Parisien's" Athens correspondent states that the Servian success in the north is confirmed. The Austro-Germans are unable to junction with the Bulgarians, and have assumed the defensive pending reinforcements. (Rec. October 25, 6.35 p.m.) „ Paris, October 24. A telegram from Salonika states that the Serbians on Saturday counterattacked and recaptued half of Veles, while the remainder of the town lies under their artillery. The Austro-German advance over the Serbian frontier has been stopped. It does not exceed a depth of eleven kilometres (about 6 miles 7 furlongs)! ENEMY'S LOSSES AND DEARTH OF REINFORCEMENTS. , Athens, October 24. . The postponement of the German advance in Serbia is attributed to the enemy's considerable losses and their lack of reinforcements. There are seven divisions of Bulgarians on the Serbian front. Four divisions are in the Knioshevatz region. Tho Bulgarians have left the Aegean coasts to be defended by five Turkish divisions. "HIGHLY SATISFACTORY NEWS." , London, October 24. Reuters correspondent at Athens says that news from the most trust-' worthy sources is of a highly satisfactory nature. The Serbs are offering stubborn resistance on all fronts. The Austro-German forces are not expected to develop any further actions until Tho Bulgarians obtain an important success. The Bulgarians have discon iinued their attack at Veles, owing to the French operations in the Krivolak-Strumnitza sectors. NO BOOTY FOR VON MAOKENSEN. T, , , . , Amsterdam, October 24. The German newspaper "Lokal Anzeiger" says that the Serbian retreat is most) methodical.. General von Mack onsen's booty has been practically nil. The Serbians are strongly fortified in their new defensive positions, and the Austro-Germans will find them terribly expensive to conquer. FRENCH TROOPS LINK UP WITH THE SERBIANS LANDING OPERATIONS IN FULL SWING, Paris, October 24. r A communique states: "Tho French troops which crossed the Greek frontier have joined forces with the Serbian troops. The landing of French troops at Salonika continues with regularity, and under the best conditions. Rome, Octobcr 24. The Allies' troops at Salonika are leaving for the interior daily. FURIOUS BATTLE RAGING NEAR VELESE KEY TO THE STRATEGICAL SITUATION

™ „ . t „ „ , Pa,, ' s » October 24. The Paris "Journal s Athens correspondent declares that a furious battie, the most bloody and the most senous that has taken place iu the Balkans during tlie past three years, is progressing near Velese. Owing to the Austro-German defeat in the north, Serbia has now forced King Ferdinand to strike a heavy blow in the south. General von Mackensen has given up the idea for the time being of joining up the armies in the Timok Valley. Picked Bulgarians are attempting a surprise attack in the Ishtib-Velese sector. Success means isolation of the Serbian Army; failure spells the collapse of the concerted German and Bulgarian plans. The Bulgarians' ammunition, is running short. from Salonika confirm the French success from Krivolak, which arrested the Bulgarian attack 011 Velese. (Rec. October 25, 11.20 p.m.) . Paris, October 25. . Official.—"The French attacked the Bulgarians on Friday, south of Strumnitzn, and captured Nabrova." A Sofia telegram claims that the Bulgarians are now in completo possession of Uskub. From Herno it is reported that-the Austro-Gprmans who crossed the Drina abnvc Visegrad have turned the Serbian second line. A SPOKE IN THE BULGARS' WHEEL. Messages from Athens emphasise the strategic importance of the fighting round Velese and in tlio mountainous country of the neighbourhood. If the Allies bring up sufficient forces to junction with the Serbians hero iliey will, considerably lessen tho Bulgarians' chances, of success, aud will alter Atttiro situation.

THE ENEMIES OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE Amsterdam, October 21. A Berlin official communique stales: — Tlio Serbians are giving way under the pressure from both sides, and are retreating from the .Kosutica-Mount Slat-inn line. "The Bulgars captured Negotin, and repulsed Serbian advances with sanguinary losses south-cast- of Pirot. "We forced a passage of tho Drina at Visegrad. General von Koevess's army stormed tho enemy's positions between Lukavitz and Kosmaj mountain. "General von Galhvitz has driven tho enemy across the Jasaniea east of Palanka." Amsterdam, October 24. An Austrian official communique says.: "The Austro-Hungarians opposito Orsova liavo captured a mountain position on tlio southern banks of the Danube and tho Elisabeth forts, near Takia. The Serbians at many points on tlio frontier were broken np and dispersed, and aro retreating southward. Wo are pursuing. IVo dislodged the enemy from tho heights eastward of the Drina, near Visegrad." A Bulgarian official comrauniquo states: "We are advancing between Kniashcvatz and Zajechar, and have reached the left bank of the Timok._ Fighting for the town of ICniaehevate continues. "Our troops in Macedonia, after a violent battle, captured tho greater part of the town of Uskub. Fighting continues there. We are continuing the offensive on tho other fronts." "The Bulgarians in the upper Timok reached the right bank on October 21. Operations in certain portions'of Macedonia are being suspended owing to extraordinarily bad weather." NAVAL BOMBARDMENT OF BULGARIAN BLACK SEA PORTS RUSSIAN ARTILLERY CAUSES A PANIC. Paris, October 24. The "Matin's" Athens correspondent states that the Russians are bombarding Varna and Burgas, the Bulgarian ports in the Black Sea. London, October 24. A French communique confirms the bombardment of Varna and Burgas. Athens, October 24. The accuracy of the Russian shooting caused an indescribable panic at Varna and Burgas. AEGEAN COAST BOMBARDED BY THE ALLIES. Sofia, October 24. A communique states; "Twelve Allied ships bombarded tho Eegean coast, but with no military signifiance. DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT OF DEDEAGATCH DAMAGfi ESTIMATED AT SEVERAL MILLIONS. ' (Rec. October 25, 10,25 p.m.) London, October 25. Renter's New York agent has received a report from Athens stating that one thousand Bulgarian soldiers were killed and many wounded in the naval bombardment of Dedeagatcli. The damage done is estimated at several million pounds. Tlio Russian cruiser Askold participated in the bombardmdnt of the Bulgarian coast on Thursday, when great destruction was wrought to the ammunition stores and niilitirv nia^aiines. A messngo from Rome states that- the Italian squadron participated in the blockade and bombardment c-f -he Bulgarian coast. (R-ec. October 25, 11.20 p :n.) Athens, Octooor Aeroplanes directed the 'ire of the twenty battleships oil The 40th Bulgarian regiment occupied the town barracks. Two companies of tho regiment who were preparing a ineal wero buried in tho ruins, while trocps engaged in trench-digging-outsido the town - sustained enormous losses. Ten civilians, including two women, were killed. The railway stations were burnt. The foreign consuls v,eut into tho interior. BURSTING, SHELLS CAUSE A GREAT FIRE. (Rec. October 26, 1.15 a.m.) Athens, October 25. The bombardment started a fire at Dedeagatch. Fanned by a strong wind, the flames damaged the cereal stores, Customhouse, and many lighters and barges.

AN ENERGETIC NOTE TO THE GREEK REPORTED ACTION BY THE ALLIED GOVERNMENTS London, October 24. It is reported from Romo that the Entente has presented an energetic Note to Greece, with a fixed period for a reply. The "Observer's" correspondent at Athens says that the basis of the present attitude of Greece is the argument that Serbia is unable to support Greece with 150,000 men, as stipulatedin the Greco-Serbian treaty, in case of war with Bulgaria, and that the Entente furnished no equivalent to replace the Serbians; hence swift and convincing aotion in the matter of the concentration of Allies' troops in Macedonia was essential. THE ALLEGED SECRET GRECO-BULGARIAN TREATY. Rome, October 24. The Greek Minister denies that there is a, secret Greco-Bulgarian treaty He adds: "The attitude of Greece is due solely to military considerations." t ' GREECE LOOKING FOR COAL. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun'* Services.) (Rec. October 25, 5.5 p.m.) ~ , London, October 24. Greece is seeking to procure 50,000 tons of coal at Cardiff. This supply it is proposed, shall be shipped on board Greek vessels which were requisitioned at the time of tlie last mobilisation. TURKISH ATTACKS ON GALLIPOLI REPULSED ENEMY SUFFERS HEAVY LOSSES ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) !(Rec. October 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, Ootober 24. Reports from Mitylene state that the Allies at Suvla and Krithia have repulsed. Turkish attacks with heavy losses. Fighting continues. Two destroyers entered the Straits and bombarded the enemy's positions. TURKISH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ... „ , , London, October 24. A Constantinople communique says :—"We bombarded a barricade at Anafarta, destroying three machine-guns, and also 6ilenced the artUlery fire from land and sea at Ari Bumu. The enemy at Seddul-Bahr fired some thousands of shells on our left wing without doing damage." I ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)' London, October 24. The Associated Press correspondent states that the Turks re-took Kiritch! Tepe under tho German Lieutenant-Colonel Wilmers Bey. Tie position of the Turco-German Allies is better. The/ are masters of that part of the Anafarta region which they lost, also a Turkish fortress, which, under German commanders, cleared the Allies from an important crest west of the Biyuk Anafarta cometery. In consequence of losing these positions the Allies to-day retain themselves in the Anafarta region only because of tboir immense artillery superiority. It is impossible for the Allies to. advance from Seddul-Bahr by operations conducted within the range of reasonable and permissible sacrifices. From a strictly military viewpoint tho Allies' position on the Peninsula is less favourable to-day than on April 26 (the day after the first landing).

HOW THE TURKS WERE DUPED. (Reo. October 25, 6.35 p.m.) London, October 24. Hie landing at Karachali (reported at the same time as the Suvla Bay landing, August 11) was merely a feint. It was carried out by 380 Cretan volunteers, who had volunteered for service in the French Army previously. They saw hard service in France. After the lauding at Karachali, they ndvnneed inland, cutting the telegraph' and telephone wires, and penetrated the enemy's country for a considerable distance. The Turks sent a large force in pursuit. Not being aware of the number of tho invaders, tliey ewrounded tlie Cretans in a wood, which the latter ignited, escaping under coverof smoke. The Cretans fought a retreating action to the beach. The small force halted at the cliffs and kept the Turks at bay while the rest embarked on the warships. . Twenty of their comrades who remainc-d ashore liavo either been killed, wounded, or made prisoner.