GREAT DEFEAT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 81, 2 October 1918, Page 8

GREAT DEFEAT

A FORTNIGHT OF TRIUMPH

STORY OP 'THE VICTORY IN

SERBIA

TIME-TABLE OF THE' ADVANCE.

: (UNItBS PBESS ASSOCIAIiON.—COPTritIOHI.) ■" (ADS. AMD N.Z. CABLE ASSN. AND KEDTBR.) (Received October 2,-1 p.m.) . LONDON, Ist:October. . A French Eastern communique states: The Allies continued to pursue the enemy rearguards towards Kichevo. We advanced north of Ochrida, and Teached the El ;'Bassan-road, ■ west of Lake Ochrida; .'French cavalry have entered Uskub. The Serbians, supported by the French and, Greeks, continued to, advance on Kumanovo, Egri Palanka, and Jumia. English and Greek divisions advanced in the direction of Penchevo and Petrich: _ ' ■' -■•/. "■ -.■''■ . ' . Beviewing the" fortnight's victorious operations, the communique pointe-out that an armistice was signed at Salonika at 11 p.m. .on the 29th. The offensive was begun on the 15th, with only two French and . one ■ Serbian division; against the mountain barrier from Vfetremk' to Sokol. Through this breach, wliich was-gradually enlarged, the Serbian armies, supported by French ,and Greek detachments, poured unceasingly, in . spite of exceptional difficulties of ground and desperate resistance, towards the principal objectives in.tte region of Kavadaf and Demirkapu,, which was reached on the 22nd,, cutting simultaneously the line of communications of the flret Bulgarian army operating on , the Vardar and the .second Germano-Bul : garian army north of Monastir. ' '..•„:• In this operation, all the Allied, forces rivalled each other in endurance, courage, and self-sacrifice. The British and Greek divisions, after': a desperate | struggle on the 18th, carried the enemy, at t Doiran, ■'. holding up big enemy.forces in this region from the 21st onwards. . The: Italians, Greeks,' and French of the-Monastir army took part in the operations on the ,22nd.,-' , r The general pursuit i began, and \ wa« carried out with the utmost ardour and splendid vigour. -'On the,23rd the Serbians crossed the Vardar near Krivolak; next day" the French/, cavalry entered Prilep ; on; the"2sth Ishtip was.carried, aud the Belashitza Mountains were won. The' English forced tlje ;road. to Strumnitza, and entered the.town on the 26th,, on which date , the Serbians reached Kotchana and Veles, and the French and Italians ;marched on Kitcheyo. '.On the 26th the Bulgarians asked for an armistice, and announced the. de-. spatch of plenipotentaries. In. the ' course of these operations;"'. '[ which the hasty despatch of : German reinforce-merits-was unable to hamper, the Allies captured a large-number of prisoners and iminensii booty.' | The Allied aviators took an active; and successful part in the fighting, giving information;of ithe movements of ' the enemy to the Staff; bombing and t machine-gunning the enemy troops and convoys, and' causing confus-, eion' which prevented the enemy*, es'cap-. ing our. clutches.::■'--'„.-,,.'. ,/ '. ■;