THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16992, 20 October 1915, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

Althotch the Serbian campaign is regarded as being of secondary importnice it ia receiving an extraordinary volume of advertisement, and greater attention is being paid to developments in the Near East than to the operations in either France or Russia. The actual facts, however, are being loft rather obscure. In the northern districts the development is normal, the Serbians, retreating slowly before von Mackcnsen's forces, It is stated that the Bulgarians have been defeated heavily in the Timok Valley, but the story lacks confirmation. The report that the Bulgarians succeeded in reaching the southern ra-ilway at Vranja is also unofficial. Another unofficial story reports the occupation by the Allies of tho port of Enos, which, by the way, is isolated by » swamp area and would bo of comparatively small use as a basb. Interest in the Dardanelles operations will bo stimulated by the report that Sir lan Hamilton has been recalled and that General Monro, who lately wjw in command of the First Army Corps, will replace him. There afo abundant indications that when tho Bulgarian mobilisation changed the aspect of affairs in the Near East the Allies were proparing for more extensive operations against Turkey, but the necessity for sending troops to tho assistance of Serbia must have wised a modification of the plans, and the retirement of Sir lan Hamilton will involve a further delay. Probably no important development need ' be expected now until the new commander-in-chief has had an opportunity of seeing the ground and the conditions for himself. No news of moment comes from Franco or Italy. There chould be a renewal of the Allied offensive along the western front, however, unless wo are to assume,that the battles in Artois and Champagne marked tho last Allied effort prior to the withdrawal into winter quarters, or, in other words, the suspension of operations on a large scale. The weather is uncertain now, though it does not become hopeless for perhaps another month.. On tho Russian front the principal incident has been the fierce fighting in the lakes district west of Dvinsk, where the Russians are contusing their offensive and are gaining useful local success.