THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

* Tmi has been stiff fighting in the Vardar Valley, and probably it is continuing, for British and French are bow falling back into Greek territory and are covering their retreat by rearguard actions against the pressing Bulgarians. The weather has been bad and the roads cannot be anything but atroso that the conditions are un- ! satisfactory for a retiring and inferior force. The Bulgarians claim to have ; icaptured ten British guns, by no means j an improbable accident in fighting of the kind. The question of interest 1 now is whether the Allies intend to hold ou at Salonika or to withdraw completely from the region, but while tho jreader. is naturally looking a little ahead it would be as well to watch the fortunes of the little force—for comibarativcly it is only a small army—inat is retreating down the Vardar.

Very soon the Bulgarians will be onti of the) gorges, and will be able to de-l ploy on the lower country north-west of Salonika, and unless the French and British offer a very stubborn resistance as they retire their losses of material as well as of men may be severe. Salonika itself is not difficult of defence, notwithstanding the cabled comment to the contrary, provided tho defenders are well equipped in artillery. But the defence needs strongly entrenched lines, and, ultimately, if the attack is developed in any great force a considerable garrison will be necessary. It is said that the Allied Council of War has determined to hold the port and that tho necessary reinforcements will be hurried to the Greek coast, but on this point we must really wait for an official Statement. The facts have been -nil against the idea of organising an extensive offensive campaign in .Macedonia, at any rate this ycjor, but thero are potent arguments in favour of, establishing a powerful Allied base at .Salonika, and from all points of view io i:> regrettable that plans to that end were not token in hand at the, outset of the campaign. Clearly opinions linve diffarad widely as to the course that should bo followed, but wc are told that the differences have been adjusted and that the French and British Governments are now in complete agreement. Concerning the Balkan situation generally, we, have little precise news. Tli3 Russian threat has not materialise.! Italy is -aid to be landii g men at Avlona, but the report is not official. There are unofficial stories, too, -egarding the. Dardanelles*. Heavy German or Austrian are on The way to the peninsula. Tnefa Has been sharp fighting at the tonthem ond, and it is stated that the t \ew Se.ilanrk-rs were engaged in repelling a Turkish attack on the Kmhia front. The news from the other theatres i-~ unimportant.