IN THE BALKANS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17274, 15 September 1916, Page 5

IN THE BALKANS.

ALLIED OFFENSIVE. ITALIANS AND SERBS ADVANCE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, September 13. A communique says:—There is a lively cannonade on the Struma front. The Italians are engaged in the region of Montabeles, and Allied artillery is bombarding the Bulgarians north of Matchukovo and Majadag.; The Serbians north of Kovil occupied an important position, and their advance guards are progressing north-west and west of Lake Ostrovo, where they are engaged in violent combats. We made a substantial advance south-west of tlio lake. Our artillery caused many fires in the Bulgarians' positions. (Mnjndag is west of the Vardar and Matchukovo is just east of the river, a littlo distance inside the Greek frontier.) _■

ITALY'S SUCCESSES. BULGARS DRIVEN BACK. LONDON, September 13. An Italian communiquo says : West of Butkowo Lake wc drove the Bulgarians beyond tho DemirkissarDoiran railway. THE BRITISH REPORT. LONDON, September 13. Tho War Office announces: —A message from Salonika dated September 13 says that there were only patrol encounters east of the Struma, and a duel of artillery is in progress on the Doiran front. CAPTURE OF SOROVITCHEVO REPORTED. LONDON, September 13. The " Daily Telegraph's" Athens correspondent states tnat tho French have captured Sorovitchevo. SARRAEL'S OFFENSIVE. SATISFACTION IN LONDON. A CLASSIC BATTLE GROUND. Router's Telt^rums. LONDON, September 13. The newspapers are delighted at General tiarrail's offensive, launched after ten months inactivity, and point out that General Sarrail is attempting both of the practicable routes northwards, Struma Valley and the Vardar Valley. Experts admit that the natural obstacles to the Anglo-French advance are conceivable, but believe that the movement hus been carefully prepared, and should be most successful. The fight last«d thirty-six hours. The Bulgars suirercu heavy losses before they retreated. The British crossed tho Struma at a spot where Xerxes crossed when invading Greece, as described by Herodotus. Nechori, the British crossing place, was the ancient Amphipolis, where Xerxes sacrificed nine youths and nine maidens. if Sarrail'b otteusive seems belated, say experts, it must be remembered that von Mackensen's attack on Serbia was initiated a month later, and the Balkans advance towards Turkey in 1912 later still. These were short, snarp campaigns. The Allies desire a similar decision before the Balkan winter. Once the Allies are across the Great Balkan Railway Bulgaria and Tuikov will be crushed, as it will be !m possible for Germany longer to supply them with munitions. Tlie health of the Allied troops is good and their munitions are inexhaustible. Sarrail's offensive is likely to prove that von Mackensen simply sacrificed the southern front when lie moved 150,000 Bulgarians to the Dobrudja to attack Rumania. THE BRITISH RAIDS. iuitralian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received September 14, 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 14. Mr Ward Prico from Salonika reports :—The British made three successful raids on tho lower Struma and captured villages, which are collections of ( ramshackle houses garrisoned by 200 Bulgarians apiece. The Bulgarian line at this sector is a series of similarly fortified villages, like blockhouses. It was not intended to hold the captured positions permanently and after reconnoitring the position the troops returned to the British lines. BULGARIAN REPORTS. HEAVY FIGHTING IN STRUMA VALLEY. (Received September 14, 5.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 14. A Sofia communique n"iUons heavy fighting in the Struma Valley, and the capture of British prisoners, and says that hydroplanes successfully bombed tho fleet at Kavala harbour. ORDERED TO RETIRE. GREEK REGIMENT AT RYONERI Reuter's Tol«gr\mß. ATHENS. September 12. An official message says that the Italian military authorities at Tepehiie ordered a Greek legiment to vacate Rvoneri within an hour and retiro to Paleakostro. SERBIA'S CONFIDENCE. MINISTER FOR UNITED STATES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON. September 13. Tho Serbian Government has decided to send a Minister to the United States, whore hitherto Serbia was diplomatically represented. .Tho decision is interpreted as meaning that the Serbians expect to repossess their country shortly.