ALLIES RENEW THE ATTACK ON MONASTIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 1 November 1916, Page 7

ALLIES RENEW THE ATTACK ON MONASTIR.

SERVIANS HAMMERING AT SIDE DOOR TO THE TOWN.

IMPETUOUS INFANTRY ATTACK CARRIES TRENCHES.

Australian and N-Z. Cable. (Received 8.20 p.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 30.

Writing from the Macedonian front, Mr. Ward Price says : " After a postponement of two days owing to bad weather, the French and Servians on October 27 renewed the attack on Monastir. The allies continue to make gradual progress, especially on the loop of the Tserna River. The fighting at Monastir may appear tedious, but it must be remembered the allies have lengthened lines of communication, whereas the Bulgarians are falling back on prepared defences. Heavy guns and ammunition move slowly over the steep Macedonian roads, and only partial attacks weie possible until the artillery was in position. When everything was ready for the assault, the weather played the allies a trick. Mud made the roads impassable, and even the/lightest ears sank to the axles.

"Admirai Troubridge, commanding British naval gunners, and two French generals, are co-operating with General Mishitch. Whe i the weather cleared General Mishitch launched an impetuous infantry attack. The Servians swarmed up the hills, and gained SOOyds towards Novak Ridge, which is the side door to Monastir. The dogged Bulgarian resistance is due to the stiffening of the ranks with Germans, but prisoners are delighted to exchange the firingline for the safer task of road-making."

The French and Russians are now disposed along a front which must lie close to the frontier of Greek and Servian Macedonia, between Kenali on the Monastir railway, and Lake Presba. On their right the Servians are still Struggling to increase their crip on the area of high ground enclosed in the bend of the Tserna River to the southeast of Monastir. Thev have secured the village of Skochivir, on the far side of the river at this pUnt, and have pained Brod. which also stands inside this bend in the river. From Skochivir they are pushing northward, and climbing the southern slopes r.f Mount Chuke which a correspondent recently described as "the kev to Mona«tir. M This height dominates the left of the Bulgarian line, facing the Russians and the French before Monastir, and its possession would be of great assistance in bringing about the capture of the town.