REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16538, 11 November 1915, Page 5

REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

SERBIA'S MISFORTUNES ENDED. ALLIES NEARLY READY FOR GENERAL OFFENSIVE. FRENCH REOGCUPY VELES. LONDON, November 9. (Received Nov. 10, at 5.5 p.m.) All messages concerning affairs in Serbia are necessarily subjected to de* lay, but the Daily Telegraph corre= spondents supply connected stories. Writing from Monastir on the Sth inst. a correspondent described the position of the line then held by the Allies. It started at Brad, passed south through Rosterashni, Gabrovnik, and Stepanci, thence straight through Tro= jak,'on the Prilep=Gradsko road. At its most advanced point the line is astride the Veles=Prilep road, at Abdi Pasha Khan. One division of Bul= garians is operating at this point. There is also a Bulgarian column from Uskub marching down the Treska Valley towards Kirchevo and Brad. This column may threaten Monastir. The French have taken a strong offensive at Grodsßo, preventing the enemy from reinforcing other parts of the line.

A bitter attack was made upon Monastir by the enemy from the important height of Wezen, dominating the Pri-lep-Gradsko road, which maintains contact between the Serbians at Ba= boiina Pass and the French. The Bub garians advanced to the Krstec defile, where they v/ere checked by the Serbians, whose guns were perched upon almost inaccessible peaks. As the enemy's dead lay in the defiles a truce was granted to permit of their burial. Subsequently the French retook Wezen, and were advancing upon Faris.

Although the situation is ameliorated, it would be rash to say that there is not danger for Monastir. The Serbian troops here are commanded by Colonel Vassltz, the hero of Monastir daring the Balkan war. With the limited forces at his disposal, Colonel Vassitz is accomplishing great feats. The enemy counted upon risings of the Bulgarian section of the inhabitants of Monastir', Ochrida, and Strnga. The Serbians are warding off by strict regulations the' Albanian danger, which is real, and may develop into a conflict. Austrian agents are distribut. ing largess in Albania, and stirring up trouble.

The first British blood was spilt near the Krivolak railway, where they are in position on the French flanks. The losses were slight. The correspondent adds that there are good grounds for hoping that the misfortunes of the Serbians are ended, and that what is left of the sorely -tried country has been saved. It is considered that the Allies will soon be ready for a general offensive. GHEVGHELI REJOICING. t FRENCH TROOPS JUST IN TIME GHEVGHELI, November 9. (Received N,ov. 10, at 5.5 p.m.) The town is decorated in honour of the allied troops. A large banner bears the inscription, "Honour to the Armies of Liberty and Justice." Our train was held up at Strumgja owing to an attack by Bulgarians at 2 a.m. The French troops arrived in the nick of time; an hour later Strumgja would have fallen into the hands of the Bnlgars, and probably the VaTdar railway bridge would have been blown up.