THE HEAR EAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17425, 20 September 1918, Page 5

THE HEAR EAST

FRANCO-SERBIAN OFFENSIVE. BREACH IN ENEMY LINE WIDENED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, September 17. . French eastern communique: The operations which were begun on September 15 continued to-day with complete success. The breach made in the Dobropolje-Vet-renik front was widened both westward and eastward, and now extends over a front of 25 kilometres miles) to a depth of seven kilometres miles). Westward of Sokal the Serbians carried the fortified zone betweno Gradesniza and Sokal, and crossed the river Gradesniza, throwing back in disorder on the Razemiby bridge the enemy units, who wera caught under the lire of our airmen's machine guns. Eastward of VetTenik the Allies carried the Chelo and Golobilo massifs and the Zborsko defences. 0 vcr 400 prisoners and over 30 guns, besides considerable other booty, were captured. The offensive continues. The Serbian troops fought 'with splendid morale, energy, courage, and self-sacrifice also in repulsing Bulgarian counterattacks. NEW YORK, September 18. The Allies have captured 4000 prisoners in Macedonia. The Bulgarians are weakening on the Balkan front, and the Allies have captured 50 additional guns. A TEN MILE PENETRATION. BULGARIAN VIM LESSENING. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, September 18. (Received Sept. 19, at 11.30 p.m.) Latest reports from Salonika show that . the Allies penetrated to an average depth of 10 miles along the Zberako-Cerna front. .The Bulgars are fighting with less vim than at the outset. A division of Greek volunteers raised by M. Venizelos participated in the attack. THE OFFENSIVE CONTINUED, ALL OBJECTIVES REACHED. VILLAGES AND HEIGHTS CAPTURED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and : Renter. • LONDON, September 19. ■ (Recived Sept. 19, at 11.30 p.m.) I A French eastern communique states: i Despite important reinforcements hastily brought up, and a desperate defence, the Allied offensive was continued successfully on the 17th. All the day's bbjectives were • reached. Attacks, developed on a front ' of 35 kilometres, reached a maximum i depth of 15 kilometres. Serbians, co- ' operating with French and Hellenic de- ! tachments, after a severe struggle capture:! the viUages of Zovik and Stravins and the heights of Volchitcha and Becmeato, : northwards of the river Gradesnitza. The • village of Gradesnitza was captured despite a severe defence. In the centre the Allies made progress on the crest rising from Kozac northwards, and gained a footing on. the heights of Kuchkowkamen. Over 50 guns, including 20 heavy gunsj were taken. Very great booty was also captured, fhe number of prisoners is incessantly growing. The Allies have gained complete air supremacy, airmen participating most actively in all directions. RUMANIANS' DETERMINATION. WISH TO FIGHT WITH AMERICANS. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. NEW YORK, September 18. Lieutenant Stoica (Vice-president of the i Rumanian, National Council in Paris) is > now in the United States to obtain the ; consent of Congress for a Rumanian Legion , to light with the Americans. Lieutenant Stoica saicl: "When the news came that America had entered the war, Rumania went wild with delight. To-day every Rumanian who is beyond the power of the Germans is determined to fight until enduring peace is won under the head of the United States. When the Rumanian Kingdom can reestablish communications with the Allies it will again march against the common foe." Lieutenant Stoica told the story' of the Russiam betrayal of Rumania., and th© indescribable sufferings of the Rumanians under the present German oppression.