NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17428, 24 September 1918, Page 5

NOTES ON THE WAR CABLES.

Bx Shrapnel, DEFEATED TURKS EST A TRAP. To-day's narratives of the smashing defeat of tho lurks do not add many new details, and the maps obtainable do not contain, many of the names mentioned, except those places of outstanding importance, which, however, show the position of the* remnants of tho fleeing Turkish forces on abroad outline to be one of extreme peril. There is no escape for the Turks anywhere but across tho Jordan on a front probably limited to 30 miles. On the right flank of the British tho position is obscure. The troops thcro either have to advance along very difficult and broken country, full of steep-sided wadis, or close to the river along tho Jordan, road, which is in the valley. This road cannot be used, as the enemy would be ablo to trap the British forces in very unfavourable country closo to the river from tho spurs or heights overlooking the road. As L ' infantr - v ac^vance northward astride the INublus road and take up their positions, the country being clear as far north as tha Haifa-Beisan railway, they will deploy to the right, and facing eastward drive the ,Turka before them to the Jordan. While that movement is being carried- out a section of tho cavalry in the north will advanca southward and endeavour to create a bottleneck between tho forces advancing from tho south-westward of the Jordan. The work of watching the fords will have, to bo done by aeroplanes, and tho duty of blocking the escape of the Turks across tho river will devolve upon the airmen, as it is not possible that tho British artillery has been able to move forward in tho broken and monntainouß country eastward of the Nablus road quickly enough to bring the Jordan crossings within range. Much will depend upon the co-operation of the airmen and the cavalry. If a cavalry section east of the Jordan to the south of tho Sea, of Galilee moves down the eastern side of the Jordan and appears in position opposite the northern fords, with the aid of the airmen it may compel the Turks to seek a passage further south, where it may be possible to bring the guns to bear upon the crossings. It is not improbable that the Turks will be able to effect their-escape, hut it is difficult to see how the Turkish infantry will be able to keep far enough ahead of the Allied infantry to escape without great losses from all arms of the service which are following up the retreat. It seems that the Turkish armies will lose almost the whole of their material equipment, _which the Turkish military- authorities will not bo able to replace. THE BALKAN THEATRE. The Franco-Serbian advance in Macedonia, or Now Serbia, continues, in spite of the fact that the enemy is being reinforced by fresh Bulgar troops and Austro-German elements. • There is the same difficulty' in following tho advance of the Allies in Macedonia as there is. in connection with that of General Allenby's advance in Palestine. Many of the places mentioned cannot be fixed on the maps obtainable, and until some point of importance politically and geographically is reached the value of the advance cannot properly be outlined. It appears that the basin of the Cerna Send has been cleared of the, enemy; to straighten the line running east and west a little south of Prilep, and touch each arm of the great bend of the river. Evidently the forces of the French and Serbians are now facing north-eastward, and are advancing astride the right arm of the bend towards tho Vardar. The Allies are approaching open country, and if the enemy is not reinforced strongly enough to outnumber the Allies, the latter will reach the Vardar about Nezotin or Demir Kapu, and outflank the enemy divisions opposing the advance of British, and Greek forces. If that is managed the road should soon be opened to Veles and Ishtep, and then to Uskub, from which it will be possible to threaten an advance against Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Evidently the Allies in the Balkans have some great strategical operation in view, and the present attack is but a preliminary to a heavy offensive by the British and Greeks against the Bulgarians. Probably dose upon a quarter of a million Greeks are ready to take the field. The recent report about the Greek difficulties with regard to shipping may be intended as camouflage to hido the state of readiness which the Greeks have attained. ' THE WEST FRONT. No great developments of the battle on the west front are reported to-day, but there is much evidence to be seen in the local attacks and raids so far apart between the sea and the Woeuvre front, where the French and Americans are threatening Metz, that the Allies are gathering their forces for another great blow before winter. Only fine weather is wanted to enable' the British to improve their communications and bring up the materials to carry out another great advance. It may be, however, not on the British front that Foch's next telling stroke will fall.