MACEDONIAN OFFENSIVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17429, 25 September 1918, Page 5

MACEDONIAN OFFENSIVE

SERBIANS' SPEEDY ADVANCE. HIGHEST POINTS REACHED. ustralian and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, September 23. A Serbian communique, issued on the zoning of September 22, states: We have berated 15 villages. We are forcing the erman and Bulgarian reinforcements to itreat. We crossed to the left (east) bank t the Vardar, and cut the main railway ne between TJskub and Salonika. We also crossed the Cerna, and cut lo railway line between Gratzko and rilep, which is the German army's main ne of communication. We have advanced 59 kilometres (36£ riles) between September 15-21. Certain f our infantry units have reached the ighest points of the very mountainous egions, haying advanced 40 kilometres 25 miles) in one day. The amount of ■ooty and the mirnbei , of prisoners are onstantly increasing. BULGAR EVACUATION. REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVING. ( NEW YORK, September 23. Bulgarian and German reinforcements ire arriving. The Bulgars have evacuated the whole if the Doiran-Vardar line. FURTHER ENEMY EVACUATION. BRITISH STEADILY ADVANCING. AIRMEN BOMBING RETREATING ENEMY. LONDON, September 23. (Received Sept. 24, at 9.15 p.m.) British Salonika official : As the result )f Anglo-Greek attacks and continued leavy pressure in conjunction -with the ?ranco-Serbian advance further west, ths inemy has evacuated the whole line from Doiran to westward of the VardaT. He i%\> on fire the Cestovo Hudova Station md the Tike Tatarli dumps. Our airmen are heavily bombing and machinegunning his troops and transport crowding ilong the road northwards. We are advancing, and have reached a line Kara-Ogular-Hamzali, a kilometre to the southward of Bogdance. Westward of the Vardar we are advancing on Orzenci, in touch with the Greeks at Gurincet. SPEED OF SERBIAN ADVANCE. EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDED. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, September 23. (Received Sept. 24, at 10.15 p.m.) The Serbian push is more rapid than was expected. The enemy's only road retreat is up the Kesturine-Strummitza road, which'is being heavily bombed. We are gathering a lot of booty which we have not yet had time to count. Important developments are expected. SERBIANS ADVANCE FIFTY MILES. ONE-THIRD OF SERBIA LIBERATED. ENEMY RETREAT TO THE VARDAR. LONDON, September 23. (Received Sept. 24, at 11 p.m.) The Serbians on Saturday and Sunday advanced nearlv 20 mile?.' Their total advance since tfie offensive began is nearly 50 miles. The number of prisoners taken is now between 9000 and 10,000, and over 120 guns have been captured. A division of cavalry reached the Vardar, betwen Krivolak and the Iron Gate. The infantry followed closely and crossed the river. The cavalry captured Vozartsi and Kavadar, cutting "the Toad communications between Prilep and Krivolak. The Serbians during the week-end captured over 20 villages. The retreating Bulgars shamefully treated the Serbian population, and transported the leading inhabitants into Asia Minor. As a direct consequence of the Serbian victory and the Allies' pressure elsewhere, one-third of the Serbian territory has been liberated, the whole of the German-Bulgar forces being compelled to retreat from Mon astir to the Vardar. It is anticipated that the enemy will take up the Babuna-Vardar-Krivalakavista line. BULGARIAN ARMY ISOLATED. PARIS, September 23. (Received Sept. 24, at 11 p.m.) Le Petit Journal states that the First Bulgarian army in the Monastir-Prdep region is isolated. A GREAT VICTORY. ENEMY FLEEING PRECiPiTATELY. ALLIES IN CLOSE PURSUIT ENORMOUS BOOTY CAPTURED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association an< Reuter. LONDON, September 24. (Received Sept. 25, at 1.30 a.m.) A French Eastern communique states The Allied successes in Macedonia are at taining the character of a great victory The Franco-Serb advance towards the Middle Vardar compelled the enemy alon< the whole front of 150 kilometres (&< miles), between M on-astir and Doiran, ti retrofit precipitately, the Allied force closely pursuing. North-east of Monasti we have reached a line at Mogiii-Kana talartis-Kalyani, while the "Serbians marching on Prilep and the Babuna Pass have reached the Vardar from Demirkapi to Gradsko. Some detachments hav already crossed the river. On the rifh bank in the Vardar Valley the Alllei forces are beyond the line Koynskc Teurinest. On the left bank they hav carried Ghevgheli and also the whole c the first enemy line as far as Lake Doiran Rearguards are endeavouring to stem th pursuit* Enemy columns on the roads i: the region of Monastir, Krusevo, am Prilep are fleeing in indescribable disorde under incessant aircraft bombing, am machine-gunning. Numerous villages ani dumps are burning. Some prisoners am guns, and enormous booty have been cap turod, including two long-range n-uns Some demoralised Bulgarian 'elements flun down their arms and" fled. Our advanc continues on the whole front of attack. AUSTRALIAN WAR LOAN. LEAF OUT OF NEW ZEALAND'S BOOK. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association an SYDNEY, September 24. It is anticipated that the New Zealan. system will be adopted in connection wit the scheme for compulsory subscription to the war loan. PARCELS FOR PRISONERS IN TURKEY. INQUIRIES BY DUTCH MINISTER LONDON, September 23. (Received Sept. 24, at 10.15 p.m.) In consequence of British represents tions. the Netherlands Minister at Cor stantinople is sending inspectors to th Turkish prisoner camps to investigate eon plaints of the non-delivery of parcel: The inspectors .-ire taking 3000 parcels which have hitherto been detained a Constantinople by the Red Crescent. STRIKE OF CLYDE ENGINEERS. WANT FIVE POUNDS A WEEK. Australian and N./. Cabin Association an Renter. LONDON, September 23 (Received Sept, 24. at 10.15 p.m.) The Press Bureau states that the' shi] wrights at Clyde, contrary to the nnion f advics, have ceased work, owing to th refuel of a minimum wage of £5 -weekly