THE NEAR EAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 23

THE NEAR EAST.

POSITION AT SALONIKA

REASON FOR DELAY

NEW YORK, June 21. Advices from Salonika state that the preparations by the allied forces indicated that their original intention was to launch an offensive in May. The Serbian army, however, was in a far worse plight than was supposed, and entirely needed reequipping. General Putnik was physically unable to command, and many of the leading officers were too worn by hardships to continue on active service. A new set of officers was chosen. Instead of making the first strike in the Balkans to draw the German reserves from the west front while a decisive action was planned in France' it was decided that the Macedonian offensive should coincide with the allied offensive on all the fronts.

It was generally supposed that this had been timed for midsummer. One hundred and thirty thousand firstclass Serbians were in readiness to take the first-line positions on the frontier. Objection was first raised that they had suffered enough and that every stalwart man was needed to re-establish an annihilated race, but the Prince Regent asked : " How can we recruit the Fatherland except as conquerors? Of what avail will it be to perpetuate the race if we are content to let others do our fighting? The offspring of a Serbian who has been a hero are worth 100 who are able to fight but who stopped at home. All the old and unfit have been weeded out, and the remainder are tried and capable."

The most recent advices state that 350,000 British and French troops are at Salonika. The majority of the British transports continue to arrive with new French troops. Experts estimate that 2C0.000 men are available in Egypt.

ATHENS, June 21

British aeroplanes bombarded the German and Bulgar concentrations at Gnmultzina, seriously damaging the provision and munition depots. [G-umultzina is on the railway between Dedeagatch and Salonika. 33 miles from the former port and 130 from the latter.]

BULG ARIAN ADVANCE. LONDON, June 24

The Daily Chronicle's Salonika correspondent states that the Bulgarians are reported to be advancing from two points towards the important Fort Reapetra, northward of Demirhissar. They are also reported to have crossed the River Mestra, the dividing line between Bulgaria and Creek Macedonia, which indicates that they have taken the Creek frontier forts.

COAST TOWNS BOMBARDED. ATHENS, June 26.

The allied fleets bombarded Dedcagatch and other towns on the Bulgarian coast. Fresh concentrations of Bulgarians are reported at Fiorina. The Bulgarian press, fearing Rumania, advises the Government to withdraw the troops from Macedonia to defend Bulgaria proper.